Live psychological thriller masterclasses — choose the sessions that int

Have you got an idea for a psychological thriller but aren't quite sure how to turn it into a novel? Or perhaps you've already started writing and want to strengthen your characters, plot, suspense, twists or structure?

Join bestselling psychological thriller author Alex Stone for a practical, interactive programme exploring the craft of writing a psychological thriller — from that first idea right through to revision, submission and publication.

Thursdays, 7–9pm UK time
Live online via Google Meet
Join an individual masterclass for £49, or save when you book a block of sessions.

Joining us for the first time? Each masterclass can be booked as a standalone session, so you don't need to have attended the earlier dates to take part.

Choose how you'd like to join

Individual masterclass — £49
Choose any upcoming session that interests you.

Four-session block — £180
Book four masterclasses together and save £16.

Remaining 10-session programme — £450
Join every remaining session from 15 October–17 December and save £40 compared with booking individually.

What you'll explore

Block One: Foundations

Build the foundations of your psychological thriller

1/10/26 — Premise, Hook & Opening Pages
Explore what makes a compelling psychological thriller, develop your central premise and promise, identify the question that will keep readers turning the pages and consider how to create an opening that immediately draws them into your story.

8/10/26 — Characters, Secrets & Psychological Motivation
Create complex, believable characters whose fears, desires, relationships and secrets drive the story. Explore motivation, conflict, power dynamics and the psychology behind your protagonist and antagonist.

15/10/26 — Setting, Atmosphere & Creating Unease
Discover how setting can become an integral part of your thriller. Explore atmosphere, isolation, confinement and sensory detail, and learn how familiar places can be transformed into environments filled with tension and unease.

22/10/26 — Crime, Investigation & Authenticity
Featuring Stuart Gibbon — Former Senior Detective & Crime Consultant

Go behind the scenes of real-world crime and investigation. Explore police procedure, evidence, interviews and investigative realities, with the opportunity to put questions relating to your own story directly to an experienced former detective.

Block Two: Craft

Build a story that keeps readers turning the pages

29/10/26 — Structure, Plot & Story Architecture
Turn your idea into a compelling narrative. Explore turning points, escalation, cause and effect, timelines and different approaches to plotting, and develop a structure that supports both your story and characters.

5/11/26 — Suspense, Tension & Pacing
Learn how to control the reader's experience. Explore escalating stakes, uncertainty, threats, chapter structure and pacing, and discover techniques for creating and sustaining tension throughout your novel.

12/11/26 — Voice, Point of View & the Unreliable Narrator
Explore who should tell your story — and what they allow the reader to know. Look at first and third person, single and multiple viewpoints, distinctive narrative voice and the particular opportunities and challenges of unreliable narrators.

19/11/26 — Through an Editor's Eyes
Featuring Emily Reader — Professional Editor

Discover what happens when a professional editor approaches a manuscript. Explore what an editor looks for, the different stages of the editorial process and the author-editor relationship, with an opportunity to ask your questions live.

Block Three: Advance

Bring the pieces together and take your novel forward

26/11/26 — Twists, Reveals, Clues & Misdirection
Learn how to create twists that surprise without cheating the reader. Explore clues, red herrings, misdirection and carefully timed revelations — and how to work backwards from a major reveal to plant what the reader needs along the way.

3/12/26 — Endings & Delivering the Payoff
Bring your thriller to a satisfying conclusion. Explore climaxes, final revelations, character resolution and how to deliver on the promises and questions established at the beginning of your novel.

10/12/26 — From First Draft to Submission-Ready
Learn how to step back from a completed draft and identify what needs strengthening. Explore structural revision, scene and prose editing, working with beta readers and feedback, and the stages involved in moving towards a submission-ready manuscript.

17/12/26 — From Manuscript to Publication
Featuring Nicky Lovick, Phoebe Morgan and Emma Grundy Haigh

Take an inside look at what happens when you're ready to send your novel into the world. In this live panel session, a literary agent and two senior publishers will share their perspectives on what they look for, submissions and acquisitions, positioning your novel and what happens when someone says yes, followed by an extended opportunity to ask your own questions.

Who is the programme for?

You don't need to have written a novel before, and you don't need to arrive with a fully formed plot.

The programme is suitable if you're:

• Starting with the beginnings of an idea
• Planning your first psychological thriller
• Already working on a novel
• Looking to strengthen particular areas of your craft
• Revising a manuscript
• Interested in understanding the journey from writing to publication

Each session is designed to be practical and interactive, so you can apply what you're learning to your own novel and ask questions along the way.

Learn from industry experts

Alongside Alex's teaching, the programme includes guest sessions with:

Stuart Gibbon — Former Senior Detective & Crime Consultant
Emily Reader — Professional Editor
Nicky Lovick — Literary Agent, WGM Atlantic
Phoebe Morgan — Executive Publisher, Simon & Schuster UK
Emma Grundy Haigh — Editorial Director, Boldwood Books

You'll have opportunities to hear directly from professionals working across crime investigation, editing, agenting and publishing — and to put your own questions to them.

Want to read more about the programme, Alex and the guest experts before booking?

View the full course information →

Remaining 10-session programme — £450
Join every remaining session from 15 October–17 December and save £40 compared with booking individually.

What you'll explore

Block One: Foundations

Build the foundations of your psychological thriller

1/10/26 — Premise, Hook & Opening Pages
Explore what makes a compelling psychological thriller, develop your central premise and promise, identify the question that will keep readers turning the pages and consider how to create an opening that immediately draws them into your story.

8/10/26 — Characters, Secrets & Psychological Motivation
Create complex, believable characters whose fears, desires, relationships and secrets drive the story. Explore motivation, conflict, power dynamics and the psychology behind your protagonist and antagonist.

15/10/26 — Setting, Atmosphere & Creating Unease
Discover how setting can become an integral part of your thriller. Explore atmosphere, isolation, confinement and sensory detail, and learn how familiar places can be transformed into environments filled with tension and unease.

22/10/26 — Crime, Investigation & Authenticity
Featuring Stuart Gibbon — Former Senior Detective & Crime Consultant

Go behind the scenes of real-world crime and investigation. Explore police procedure, evidence, interviews and investigative realities, with the opportunity to put questions relating to your own story directly to an experienced former detective.

Block Two: Craft

Build a story that keeps readers turning the pages

29/10/26 — Structure, Plot & Story Architecture
Turn your idea into a compelling narrative. Explore turning points, escalation, cause and effect, timelines and different approaches to plotting, and develop a structure that supports both your story and characters.

5/11/26 — Suspense, Tension & Pacing
Learn how to control the reader's experience. Explore escalating stakes, uncertainty, threats, chapter structure and pacing, and discover techniques for creating and sustaining tension throughout your novel.

12/11/26 — Voice, Point of View & the Unreliable Narrator
Explore who should tell your story — and what they allow the reader to know. Look at first and third person, single and multiple viewpoints, distinctive narrative voice and the particular opportunities and challenges of unreliable narrators.

19/11/26 — Through an Editor's Eyes
Featuring Emily Reader — Professional Editor

Discover what happens when a professional editor approaches a manuscript. Explore what an editor looks for, the different stages of the editorial process and the author-editor relationship, with an opportunity to ask your questions live.

Block Three: Advance

Bring the pieces together and take your novel forward

26/11/26 — Twists, Reveals, Clues & Misdirection
Learn how to create twists that surprise without cheating the reader. Explore clues, red herrings, misdirection and carefully timed revelations — and how to work backwards from a major reveal to plant what the reader needs along the way.

3/12/26 — Endings & Delivering the Payoff
Bring your thriller to a satisfying conclusion. Explore climaxes, final revelations, character resolution and how to deliver on the promises and questions established at the beginning of your novel.

10/12/26 — From First Draft to Submission-Ready
Learn how to step back from a completed draft and identify what needs strengthening. Explore structural revision, scene and prose editing, working with beta readers and feedback, and the stages involved in moving towards a submission-ready manuscript.

17/12/26 — From Manuscript to Publication
Featuring Nicky Lovick, Phoebe Morgan and Emma Grundy Haigh

Take an inside look at what happens when you're ready to send your novel into the world. In this live panel session, a literary agent and two senior publishers will share their perspectives on what they look for, submissions and acquisitions, positioning your novel and what happens when someone says yes, followed by an extended opportunity to ask your own questions.

Who is the programme for?

You don't need to have written a novel before, and you don't need to arrive with a fully formed plot.

The programme is suitable if you're:

• Starting with the beginnings of an idea
• Planning your first psychological thriller
• Already working on a novel
• Looking to strengthen particular areas of your craft
• Revising a manuscript
• Interested in understanding the journey from writing to publication

Each session is designed to be practical and interactive, so you can apply what you're learning to your own novel and ask questions along the way.

Learn from industry experts

Alongside Alex's teaching, the programme includes guest sessions with:

Stuart Gibbon — Former Senior Detective & Crime Consultant
Emily Reader — Professional Editor
Nicky Lovick — Literary Agent, WGM Atlantic
Phoebe Morgan — Executive Publisher, Simon & Schuster UK
Emma Grundy Haigh — Editorial Director, Boldwood Books

You'll have opportunities to hear directly from professionals working across crime investigation, editing, agenting and publishing — and to put your own questions to them.

Want to read more about the programme, Alex and the guest experts before booking?

View the full course information →