Secrets, suspense and stakes: writing dying and death in commercial fiction

Tue Feb 24 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm UTC+00:00

The Stove Network & Café | Dumfries

University of Glasgow | Dumfries Campus
Publisher/HostUniversity of Glasgow | Dumfries Campus
Secrets, suspense and stakes: writing dying and death in commercial fiction
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This DeathWrites Hybrid Workshop focuses on generating jeopardy in commercial fiction. Online attendees welcome.
About this Event

This workshop looks at how, in commercial fiction, we have to generate jeopardy and how characters who are dying can produce the 'perfect storm' of stake. Secrets are ideal to work up this tension and this workshop looks at the different types of secrets characters have and the stake and resolution these can construct. Commercial fiction, as a genre, has transferable skills for all writers. The demands of commercial fiction on plot and pacing can add vitality and agency to your work, from non-fiction to poetry.


When? Tuesday 24th February, 7-9pm

Where? The Stove, Dumfries High Street, and Online


About Anstey Harris

Anstey Harris lives in Dumfries & Galloway. She is a recipient of the H G Wells Short Story Prize, and the RNA Sapere Books Contemporary Novel of the Year award. Her first novel, The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton, was a Richard & Judy summer read & included in their lockdown ‘pick of the best’. Her fourth novel, The House of Lost Secrets, is set in Dumfries & Galloway.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Lost-Secrets-Anstey-Harris-ebook/dp/B0CMDMSMSB

https://blog.whsmith.co.uk/rjju19-richard-and-judy-introduce-the-truths-and-triumphs-of-grace-atherton-by-anstey-harris/

https://books.telegraph.co.uk/Product/Anstey-Harris/Where-We-Belong--The-heart-breaking-new-novel-from-the-be/24834193

https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/lake-union-snaps-up-truly-personal-novel-by-harris


About the DeathWrites Network

DeathWrites is a network supporting 30 Scotland-based writers from across disciplines and genres to write and publish powerful, accessible work on dying, death, grief and loss. It is run by Elizabeth Reeder (Creative Writing) and Naomi Richards (End of Life Studies Group) at the University of Glasgow. For more information, see https://deathwrites.org.uk/ or check out their previous event.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Stove Network & Café, 100 High Street, Dumfries, United Kingdom

Tickets

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