Children Turn to Crime… Writing!

Whodunnits are cool. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has seen to that. The TV show has transformed the forensic scientist from a nerdy, unheard of job into being the “sexiest profession on the planet,” according to the Guardian’s TV critic Sam Wollaston.

Forensic science is now up there alongside other too-cool-they’re-hot jobs, like fighter pilot, movie star and footballer. “School advisers must be tearing their hair out,” Wollaston wrote, “not because they want to test their own DNA, but at the number of kids announcing they’ve always wanted to get into forensic science.”

On 17th July in 2008, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and Leeds Met University joined forces to help nearly a hundred kids turn to crime (writing, of course). In a series of workshops, eight to twelve year olds gathered at the Sun Pavilion in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens to spend the day immersed in detective work. It began with children’s thriller author Jan Andrew Henderson sharing his experiences writing about the dark and spookier sides of life.

Afterwards, led by Festival Reader in Residence Ann Cleeves and real life CSI Helen Pepper, the youngsters investigated a crime scene and were challenged to find clues.  Crime writers and former actors Martyn Waites and Cath Staincliffe, dressed in head to toe plastic CSI suits, lent their dramatic skills to proceedings. Once the students had pieced the crime together, they worked to write up their findings in the style of a journalist, a PI or a police report under guidance from our crime writers.

Later on the students were treated to an audience with Mark Billingham, one of Britain’s most popular crime writers, who has recently started writing thrillers for older children with friend Peter Cook, under the pseudonym, Will Peterson.  Mark had his young audience enthralled, and at the end of the day’s activities many of them said they had a new enthusiasm for reading and writing – and for murky mysteries in particular!

Festival Director Sharon Canavar said: ‘It’s wonderful to be able to create a day that demonstrates how engaging crime and thriller literature is for young people. The workshops allow children and young people to try new ideas and expand their creative writing skills and we are delighted that our partnership with Leeds Met has allowed us to create a new children’s literature event.’

Dr Jill Adam from Leeds Met University said: ‘As a University of Partnerships and Festivals, Leeds Met is committed to enhancing and expanding the educational experiences of all comers.  Working in partnership with Harrogate International Festival is a fantastic way of enabling young people to rub shoulders with the champions of crime fiction and creative writing. To then engage them in the practical workshops though CSI, ensures a fantastic and distinctive experience for all involved.’