Siyahi's Writers' Retreats:
Chapter Four – A Masterclass in Crime Fiction
The Plot Thickens - Write Crime at a Fort
A 17th-century fort. Three of India's sharpest crime writing minds.
A masterclass in crime fiction unlike anything else in the country.
1–8 June 2026 · Alila Fort Bishangarh, Jaipur · Limited to 15 writers
Imagine writing a crime story in a place that has witnessed centuries of intrigue.
Where narrow corridors invite secrets.
Where watchtowers overlook vast landscapes.
Where every stone seems to hold a story.
For one week, the fort becomes a space where writers explore the craft of crime fiction - from the psychology of motive and the architecture of suspense to endings that feel both surprising and inevitable.
This is not a casual writing getaway.
It is an intensive exploration of how crime stories truly work.
With mentors Madhulika Liddle, Milee Ashwarya, Saksham Garg.
Meet the Mentors
Madhulika Liddle
Acclaimed crime writer, author of the Muzaffar Jang series, Madhulika will work with you on the architecture of mystery, psychological motive, and the clue structures that make crime fiction impossible to put down.
Milee Ashwarya
Publisher at Penguin Random House India, Milee will give you direct, unfiltered insight into what crime manuscripts she actually acquires, what makes them stand out, and how to position your work for publication.
Saksham Garg
Bestselling author, literary agent, marketing wizard, Saksham will decode the market reality of crime fiction in India and internationally, and help you understand how a manuscript becomes a bestseller.
Psychology. Plot. Dialogue. Stakes. Endings.
More than just inspiration, The Plot Thickens is structured as a hands-on writing laboratory. Each day combines masterclasses, craft discussions, one-on-one mentoring sessions, writing exercises, close reading of crime fiction, and focused conversations about plot, character, and structure. Learn how to:
- Design a compelling crime and believable–or at times unbelievable–motives
- Construct tightly woven plots that sustain nail-biting suspense
- Build investigators, suspects, and morally complex characters
- Balance clues, red herrings, and narrative tension
- Use setting, atmosphere, and pacing to heighten intrigue
- Avoid common pitfalls in crime storytelling
This retreat is not a passive workshop. It is an immersive writing experience where every session is designed to strengthen your storytelling.
From motive to endings: an intensive week on the craft of crime writing.
Very few genres demand as much discipline from a writer as crime fiction.
A single weak clue, an implausible motive, or a rushed ending can unravel an entire narrative. The best crime novels work because every element—character, structure, dialogue, setting, and suspense—functions with precision.
But when it works, crime fiction becomes one of the most compelling forms of storytelling. It allows writers to examine the psychology of wrongdoing, the mechanics of justice, and the emotional cost of truth.
Readers return to the genre again and again for the same reason: a great crime story is impossible to abandon halfway. This retreat is designed for writers who want to understand how such stories are built—and how to write one of their own.
At the retreat, you have the opportunity for a one-on-one manuscript consultation with the mentors, who will provide direct feedback on how your project is positioned for the commercial market. You leave the retreat with:
- A clearer direction for their crime writing project
- Practical tools for plotting, suspense, and character development
- Insight into the publishing and marketing of crime fiction
- Actionable feedback from mentors and peers
- The momentum to continue writing beyond the retreat
A rare opportunity to study crime fiction with masters of the genre - inside a fort built for intrigue
Alila Fort Bishangarh is not a hotel that happens to be in a fort. It is a 230-year-old warrior citadel, perched 190 metres above the Aravalli plains, converted into one of India's most celebrated luxury properties.
Each room is set within original stone walls. Mornings begin with mist over the plains. Evenings end at a terrace where the only light is from the valley below. The fort was built for watchfulness, strategy, and the keeping of secrets — precisely the qualities that crime fiction demands.
Writers will have access to the pool, gym, lawns, curated meals, alongside dedicated writing spaces within the fort. This is accommodation that becomes part of the creative experience itself, not a backdrop to it.
At the Alila Fort Bishangarh, writers will find something rare:
Time to think.
Time to write.
Time to refine their story.
Testimonials
Learn not only how to write crime fiction, but how crime novels survive the real world of publishing.
Serious crime writers will want to be here.
Limited spots available.
