Hatrack River Forum: Another writing challenge... this time with a purpose!

This is topic Another writing challenge... this time with a purpose! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

OK... Here's the story.

My little sister's birthday is next month, and she wants to do something unique, like host a murder game (which I did a couple years ago... she actually just wants to be like me, because I'm so awesome, but anyway)... Murder games are designed for eight people, but Maya (the sister) wants to invite eleven of her friends, for a total of twelve players.

I have been assigned the role of creating a murder mystery fit for twelve ten-to-eleven year olds. I am uncreative, unimaginative, and super busy all the time... so I thought I'd pose the problem on Hatrack!! Anyone feel up to creating a murder mystery? The cast is for 5 boys and 7 girls... good luck! I really appreciate any ideas. You can e-mail me your completed work at pigs_are_me@yahoo.com, and if you wouldn't mind posting a brief synopsis on this thread (one that doesn't give away the ending), that would be nice... Maya wants to go over them and choose her favorite.

Thanks, everyone! [Hat]

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

how old is she?
Murder mysteries seem to need-
A butler
A hunter
A rich woman
a maid
a doctor
another doctor (female)
a shauffer
a pirate captain
a ninja (I like ninjas)
a beauty queen
a famous singer
a cop.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

There are murder mystery kits out there for younger people, I considered doing one for my daughter's party.

Since they're so complex and it's a huge undertaking, you're probably better off doing that, since you say your schedule is really full.

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

Raia, I'll take you up on the challenge. I've e-mailed you some background information about the story. Let me know what Maya thinks of it.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Syn, she's turning 11... so it has to be fairly toned down, unforunately.

Belle, that occurred to me... I might have to end up doing that!

Derrell, thanks! [Smile]

I'll let you know what she thinks!

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

*bump*

An impatient little sister...
A pressing deadline...
A birthday in less than a month...
A serious lack of ideas...

Anyone?

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

What about an Asimov mystery ? There might be some guys in here who've read the books recently, why don't you give it a try ? [Smile]

Hey, this way you could introduce your lil'sis to SF ! She'll surely remember it then !

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Umm, somehow, I don't think that Sci-Fi is quite Maya's cup of tea... maybe I'll try something else first. But, thanks Corwin! [Kiss]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

*bump*

HER BIRTHDAY IS IN ELEVEN DAYS! HEEEEEEELP!!!!!

I don't know if this is going to succeed before then, but I'm bumping this thread... PLEASE if you can, help me out! I'm completely stumped. This weekend, Maya and I are sitting down and trying to figure something out together... but there's only so much she can help me, as she wants to participate, so she can't know the ending.

Being an older sister is far more difficult than one would think! [Wall Bash]

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Okay, here's one.

Take the partygoers into a room. Don't mention anything, but let them just look around. There you should plant various clues.

The "murder victim" is one of your sister's stuffed animals. Everyone has to figure out how it died, and ultimately, who did the nasty deed.

So, at some point, you turn out the lights, toss the poor dead bear (or whatever) into the center of the room with a gruesome note attached. (or have it suddenly appear hanging by its neck from the chandelier).

The who done it part is easy. Just work back from the solution when you write it, and then come up with red herrings to use to confuse things. E.g., the Winnie the Pooh was always jealous of the teddy bear, and then you find a small drop of honey near the corpse. Bwah hahhahahah

...

Oh well, I hope this helps.

You should be able to write something fairly elaborate if you think of it as small hints and then you can hide little clues all over the house.

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

Here Is a site which sells mysteries... it gives scenarios and characters but not motives/alibis and the murderer. Perhaps you could borrow some ideas from there and fill in the blanks?

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Bob: That is awesome. I'll have to definitely think about that. Thanks, pal. [Smile]

Teshi: Ooooh! Hmm... *thinks*

You guys are too cool. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! [Hail]

*goes off to contemplate the ideas so far*