Interest area: culture

Calling all crime writers. Have you ever wondered what the police think about crime fiction and how their experiences compare to the fictional narratives on TV crime shows or in novels? And how important is authenticity in crime writing anyway? What do you struggle with in your own writing and where do you research all the necessary information about crime scenes and police procedures?

Join academics from LJMU to hear about policing, crime scenes, common crime fiction tropes and styles and what you can do to enhance your crime writing.

Catherine Cole is a Visiting Professor at Liverpool John Moores University where she was formerly Associate Dean, Research and Professor of Creative Writing and a member of the university’s Board of Governors. She is also an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Wollongong in Australia. She has published 11 books including crime fiction, non-fiction, short stories and memoir. Her poetry, stories, essays and reviews have been published in Australia and internationally and produced by BBC Radio 4.

Carol Cox is a former police officer and now heads up higher education’s most successful unit for higher skills in policing in England, the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies (LCAPS), part of LJMU’s School of Justice Studies and a model nationally, praised by chief constables and officers alike.

Heather Panter is a retired American police detective with 2,000 hours of police specific training and a combined 13 years of law enforcement experience. As a senior lecturer, she is the programme leader of LJMU’s MSc Policing and Criminal Investigations and the module leader on the following graduate modules: “Advanced Investigative Skills”, “Forensic and Medicolegal Death Investigations”, and “Drugs: Recognition and Identification”. She created and oversees LJMU’s policing studies crime scene science area where students and staff have a multidisciplinary learning space to conduct “mock” crime scene exercises/ research studies.

A 2 day intensive with Lucy Hopkins for clowns and creators of live performance

Connect to the creative, ridiculous spirit of your thing and work out how to share it with a roomful of people in a way that they will love. 

PROCESS: 

1/ Connect to mind, heart, body (and silliness) 

2/ Enjoy yourself (haha doesn’t really matter) 

3/ Try the thing you want to do (bravery gosh I mean this) 

4/ Work out how to go deeper, make it better and fall in love with it (sweet work) 

5/ Build pathway back to reality with treasures gained in workshop (absorb, reflect, share) 

WHAT WILL WE DO? 

We will set some intentions, move our bodies, play some games, show our beautiful, ridiculous selves and try to get to the heart of how to share that thing we love. 

WHY SHOULD I COME? 

To reenergise your creative practice by having a really silly time, get some helpful feedback, meet some cool idiots. To get all the benefits of working in an inspiring, honest and supportive environment and finding out what you didn’t know you could make yet. Also laughter is so so good for you. 

WHO IS IT FOR? 

Clowns and creators of live performance of all kinds who would like the experience of finding or working on something with guidance, in a group of creative ridiculous sorts. 

You can bring an idea or something you’re already working on, or come with nothing and discover something new. Both are an excellent approach. 

All levels of experience encouraged. 

COST: 

PWYW £120 – £240. Please pay what you are able. If these prices remain out of reach, contact Lucy here: wearelucy@gmail.com 

Followed by the opportunity to leap into THE UNKNOWN: a Show-Portal for Very First Shares. Saturday eve 7pm, 90 mins. Mixed bill of 5 minute acts never before performed in front of an audience!

Open to all workshop participants. Hosted by your humble steward of the unknown, Lucy Hopkins. 

Sat: 10.30-5.30pm

Sun: 10-5, followed by a sharing 7 – 8.30pm