Murder Mystery Workshop

It was unbelievably awesome. I loved it. I enjoyed every minute.

I can't believe that I almost didn't go.

On the first day, we started by being separated into groups and had to write and act out how we thought Ms. Priscilla Stone was murdered. But honestly, I think I could have sat there and listened to Alistair and Valerie just talk. They were so informative and just listening to their advice on writing was amazing. They offered great advice, on how to write and how to draw your readers in. We also talked about how important the senses are when writing. So, as an exercise to work on that they handing out a different item out to everyone that had to do with the a certain sense and you had to write about it. I got a little bottle of Rum Extract and had to write only on the smell, although I did slip a cheeky little blurb about its colour in there. I found it really hard to write purely on the scent but I managed to get a paragraph down, it was great to challenge myself and it really helped for the next bit of writing we did. We were given three words: she came in... And we had to write a paragraph starting with those three words. I ended up writing a page and a half but I really liked what I wrote, and so did he!! I was so unbelievably pumped that he liked it, and he mentioned that he liked it more than once! We finished up the day by talking and listening to one of Valerie's stories on the war which was read on CBC and on the radio for a few years, it was a great piece and I might have shed a tear or two, it was non-fiction, which made it impact even harder.

On day two we started by writing our very own detective to solve the murder of Ms. Priscilla. I created a roly-poly, bald gentleman who was quite vain but knew how to solve a case. It was great writing about him and I kept it a little comical because my piece on day two was a little sad. We did a few activities and talked for awhile before starting to write our very own ending to the mystery. It was crazy how diverse we all we and while I wish I had more time to delve into the topic more I think I did okay considering. It wasn't my best but I was happy with it. Afterwards though, the more amazing thing EVER happened. Every time we wrote we would have to get up in front of everyone, around twenty people, and write our work. Now, usually just the thought of letting people hear my work makes me start to hyperventilate! But Alistair said something that I think will stick with me, he said, "If you don't want to read your work or have your work read than you might as well go write a diary and go sit in your bedroom and read it all alone on your bed." It hit me then, he was totally right! It is really scary reading my work out loud for an audience or allowing someone to read it but it's something I have to get over, and I think that, maybe, that fear will always be there but I can't let it hinder me any more. If I met someone who can possibly help me any way, giving advice or giving feedback, I have to take it!

Anyway, as I was saying, I got up and read my ending to the story and Valerie told me to audition for CBC.... In complete seriousness, and more than once, she was quite consistent. She gave compliments and feedback to everyone but I was the only one she said anything like that to! She just told me that I was a really good writer and that I had a lovely voice, that I knew how to express my words quite well and that I spoke with the emotion. I was absolutely floored. It was unbelievable. I walked out of that room thinking that I can actually do this, I can write. I was walking on a high for days, I felt as if I could have done anything! This was such an incredible experience, worth every extra minute I had to spend doing homework and I feel that it really has helped my writing.