Storytelling is as old as we are from recounting our own adventures to creating complex fantasy worlds, storytelling is a way to explain the world around us and escape the place we are in. Perfect in fact for escaping from a global pandemic or processing what's happening.
You wouldn't be the first to put pen to paper and write about your lockdown experiences. Elizabethan London was with riddled with diseases but regular outbreaks of bubonic plague shutdown the theatres. Between 1603 and 1613 London Theatres were closed 60% of the time because outbreaks. Research suggests that William Shakespeare may have written King Lear while in lockdown as a result of plague.
The thing is you don't have to write some epic, everyone's story is unique and fascinating. Storyteller and awesome, spoken word poet Sarah Kay shares her love of hearing other people's lives and shares some of her own.
However, if you need some help to get started on telling your story BookBound 2020 kicks off today. It's a virtual book festival running for the week via youtube (plus it's staying available afterwards if you missed it). You can find the programme here. Plus there are lots on other places to get help on writing including The Scottish Book Trust, who also run a monthly writing competition. Or Authorfy who are publishing 10 minute challenges to get you going.
Now you just need to grab a pen and start telling your own story!
Take it further
Shakespeare's globe are posting full play for free for limited time - right now it's Romeo and Juliet. There are also more from the Bard on the BBC iplayer which has performances from the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House as part of their lockdown programming..
If you fancy reading about others dealing with isolation here are some recommendations:
The Martian - Andy Weir. Stranded on Mars and with no apparent way home, can he survive long enough for help to come?
Room - Emma Donoghue. Jack is 5 and the room is his whole world, but he and his mother are prisoners to Old Nick.
Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon. Girl who is allergic to the world is stuck in her house with only her mum and nurse for company.
