1828 - Summer Writing School: Mystery & Suspense Writing

Delivery Options IN-CLASS

Course Description

This five-day workshop will help you launch or improve your crime fiction manuscript. You'll learn what agents and publishers look for, what makes for memorable stories, and get feedback from the instructor and your peers that will help you improve your work. There will be lectures and discussions of character, setting, pace, dialogue, plot, outlining and other elements of storytelling. Whatever your genre, you'll come away inspired and better prepared to write your story.

Summer Writing School courses are applicable to the Certificate in Creative Writing.

Learning Outcomes

Know how to build a strong story arc that tests the character of your protagonist.
Create a rich array of challenges for your hero, from villains to stormy weather.
Develop richer characters, storylines, settings and style.
Draft the opening chapter of your book and an outline for further development.
Understand the research requirements ahead.

This course may be applied towards the SCS Certificate(s) in

Creative Writing : Elective Courses

Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in

1828 - 020

Spring/Summer - 26

IN-CLASS

Available

In-Class

M, T, W, Th, F

10:00AM to 4:00PM

Jul 06, 2026 to Jul 10, 2026

Schedule and Location

View Details

20.0

St. George Campus

IN-CLASS

Flat Fee non-credit

$699.00

Section Notes

Enrolment is open until June 26th. If you have difficulty registering, please contact our Enrolment and Learner Services team at 416-978-2400.

Submission Requirements: The submission should be a maximum 2,500 words, double-spaced, in a standard font such as Times New Roman 12, preferably in Word. Please do NOT send PDFs. Submissions will be posted on Quercus for your instructor and classmates to view, and distributed before the course begins. Please read all submissions before the first day of class and be prepared to discuss them in the first workshop.
Instructions: Your submission must be email to by 9:00AM June 26th to scs.writing@utoronto.ca with the subject line and file saved as: First initial, Last name_Course Code (ex.: J, Smith_1828-020)

Summer Writing School Schedule:
Mon 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Instructor Readings 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Tue 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 3:30PM
Wed 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Panel Discussion 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Thu 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 3:30PM
Fri 10:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 2:30PM Student Readings 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Withdrawal & Accessibility:
Deadline to withdraw from The U of T Summer Writing School is 4:00PM Friday, June 27th. To withdraw, please email learn@utoronto.ca.
For accessibility information, please email: scs.accessibility@utoronto.ca.

This in-class course uses Quercus (UofT Learning Management Engine) to post course materials.

Go here for information on when you will receive your access information.

For technical requirements, please go here.