ONLINE - Writing Psychological Thrillers: Tension, Secrets, and Suspense
8 Weeks | Thursdays | Begins September 24, 2026
5pm-7pm PT | 6pm-8pm MT | 7pm-9pm CT | 8pm-10pm ET | 9pm-11pm AT
Instructor: Alexandria Brown
AWCS Members: $340.00
Non-Members: $450.00
This course focuses on the craft of writing psychological thrillers, emphasizing tension, pacing, and controlled revelation. We’ll look at how to build suspense through character, point of view, and structure, and how to design plots that keep readers engaged without relying solely on shock. Through examples, discussion, and short exercises, writers will develop stronger tools for shaping high-stakes, psychologically driven stories. The course is suitable for writers working in thrillers, suspense, or darker literary fiction.
This class takes place online using Zoom.
Alexandria (Alex) Brown is the CEO and Publisher of Rising Action Publishing and has over fifteen years of experience in marketing and creative writing. She holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is currently a Creative Writing PhD candidate at the University of Gloucestershire, where her research focuses on complex PTSD, trauma, and how we craft stories that help people feel less alone. She is the author of two traditionally published nonfiction essay collection books and has worked closely with authors on memoir and personal narrative projects, including titles that have become USA Today bestsellers. Her teaching and editorial approach is practical, craft-focused, and grounded in the belief that strong storytelling and emotional honesty can coexist on the page.
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