I have enrolled in a *Thriller Series* with Harlan Coben. It’s a video set of 23 lessons about how to write thrillers and while I’m really writing a “crime” novel, I have learnt quite a lot from this “thriller” master. Apart from the video lessons, there is also a 72 page Pdf which I’m yet to download, however, as the BBC Maestro Series state, as the writer you have it forever.

While I haven’t finished the course (I’m writing the crime novel), I have taken note that as writers we all have doubts and foibles. It’s quite refreshing to hear that even Harlan Coben, at times, has admitted that he *sucks* at the job. He states that even Stephen King, John Grisham and other writers he knows have all agreed you can have doubts about your writing. He says, ‘you have to turn off that voice in your head.’

My second novel *The Ozone Café* which is mainly about council corruption is basically White Collar Crime – and this is subversive in connection with certain characters. It goes undetected until the last owners of the café, namely the Greek Boys who lose the café before its demolition.  Corruption is often covert, and the main reason the rich and the powerful, and the top 1% that are in charge like politicians usually get away with their crimes. We see this in America today with Donald Trump & in Russia with President Putin. The Ozone Café is symbolic of the biblical story, David and Goliath. Who or what small person exactly is prepared to stand up to those in power? We see this in politics every day.

If you’re reading this, you might be interested in a short review from me about Harlan Coben’s writing *Thrillers* workshop series.

My Review

• Why did you purchase this course / what did you want to achieve?  
• Answer: I’m writing a crime novel and needed inspiration to keep going from a word count of approx. 40,000 words
• What did you learn from this course / what did you achieve?  
• Answer: I can also suck at this! But need to turn off the negative voice in  my head.
• How did the course make you feel?  
• Answer:  Good, and glad I subscribed.
• What are you going to do now that you have completed the course / how are these skills going to benefit you going forwards? 
• Answer: Not finished yet, and not putting pressure on myself while learning from H. Coben
• What was your favourite thing about the course?
• Answer: Able to go back and forth and listen to earlier videos. I need to let things sink in.
• How would you summarise the course in one sentence? 
• Answer: Valuable
• Would you recommend this course? If so, who would you recommend it to and why?  
• Answer: I have already recommended this course to a writer-friend, however she writes Sci-fi Fantasy, so BBC Maestro may have a master series for this.
• What books have you read by Harlan Coben
• Answer: I haven’t yet, but will later on. However, I was alerted to this author by watching the Netflix Series *Safe* –  it was so good I waited for the credits to roll to catch the author’s  name.

Some other things I have gleaned from H. Coben as a writer.

• When you’re spaced out, ignore all the jibes from friends /family
• Get rid of the voices of doom / all negative thoughts
• Being a writer has to be your priority
• Don’t feel selfish locking yourself away for hours at a time
• If you disappear for a couple of weeks in retreat, don’t worry about what others think
• Carry your laptop, ipad, iphone, pens or notebook with you to jot down something that has inspired you.
• Live with the mindframe that you’re a writer. We’re like seeds that need to germinate
• Eliminate distractions – washing the windows can wait!
• It’s okay to change your routine, if morning isn’t working anymore, try afternoon or evening.