Need ideas with a YA writing group...

The theme is going to be mysteries to coincide with their reading group and a visit from the Alaskan State elect Laureate, John Straley.

So what's this all about? Well, I would like some help and tips for the group. I've volunteered to conduct the writing group and I know a little bit of what I want to do, but my genre is Fantasy. I love reading mysteries but have never written one.

The writing group will last June through October and at the end of it all they want a Mystery story to present.

What I need are activities and discussion topics relating to the mystery genre. What kind of assignments can I give them since we'll only be meeting once a month. (I might ask to change that. Alot can happen in a month and kids don't always keep up with things.)

I suppose I am also trying to anticipate some of their questions but can't really do that. I know the basics for writing, sentence structure and grammar. I can help them with dialogue, plot, characters, things like that but am wondering how to go about structuring a mystery.

Thanks!

Group effort. It will be worked on over the course of the summer and should be finished by October.

Thanks Kate! I will keep you posted. Under the Writing for YA section, someone suggested making a crime scene and having the kids write about it. I've got the basics of writing of course, but I've never written mysteries so I just needed a little help. Thanks for that!