Shutter speed on SX10

Just a quick question, I'm trying to take some pics with a looooooong shutter speed, to absorb all the light, kinda like those pics where people have a flashlight and spell words in the darkness and the camera picks it up. However, the longest I can set the shutter speed is 8 seconds I think? But it seems like when I take the picture, it takes the picture in less than a second. How am I able to keep the shutter open for a couple of seconds to give me a chance to "draw" something in the air? Thanks

15 seconds is the longest shutter speed on the SX10. If the camera in shutter priority mode, the shutter should stay open for as long as you set it.

Using CHDK will allow shutter times of up to 64 seconds.

Even with the long shutter speed enabled, you need to have a very dark area or you won't actually get a long shutter speed (or you'll get a horrendous overexposure). Are you sure it's dar enough where you're trying this?