In a coup for local writers, Australia’s 'King of Crime' Garry Disher shows you how to craft compelling crime fiction.

“Crime novels sell well—I’m going to write one.”
“Great. What kind?”
“What do you mean, what kind? A crime novel.”
“Okay… A courtroom drama? A police procedural? A murder mystery? With an accidental
hero, an amateur detective, a cop, a forensic pathologist?”
“Ah. Hmm. Yeah. Well, back to the drawing board…”

Crime novels are hugely popular with readers and publishers, filling bestseller lists and often making the leap onto the screen. It's also a diverse genre—a crime novel should never be called a detective novel, in case there is no detective; or a murder mystery, in case there’s no murder; or a mystery novel, in case there’s no mystery. There should be some crime, somewhere, though.

Award-winning crime novelist Garry Disher will first help you understand the genre, and then concentrate on the craft of fiction writing as it relates to the crime genre. Identifying and then building on ideas—an item in a newspaper, for example. The strengths, weaknesses and uses of the first and third person viewpoints. Developing characters. Plotting and planning. Understanding how vital the setting is. And, finally, a look at the sorts of things that can go wrong with a story.

Whether you're just starting out, making a genre switch, or simply want to learn from a modern master of crime, you will:

• Understand more deeply the nature of the genre
• Learn crime writing craft techniques related to characterisation
• Learn crime writing craft techniques related to developing setting
• Learn the differences between first and third-person voice, and singular or multiple viewpoints and how they can be used effectively in the genre
• Learn how to identify problems in your drafts.

Praise for Garry Disher:
'...the master of Australian crime fiction.'
—Canberra Times

‘One of this country’s finest writers.’
—Tony Birch

‘Disher’s Wyatt series is one of the joys of Australian crime fiction. If you’re a fan of hard-boiled crime, they’re some of the best around.’
—NZ Herald

‘Disher is brilliant.’
—The Times

‘Peter Temple and Garry Disher will be identified as the crime writers who redefined Australian crime fiction in terms of its form, content and style.’
—Age/Sydney Morning Herald

Members $88 / Non-members $140
Venue: The Hetzel Lecture Theatre, the Institute Building, the State Library of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000

—Not a Writers SA member? Members receive more than 30% off the full price of this workshop, you’ll also get a free 20 minute consult, expert advice about your career and your work, and join a community of like-minded creatives. Join now for as little as $60! 

—We strongly recommend all staff, speakers, and attendees of in-person events be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You cannot attend if you are unwell or you or a close family member test positive to Covid-19 in the five days prior to this event. See our full policy here.

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount. If you would like to use a workshop credit to book in, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the workshop commencement date. Our staff don’t work full time and we don’t want you to miss out!

—If you are a member of another state based writers centre, Sisters in Crime, SCBWI SA or Editors SA, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the program commencement date to get a code for the member price.

—Writers SA provides complimentary membership for First Nations writers and for writers experiencing economic hardship. Please contact [email protected] to redeem.

About Garry Disher

Garry Disher grew up in the mid-north of South Australia, the setting of his popular Hirsch crime novels and the greatly admired literary novel, The Sunken Road. He now lives on the Mornington Peninsula, where he has been a full-time writer for most of his working life. His more than 50 titles include general and children’s/young adult novels, and a large number of crime novels: standalones, and the widely translated Hirsch, Wyatt and Peninsula series, which have been on best-seller lists and won several best crime novel awards in Australia and Germany. The recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Australian Crime Writers Association, his latest titles are the fourth Hirsch novel, Day’s End, and a new stand-alone thriller, Sanctuary.