So, you want to write a bestseller? Take a look at the bestseller lists. They’re dominated by crime fiction, and the crime titles are dominated by blockbuster books from such famous thriller authors as John Grisham, James Patterson, Dan Brown and Patricia Cornwell. What is a thriller? There’s no narrow definition. According to International Thriller Writers, a thriller is characterized by "the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace." In short, a thriller thrills. How? In large part, through skillful plotting. As a lawyer, you are uniquely positioned to write such a bestseller. You have the material: many bestselling titles are legal thrillers informed by insider knowledge of the legal profession. You have the credibility: agents and editors love real-life lawyers whose bios mirror those of their protagonists. This course will give you the practical writing tools you need to help you craft the type of blockbuster novel that tops the bestseller lists.

Schedule

8:30 - 9:00 Introduction of Instructor, Former Federal Prosecutor Michele Martinez
For eight years, Michele was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, specializing in narcotics and gang cases. From kingpins to killers, from the FBI to the Royal Thai Police, Michele dealt with enough real-life bad guys and cops to provide material for a lot of books. She left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2001 to spend more time with her kids and turn her hand to writing crime fiction. Michele’s first novel, Most Wanted, was hailed as a "breakout" debut by USA Today and appeared on a number of lists of the top fiction debuts of 2005. Her follow-up, The Finishing School, was published in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Michele will tell you about her journey from staring at a blank screen to finding a top agent to landing a front-list deal with a premier publisher.

9:00 - 10:15 Material is All Around You: Generating a Blockbuster Idea
"Write what you know" is the golden rule for creating authentic and compelling fiction. Learn how to mine your own professional experience -- whether in civil or criminal practice -- for true-to-life scenarios that not only have the legs to carry a blockbuster novel but will set your writing apart from the competition.

10:30 - 11:00 Point of View in the Blockbuster
A gripping plot requires a point of view that aids in building suspense. Discussion of first- vs. third-person narration, shifting narrators, using multiple time periods to give depth to your crime story, prologues and epilogues, and writing "killer" chapters without spoilers, with illustrations from best-selling crime novels.

11:00 - 11:30 Tone and Pacing in the Blockbuster
Great legal fiction grabs the reader by the throat on page one and never lets go. Discussion of over-arching considerations in creating excitement, including voice, sentence structure, fast starts, dialogue and action.

11:30 - 12:00 Outlining vs. Seat-of-the-pants
Once you have a blockbuster idea and decide on the structure of your narration and pacing, you’re ready to plot your novel. This mini-segment will consider the pros and cons of outlining versus just sitting down and writing.

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch with Faculty (Provided)

1:00 - 1:45 Tricks of the Trade, Part I
Discussion of techniques for creating suspense when your novel is a whodunit, including sub-plots, red herrings, and characterization of the good guys vs. the bad guys

1:45 - 2:30 Tricks of the Trade, Part II
Discussion of methods for intensifying suspense in your blockbuster other than keeping the reader guessing whodunit. Includes consideration of onstage vs. offstage violence, ticking clocks, cliffhanger chapter endings and other techniques.

2:45 - 4:15 Critique of Student Manuscripts
In order to interest an agent in your manuscript, you need to hook them on page one. Students should come to class with the first chapter of their manuscript. The class will apply techniques learned to offer concrete suggestions on improving the openings of each other’s books, and thus better their chances of landing that big deal.