Master the Element of Suspense (Regardless of Genre)

Master the Element of Suspense (Regardless of Genre)

with Andromeda Romano-Lax

Details: This virtual class will include 2 sessions on Saturday, November 4, and Saturday, November 11, both 1-4pm.

Description: Suspense is not just a genre or bookstore category, it’s the element that makes the reader want to turn the page in any book, whether fiction or memoir, in order to find out what will happen or be revealed next. In this class, we will look at four types of suspenseful situations in fiction and creative nonfiction, examine the role of emotions and uncertainty, brainstorm premises, and discover how suspense operates through story as well as how it operates through structure. In our first week, we’ll practice the skill of close reading by analyzing published novel and memoir excerpts. In our second week, we’ll workshop brief excerpts (max 4 pages) from participant manuscripts, using guided prompts.

This class is appropriate for all genres and all levels of experience. Beginners welcome!

Pricing and Registration: This event is open to members and non-members.

• Member Price: $120
• Non-Member Price: $150

This class is sold out! Please email info@49writers.org to be added to a notification list in the event that we offer this course again. 

Scholarships: 49 Writers if offering one partial scholarship for this class to an individual who can demonstrate financial need. To apply, click here.

Instructor: Andromeda Romano-Lax is the author of five novels, including historical fiction and literary fiction with thriller and speculative elements. Her latest, The Deepest Lake, about a mother investigating the disappearance of her daughter, is a work of psychological suspense forthcoming from Soho Crime in May 2024. She has taught writing at the MFA level and is a book coach.