Open Colleges is the new name for Cengage Education, and is Australia's oldest and most respected provider of Online and distance education courses. We deliver over 130 online and distance education courses, including an extensive range of nationally recognised Certificates and Diplomas.  

If you have ambitions to make a killing from your talents as a crime writer, this course could be your first step along the road to success.

With all the knowledge that aspiring writers of crime, mystery and suspense need, Open Colleges\' course will show you how to develop and strengthen your ideas, create interesting characters, and use conflict and tension to create a truly gripping tale.

Importantly, the course also lays the groundwork for marketing your finished work to publishers and editors, to help you transform your potential into your profession.

Subjects

• An overview
• The characters in your crime story
• The villain
• Plotting your mystery novel
• Clues, red herring and crime scenes
• Background, atmosphere and mood
• Building suspense: how to use conflict, pace and tension
• Writing mysteries for children
• How to write true crime
• The crime writer: ABC
• Marketing your work and building your career
• Writing effective dialogue

Entry requirements

English language requirements

If English is your second language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competence before enrolling.

The Open Colleges difference:

• Nationally accredited: This ensures your qualification is recognised by industry around Australia.
• Start today! Open Colleges courses offer you ultimate flexibility. There is no need to attend classes at a campus or wait for an intake or start date. You can start your course whenever it suits you!
• Study from home at your own pace: You can study from home at your own pace. You can a choose to receive your learning materials by mail or online.
• Benefit from 100 years of history: Open Colleges has been delivering distance education to Australians for more than 100 years. Join over 700,000 Australians who have studied with Open Colleges. Unlike many other institutions, we are specialists in distance learning.
• We help you to succeed: Open Colleges provides you with comprehensive support throughout your studies. From access to ‘OpenSpace’ — our online learning portal — to support from experienced tutors, we help you every step of the way.
• Affordable fees: Open Colleges provides you with a range of different payment plan options. You can pay upfront and get a discount on your fees or you can choose to pay by instalment – including weekly, fortnightly and monthly options.
• Articulation opportunities: Once you have completed this course, you may receive credit if you wish to pursue further education.