Creative Writing: The Mystery, Suspense, Crime Story

I am teaching Creative Writing: The Mystery, Suspense, Crime Story on the Udemy Web site. The course is intended for beginning mystery-suspense-crime writers, literature students, and writers interested in writing thrillers.  In the class I show the creative writing process (plot structure) and how to maintain awareness of the genres of mystery, suspense, and/or crime.

I teach students how to get started by planning the story with an outline and a treatment. During the course, students will write either a novel, teleplay, or screenplay. Since I have written all three, I include instruction for the different formats: novel, teleplay, and screenplay.

When writing a story, research is important and I share the research process I utilized for my crime-drama screenplay, THE TWO SISTERS, which is an independent film I also produced and directed, receiving Best Screenplay award nominations from film festivals.  Overall, the course is for people who enjoy mystery, suspense and crime, and individuals who want to learn the story writing process. For more information and to enroll visit https://www.udemy.com/creative-writing-the-mystery-suspense-crime-story/.

My Cousin Rachel

MY COUSIN RACHEL is a romance, suspense/drama movie based on the Daphne du Maurier novel of the same title.  When Philip (played by Sam Claflin) finishes school and returns to his home in England he learns his guardian is not there, but in Italy with his wife Rachel (played by Rachel Weisz). Philip is instantly suspicious of the woman, because he and his guardian share a tight bond. Philip travels to Italy and is disheartened to discover his guardian has passed away. He believes Rachel is fully responsible, so finding out she intends to visit him in England makes him unpleasant, even though Philip lives a charmed life in a country estate and since his guardian has died, he inherited a fortune.

Over time, he begins liking Rachel and feels sympathetic toward her. Emotional manipulation is how the mystery of MY COUSIN RACHEL is woven. A naive young fellow and an older woman match wits, but really they are unequal. One ultimately out smarts the other, and then the other slowly realizes what is happening. It is engaging watching the story play with much suspense of how the circumstances will end.

MY COUSIN RACHEL is currently playing in theatres. The official Web site is http://www.foxsearchlight.com/mycousinrachel/.

Paris Can Wait

Many people are familiar with the expression, "Take time to stop and smell the roses." This is what the character Jacques (played by Arnaud Viard) does in the movie PARIS CAN WAIT. Unfortunately, his traveling companion Anne (played by Diane Lane) does not appreciate all the detours.

Jacques, Anne, and her husband Michael (played by Alec Baldwin) are in Cannes, France for a movie Michael is producing. When the film shoot moves to Budapest, Michael boards a jet for take off, but Anne has an ear infection and chooses to drive to Paris with Jacques.

Be sure to eat before watching PARIS CAN WAIT. Jacques' alternate route to Paris includes stopping to dine and drink wine several times. And the meals are large. However, some of the jaunts include stopping at museums and other points of interest.

Director Eleanor Coppola provides a fun tour of France with PARIS CAN WAIT. After watching, one feels she or he has visited the country. The film is currently playing in theatres. The official Web site is http://sonyclassics.com/pariscanwait/.