Mystery Writing Online Certificate Course
Understand mystery writing
NOW ONLY
US$299
Save US$351 (54%)OFF RRP US$650
Learn The Techniques You Need To Know To Become a Best Selling Mystery Author
Mystery Writing begins by introducing the four story types and then explains how they relate to mysteries. It then reveals the three-act story structure, which is any story's key to success. Next, it shows you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a catharsis in which your readers feel the release of tension that accompanies a great finish.
The difference between story and plot is one of the most important distinctions in fiction writing--and one that many professional authors don't fully understand. But you will have mastered it by the end of this course. You'll also get a chance to experiment with viewpoints and see which one works best for your mystery. And you'll write a complete scene from your story and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right.
Finally, you'll delve into the special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense.
Examples from real mystery novels will show these techniques in action. Then, following each lesson, you'll get to practice on your own story. And when you have questions or insights to share, you can join your instructor and classmates in a dynamic, interactive discussion area.
This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experiences as a mystery writer. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you'll be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own!
Course Fast Facts:
- Only 6 weeks to complete this course
- Approximately only 2 to 4 hours per week of study is required
- This course is delivered 100% on-line and is accessible 24/7 from any computer or smartphone
- Instructors lead each course and you will be able to interact with them and ask questions
- You can study from home or at work at your own pace in your own time
- You can download printer friendly course material or save for viewing off line
- You will be awarded a certificate at completion of this course
How to study online course?
Upon enrolment an automated welcome email will be sent to you (please check your junk email inbox if not received as this is an automated email), in order for you to access your online course, which is Available 24/7 on any computer or smart mobile device. New courses start every month to ensure that we have the correct ratio of students to tutors available, please ensure you select a starting date when you go through our shopping cart, at checkout. The course is easy to follow and understand.
Recognition & Accreditation
All students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion with a passing score (for the online assessment) and will be issued a certificate via email.
There are 12 units of study
The Four Story Types
You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. We'll also take some time today to discuss what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.
Plot vs. Story
Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. Today you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.
Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise
This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.
Character
Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change in him or her—there can be no story. Today, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. We'll explore you main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. And then we'll look at tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.
The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring
In this lesson, we'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, we'll examine each element of it under our writer's magnifying glass. Then we'll test our theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, we'll have solved the mystery of story structure.
Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger
This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.
Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany
Today, we work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by his or her flaw. And because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.
Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending
The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.
The Story Outline
We've accomplished a lot and you've gotten pretty comfortable with story structure. This is the lesson where we put it all together. We're going to move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, we're about to grow a forest.
Scene and Sequel
In this lesson, we'll unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something I bet you never even knew existed. It's calledscene and sequel. After today, you'll never forget it.
Viewpoint
One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. Today we'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. We'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.
The Mystery
Much of what we've talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. But in this final lesson, we'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then we'll wrap up with ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.
Entry requirements
Students must ha
Customer Reviews
“Every person considering writing any type of fiction should take this course with Steve Alcorn. It contained concise information, writing assignments and quizzes, as well as comprehensive review by the instructor. Mr. Alcorn was in his classroom available for instruction and assistance when it was 2:00 a.m. and I was in my pajamas! The class was strikingly beneficial, fun and up-to-the-minute with instructional responses. He has my highest recommendation.”
“During the course I wrote a mystery using your guidelines. I finished it last week and sent off a query letter. The publisher has requested the complete manuscript!”
“Having this course being taught by a published author was immensely valuable. It is great to be taught by someone who has the success and experience, yet can still relate to us beginners and cares that we are successful too. Wonderful!!”
“I have a novel coming out in June 2007 (thanks to Steve's help), and a mystery in the hands of another publisher, a mystery that never would have been written without his help. I wanted to say thank you.”
“I really enjoyed taking this course. Steve is excellent. He knows his subject. When I had difficulty grasping a topic, he gave good examples that helped me understand the point he was trying to m
Courses For Success is a global course platform that started in 2008 with 5 courses, since then we have grown to over 10,000 online courses. As our courses are delivered online via the internet, we sell our courses worldwide.
Our courses span across many categories including Academic, Animal, Beauty, Business, Career, Counseling, Creative & Media, Health & Therapy, Hobbies & Trades, IT, Personal Development, Sports & Fitness.
Some of the companies we work with include Groupon, Living Social, CNN, Entrepreneur, Mashable, Reed UK, Stack Social and many more.
The Personal Success Training Program was developed by Courses For Success to help our customers achieve success. Currently, we are offering this program for FREE with every course or bundle purchase this month. This is a limited time offer! We have received thousands of reviews for this program, please see: Personal Success Training Program Reviews
No, anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take our course. There are no entry requirements to take this course.
No, you do not require a High School Diploma or to have finished school to study this course, this course is open to anyone who would like to take this course.
This course is provided in English, however, due to the digital nature of our training, you can take your time studying the material and make use of tools such as google translate and Grammarly.
Yes, this course is online. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction and interaction with your tutor, participants in this course gain valuable knowledge. You have the flexibility to study at your own pace combined with enough structure and support to complete the course. You can access the classroom 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection.
After you have completed the payment, you will receive a confirmation email and tax receipt. You will also receive an email containing your course login details (username and password), as well as instructions on how to access and log in to your course via the internet with any device, please check your junk/spam folder in the event that you do not receive the email.
New sessions of each course run every month, please check start dates under course summary. They last six weeks, with two new lessons being released weekly (for a total of 12). The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions.
Online learning is easy, if not easier than a traditional academic situation. By studying an online course, the usual boundaries caused by location and time constraints are eliminated, meaning you are free to study where and when you want at your own pace. Of course, you will need to be able to self-manage your time and be organized, but with our help, you’ll soon find yourself settling into a comfortable rhythm of study.
You don't need to be a computer expert to succeed with our online training, but you should be comfortable typing, using the internet and be capable of using common software (such as Microsoft word).
This course is accessible for 8 weeks. You'll spend roughly two to four hours each week completing two engaging lessons in an enjoyable, interactive learning environment.
Individual courses are very comprehensive and can take up to 24 hours to complete.
If you choose a course bundle, simply multiply the above hours by the number of courses included in the bundle.
For example:
- 2 course bundle is 2 x 24 hours = 48 hours
- 3 course bundle is 3 x 24 hours = 72 hours
- 5 course bundle is 5 x 24 hours = 120 hours
- 10 course bundle is 10 x 24 hours = 240 hours
Yes, there is tutor support, a dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course, pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions.
The onetime fee includes all training materials, including online content, diagrams, videos if included, interactive instructions and quizzes, plus you will receive a certificate upon completion.
All the required material for your course is included in the online system, you do not need to buy anything else.
Yes, all our courses are interactive.
Yes, you will be required to complete a multiple-choice test online at the end of your course, you can do this test as many times as you require.
You will receive a Certificate of Completion that is applicable worldwide, which demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. You can share the certificate with your friends, relatives, co-workers and potential employers. Also, include it in your resume/CV, professional social media profiles and job applications.
Wendy Sue Hunt - 5 STAR REVIEW
"If you are considering taking any “Courses for Success”, I would highly recommend it. I have always been a firm believer it’s important to always sharpen your skills. You are never too old to learn more. I found the courses very helpful, interesting and easy to understand.
The term “Courses for Success” helped me in my current position to succeed. After completing the courses, I gave my manager the completion certificates. Recently I received a promotion too."
Valencia Marie Aviles - 5 STAR REVIEW
"I had a very good experience with my course. It has helped me to get multiple jobs and prepared me for almost everything I would need to know. The course was very informative and easy to understand and broken up perfectly to be done in a short amount of time while still learning a good amount! I would recommend Courses for Success to anyone trying to get abs certifications for job advancements, it is well worth it!"
ELENA GRIFFIN - 5 STAR REVIEW
"I have absolutely enjoyed the materials from Courses for Success. The materials are easy to understand which makes learning enjoyable. Courses for Success have great topics of interest which make you come back for more.
Thank you Courses for Success for being part of my learning journey and making education affordable!"
Our completion certificates are very valuable and will help you progress in your work environment and show employers how committed you are to learn new skills, you might even get a promotion.
No, it is not equivalent to a college or university credit.
This course will give you the skills you need to help you obtain employment, but it’s up to you if you get the job or not.
Studying and completing this course will show employers that you have the knowledge in this field, additionally you will gain more confidence in this area of expertise.
The Certificates are valid for life and do not need renewing.
Courses are studied online at your own pace and you are free to study as many or as few courses as you wish, we also offer online course bundles that allow you to save on additional courses so that you may get all the topics related to your training goals in one go.
We accept payments via PayPal, Credit Card, Bank Transfer and Amazon Pay for the USA. For payment plans, we offer Sezzle for USA & Canada, Afterpay for Australia & New Zealand. *For faster transaction Credit Card payments are preferred. Please purchase online via our website course product page or contact us at , to pay via bank transfer.
 |
About this Course |
 |
Learn The Techniques You Need To Know To Become a Best Selling Mystery Author
Mystery Writing begins by introducing the four story types and then explains how they relate to mysteries. It then reveals the three-act story structure, which is any story's key to success. Next, it shows you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a catharsis in which your readers feel the release of tension that accompanies a great finish.
The difference between story and plot is one of the most important distinctions in fiction writing--and one that many professional authors don't fully understand. But you will have mastered it by the end of this course. You'll also get a chance to experiment with viewpoints and see which one works best for your mystery. And you'll write a complete scene from your story and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right.
Finally, you'll delve into the special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense.
Examples from real mystery novels will show these techniques in action. Then, following each lesson, you'll get to practice on your own story. And when you have questions or insights to share, you can join your instructor and classmates in a dynamic, interactive discussion area.
This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experiences as a mystery writer. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you'll be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own!
Course Fast Facts:
- Only 6 weeks to complete this course
- Approximately only 2 to 4 hours per week of study is required
- This course is delivered 100% on-line and is accessible 24/7 from any computer or smartphone
- Instructors lead each course and you will be able to interact with them and ask questions
- You can study from home or at work at your own pace in your own time
- You can download printer friendly course material or save for viewing off line
- You will be awarded a certificate at completion of this course
How to study online course?
Upon enrolment an automated welcome email will be sent to you (please check your junk email inbox if not received as this is an automated email), in order for you to access your online course, which is Available 24/7 on any computer or smart mobile device. New courses start every month to ensure that we have the correct ratio of students to tutors available, please ensure you select a starting date when you go through our shopping cart, at checkout. The course is easy to follow and understand.
Recognition & Accreditation
All students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion with a passing score (for the online assessment) and will be issued a certificate via email.
There are 12 units of study
The Four Story Types
You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. We'll also take some time today to discuss what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.
Plot vs. Story
Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. Today you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.
Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise
This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.
Character
Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change in him or her—there can be no story. Today, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. We'll explore you main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. And then we'll look at tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.
The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring
In this lesson, we'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, we'll examine each element of it under our writer's magnifying glass. Then we'll test our theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, we'll have solved the mystery of story structure.
Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger
This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.
Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany
Today, we work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by his or her flaw. And because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.
Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending
The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.
The Story Outline
We've accomplished a lot and you've gotten pretty comfortable with story structure. This is the lesson where we put it all together. We're going to move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, we're about to grow a forest.
Scene and Sequel
In this lesson, we'll unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something I bet you never even knew existed. It's calledscene and sequel. After today, you'll never forget it.
Viewpoint
One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. Today we'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. We'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.
The Mystery
Much of what we've talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. But in this final lesson, we'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then we'll wrap up with ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.
Entry requirements
Students must ha
“Every person considering writing any type of fiction should take this course with Steve Alcorn. It contained concise information, writing assignments and quizzes, as well as comprehensive review by the instructor. Mr. Alcorn was in his classroom available for instruction and assistance when it was 2:00 a.m. and I was in my pajamas! The class was strikingly beneficial, fun and up-to-the-minute with instructional responses. He has my highest recommendation.”
“During the course I wrote a mystery using your guidelines. I finished it last week and sent off a query letter. The publisher has requested the complete manuscript!”
“Having this course being taught by a published author was immensely valuable. It is great to be taught by someone who has the success and experience, yet can still relate to us beginners and cares that we are successful too. Wonderful!!”
“I have a novel coming out in June 2007 (thanks to Steve's help), and a mystery in the hands of another publisher, a mystery that never would have been written without his help. I wanted to say thank you.”
“I really enjoyed taking this course. Steve is excellent. He knows his subject. When I had difficulty grasping a topic, he gave good examples that helped me understand the point he was trying to m
Courses For Success is a global course platform that started in 2008 with 5 courses, since then we have grown to over 10,000 online courses. As our courses are delivered online via the internet, we sell our courses worldwide.
Our courses span across many categories including Academic, Animal, Beauty, Business, Career, Counseling, Creative & Media, Health & Therapy, Hobbies & Trades, IT, Personal Development, Sports & Fitness.
Some of the companies we work with include Groupon, Living Social, CNN, Entrepreneur, Mashable, Reed UK, Stack Social and many more.
The Personal Success Training Program was developed by Courses For Success to help our customers achieve success. Currently, we are offering this program for FREE with every course or bundle purchase this month. This is a limited time offer! We have received thousands of reviews for this program, please see: Personal Success Training Program Reviews
No, anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take our course. There are no entry requirements to take this course.
No, you do not require a High School Diploma or to have finished school to study this course, this course is open to anyone who would like to take this course.
This course is provided in English, however, due to the digital nature of our training, you can take your time studying the material and make use of tools such as google translate and Grammarly.
Yes, this course is online. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction and interaction with your tutor, participants in this course gain valuable knowledge. You have the flexibility to study at your own pace combined with enough structure and support to complete the course. You can access the classroom 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection.
After you have completed the payment, you will receive a confirmation email and tax receipt. You will also receive an email containing your course login details (username and password), as well as instructions on how to access and log in to your course via the internet with any device, please check your junk/spam folder in the event that you do not receive the email.
New sessions of each course run every month, please check start dates under course summary. They last six weeks, with two new lessons being released weekly (for a total of 12). The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions.
Online learning is easy, if not easier than a traditional academic situation. By studying an online course, the usual boundaries caused by location and time constraints are eliminated, meaning you are free to study where and when you want at your own pace. Of course, you will need to be able to self-manage your time and be organized, but with our help, you’ll soon find yourself settling into a comfortable rhythm of study.
You don't need to be a computer expert to succeed with our online training, but you should be comfortable typing, using the internet and be capable of using common software (such as Microsoft word).
This course is accessible for 8 weeks. You'll spend roughly two to four hours each week completing two engaging lessons in an enjoyable, interactive learning environment.
Individual courses are very comprehensive and can take up to 24 hours to complete.
If you choose a course bundle, simply multiply the above hours by the number of courses included in the bundle.
For example:
- 2 course bundle is 2 x 24 hours = 48 hours
- 3 course bundle is 3 x 24 hours = 72 hours
- 5 course bundle is 5 x 24 hours = 120 hours
- 10 course bundle is 10 x 24 hours = 240 hours
Yes, there is tutor support, a dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course, pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions.
The onetime fee includes all training materials, including online content, diagrams, videos if included, interactive instructions and quizzes, plus you will receive a certificate upon completion.
All the required material for your course is included in the online system, you do not need to buy anything else.
Yes, all our courses are interactive.
Yes, you will be required to complete a multiple-choice test online at the end of your course, you can do this test as many times as you require.
You will receive a Certificate of Completion that is applicable worldwide, which demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. You can share the certificate with your friends, relatives, co-workers and potential employers. Also, include it in your resume/CV, professional social media profiles and job applications.
Wendy Sue Hunt - 5 STAR REVIEW
"If you are considering taking any “Courses for Success”, I would highly recommend it. I have always been a firm believer it’s important to always sharpen your skills. You are never too old to learn more. I found the courses very helpful, interesting and easy to understand.
The term “Courses for Success” helped me in my current position to succeed. After completing the courses, I gave my manager the completion certificates. Recently I received a promotion too."
Valencia Marie Aviles - 5 STAR REVIEW
"I had a very good experience with my course. It has helped me to get multiple jobs and prepared me for almost everything I would need to know. The course was very informative and easy to understand and broken up perfectly to be done in a short amount of time while still learning a good amount! I would recommend Courses for Success to anyone trying to get abs certifications for job advancements, it is well worth it!"
ELENA GRIFFIN - 5 STAR REVIEW
"I have absolutely enjoyed the materials from Courses for Success. The materials are easy to understand which makes learning enjoyable. Courses for Success have great topics of interest which make you come back for more.
Thank you Courses for Success for being part of my learning journey and making education affordable!"
Our completion certificates are very valuable and will help you progress in your work environment and show employers how committed you are to learn new skills, you might even get a promotion.
No, it is not equivalent to a college or university credit.
This course will give you the skills you need to help you obtain employment, but it’s up to you if you get the job or not.
Studying and completing this course will show employers that you have the knowledge in this field, additionally you will gain more confidence in this area of expertise.
The Certificates are valid for life and do not need renewing.
Courses are studied online at your own pace and you are free to study as many or as few courses as you wish, we also offer online course bundles that allow you to save on additional courses so that you may get all the topics related to your training goals in one go.
We accept payments via PayPal, Credit Card, Bank Transfer and Amazon Pay for the USA. For payment plans, we offer Sezzle for USA & Canada, Afterpay for Australia & New Zealand. *For faster transaction Credit Card payments are preferred. Please purchase online via our website course product page or contact us at , to pay via bank transfer.
We provide a 7 Day Money Back Refund on all Courses
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Course Summary
| Course ID: | 007MYS |
|---|---|
| Delivery Mode: |
Online |
| Access: | 6 Weeks |
| Tutor Support: | Yes |
| Time: | 24 Hours |
| Assessments: | Yes |
| Qualification: | Certificate of Completion |
Start Dates
This course is available to begin on the following dates
- 12 January
- 9 February
- 16 March
- 13 April
- Call +1 845-764-9167
- Chat to us live
- Send us an enquiry
- Print this course page
