Patrick Xu.

My name is Patrick Xu and I am a Grade 9 student from Hong Kong who enjoys writing mystery and dystopian sci-fi stories with depth. When I write something that I am truly passionate about, it feels like I can see what's around me and become the character itself, and the story runs on by itself.

I am inspired by films or niche literature which often involve parts that make you think of what it’s like to be in the world that is described. My two favorite pieces of literature are Shutter Island and The Backrooms. My strength as a writer is thinking of an ending that gives the story depth and makes the reader reflect on previous happenings in the story. When I am not writing, I enjoy distance running, and my longest run was a half marathon I did by myself on an arbitrary Sunday.

Throughout the creation of my 4 writings, I personally feel that my capability in creative writing has vastly improved. I am most proud of my one act play, The 5th Chair, because I felt that this had the most depth. Writing this play has also helped me build on my skill to write through first person and different characters, which I have not previously worked a lot on.

However, this work was not one that I enjoyed the process of writing the most. It was in my Horror Short Story, Apeirophobia. The dystopian and sci-fi environment in the story was something I truly had passion about and enjoyed discovering. The concept of having an unending and liminal space has always intrigued me, and mixing that with a horror aspect turned out to be really well. I didn’t write the story and try to come up with the next sentence. Instead, I felt that everything in front of my eyes was the story itself, and I saw how the story would finish on itself.

The most challenging piece I worked on was the personal essay. As a teen, I do not have that many “paradigm shifting” experiences in life yet, and it was difficult for me to gather my memories on something important that happened. To conclude, my “show don’t tell” aspect of skill has been greatly refined, and I discovered a genre that I was truly passionate about. Creative writing now seems like something I would personally enjoy and do in my free time, contrary to my previous thought of it being a dull homework task given in school. My portfolio represents my passion, thoughts, and creativity as a writer.