Creative writing assignments #6

Task#6: The Second Body

Just when one body is getting cold another…?  Is it the same killer or was it someone else…?  One suspect falls…  Why?  For what reason?  What are the clues?

Reading and “listening”:  This exercise is about you paying attention to what the other person has written. 

*It is best if you are choosing/writing without knowing the killer (a surprise for the person who gave you their work!)

writing: after having read it is for you to copy (emulate) the other person’s voice and “context”- in other words you cannot invent anything that does not make sense in the world you have read about… (i.e. no aliens, unless there were aliens in the story…) 

Task:  To read another person’s work so far and “kill” one of their suspects.  You should do this using any form that you are familiar with or that (i.e. the narrative form (3^rd person- observer), interior monologue, descriptive, dialogue… etc.- poem if you wish…)

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          Which person are you going to kill?

2.          How will they die?

3.          How close are you bringing the reader to the action?

4.          Choose the form you wish to use- either one that you wish to practice or one that you feel comfortable with.

5.          As you are telling a “mystery”, be sure that you don’t say who did it! (but you can start giving a hints…)

Creative writing assignments #5

TASK #5:  Thoughts of a Criminal- INTERIOR MONOLOGUE

We know what the cops are thinking- now it is time to let the killer think for a bit.  What are they thinking?  Are they guilty?  Are they about to be discovered?  Are they planning their next murder? 

Writing interior monologue:  an interior monologue reveals what the speaker (your character) is thinking.  Rarely do we think in full sentences- so “poetic licence” is in full effect!  Please use CAPS, PUNCTUATION, and ”…” to full effect, and try to avoid full sentences. 

It is here that you allow the true voice of your killer to come through- and your killer’s true state of mind! 

Task:  write an Interior Monologue that reveals your killer’s state of mind, but not who the killer is.  This monologue can take place at anytime during your murder story (or at least up until now)    

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          IS your killer nervous or calm, cool and collected?

2.          Is she planning her next murder?

3.          Do they feel guilty or are they cold and bloodless?

4.          You might want to have them reveal their reasoning and why the killed their person… or maybe they are on the run and desperate…

5.          As you are telling a “mystery”, be sure that you don’t say who did it! (but you can start giving a hints…)

Creative writing assignments #4

TASK #4:  Bringing the suspect into Custody

You can’t let the body get too cold!  It’s time for the investigation to begin.  The cops have decided to take in some suspects.  The investigator is taking matters into her own hands- the murderer has to be found… or at least uncover some clues…

Writing dialogue:  Dialogue is a matter of format; be sure the format is correct! (Marks depend on it!)  When you write dialogue you use “” and have a new line whenever a new person talks.  You can also have bits of description in your writing to help the reader understand the mood and/or attitude of the speaker…

     

Ex.:         “Alright Sylvia, it’s time to talk.”

              “I ain’t sayin’ nuttin’”, says the young Gamin in her tattered dress.

              “A pretty girl like you,” the investigator starts, leaning in, getting his face within a hair of the Gamin’s nose, then whispers “shouldn’t be so quiet.”

              “I ain’t sayin’ nuttin’”, she says again, turning her head away slightly.  But this time she smiles slightly at of the investigator’s subtle compliment.

              “TALK!”

              The Gamin jumps with the loud sound, the investigator is still only millimetres away.

              “TALK!” he barks again.

Task:  you are going to have your investigator interview one (or more) of your suspects: 

1.       choose/create an investigator (member of the police, Private Eye, a witness taking matters into his/her own hands)

2.       Choose which suspect to interview; how does that suspect act; are they belligerent, sad, do they “spill the beans” or are they asking for their lawyer?

3.       Once you have your characters- what questions will your investigator ask?  What will he/she say and what will that reveal about the plot? 

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          Use different speech patterns for your characters.

2.          Do you need description and dialogue so your reader understands your story?

3.          Is your format correct?  How does your suspect react to the questioning?  Do they crumble under the strain?  Are the investigators playing good cop/bad cop?

4.          How is this character involved?  Are the investigators on the trail or are they barking up the wrong tree?

5.          As you are telling a “mystery” be sure that you don’t say who did it!

Creative writing assignments #3

TASK #3: Descriptive writing part ii

We have seen the people possibly responsible for a heinous crime… now it’s time to take a longer look and closer look at the crime scene.  Look at the body... look where it is... Look for a clue!

Task: Write descriptive paragraph(s) that describes the CRIME SCENE- be sure to include a view of the body and the surroundings that it is in. Include at least one clue!

Thesaurus will be good here!  Do not tell feelings- show them!

Try to use as many metaphors, similes and adjectives to create an atmosphere and “feel” of your character!

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          Is there a body?  Is it lying in a pool of blood?

2.          As you are telling a “mystery” be sure that you don’t say who did it!

3.          What is the clue(s)?  Where do they point to?

4.          Now is the time to possibly introduce (new) characters.

5.          Is there a murder weapon there?

6.          Have you packed the description full of similes and metaphors?  Are there enough adjectives?

Creative writing assignments #2

TASK #2: Description of Suspects

The suspects are scattered around the crime scene; they might be crying, looking sceptical, maybe angry that they were disturbed from their daily routine… in any case anyone of these people could bethe killer!

 

Task: Write descriptive paragraphs for your suspects (at least for three different suspects)- be sure to include not only how they look but also how they are acting (nervous, jittery, anxious, bold, etc.)  Thesaurus will be good here!  Do not tell feelings- show them!

Try to use as many metaphors, similes and adjectives to create an atmosphere and “feel” of your character!

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          Is anyone acting guilty?  Are they the Killer or did they do something else that was bad?

2.          As you are telling a “mystery” be sure that you don’t say who did it!

3.          What is the relationship of the suspects to the deceased?

4.          Do the suspects know each other?

5.          Does anyone have “blood on their hands”? (literally or figuratively) Is on of the suspects an old associate?  Old lover?

 

Descriptive writing often uses metaphors and similes to build the picture.  An extended metaphor or simile helps continue the image (i.e. If a character has “…a nose like the beak of a bird.”, you might continue the bird simile with: “When she squawked her hello, there was no sadness only anger.”)

Descriptive writing should also make use of adjectives (those words that describe nouns).  Try to talk about something rather than just name it:

The old woman

vs.

The grey, worn out hag with the drooping eyes and thin dry lips, and skin with the lines of a crumpled paper bag.

 ex. 

Creative writing assignments #1

TASK #1:  Writing Newspaper article of the murder:

Write the newspaper article as the reporter on the scene.

Questions to ask yourself/ things to think about:

1.          Did I answer the 5w’s?

2.          As you are telling a “mystery”  be sure that you don’t say who did it!

3.          is there a murder weapon?

4.          How were they killed

5.          Are there policemen’s comments?  Were there witnesses to the crime?

6.          Who are the suspects?  You should have at least 3.