Living Through the Coronavirus

When COVID-19 shut down the state of Michigan, we knew we needed to stay connected. We needed to hear each other’s stories to process the strange new world we were living in. That’s why the National Writers Series created the Life in the Time of the Virus competition, offering awards in various categories to writers who expressed the challenges, heartaches, confusion, and even silver linings of the pandemic. Read on to hear from the writers of northern Michigan during one of the most turbulent moments of our lifetimes.

3rd Place – Create

by Emma Laible, 04/02/2020, Traverse City, Mi

High School Category


“Oh my gosh! No school for three weeks! This is gonna be great!”
“Ugh, that means I have to turn in all of my late assignments by tomorrow.”
“Girls, this is serious. This isn’t something we should be celebrating.” . . .

My Silver Lining

by Dianne Walker, 08/11/2020, Elk Rapids, MI. Adult Category

Habits and Objects

by Shivranjana R, 07/29/2020, Panaji, GA. Adult Category

It’s a Small World After All

by Barb Gordon-Kessel, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category

Daybreak

by Susan Odgers, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category

Breaking Quarantine

by Betsy Emdin, 06/29/2020, Traverse City, MI. Adult Category

Family Happiness: A medicine for us all

by MICHAEL SIMS, 06/29/2020, Traverse, MI. Adult Category

Garden of Eden–Redux

by D. Dina Friedman, 06/29/2020, Hadley, MA. Adult Category

Piano and the Living Room-Zoom

by Elizabeth Reed, 06/24/2020, Belmont, Ma. Adult Category

The Journey

by Kellie McPhail, 06/24/2020, Bellaire, Mi. Adult Category

The Privilege of a Simple Life

by Mae Stier, 06/23/2020, Interlochen, MI. Adult Category

Leisure

by Nancy Peterson, 06/22/2020, Northport, MI. Adult Category

My Corona Kids

by Nancy Peterson, 06/22/2020, Northport, MI. Adult Category

1st Place – Pandemic Percussion

by Athena Gillespie, 06/30/2020, Traverse City, MI

High School 9-12 Category


As I lay in bed, the natural light from my window slowly dwindling, I hear them. A cacophony of drums, maracas, pots, pans, and more. I glance at the clock. 8:00 PM on the dot. I wasn’t expecting a tradition that started in March to last all the way to May, but it was something I had adjusted to and learned to appreciate. Every night, my neighbors stood on their porches and banged on drums, etc. for one full minute. No less, and (usually) no more . . .

Our New Normal

by Jäeger Griswold, 06/30/2020, Central Lake, MI. High School 9-12 Category

Our Fight

by Sophie Nickel, 06/16/2020, Traverse City, MI. High School 9-12 Category

19 vs ’20

by Lucy Stiebel, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category

2nd Place – Taken for Granted

by Alyssa Masiewicz, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI

High School 9-12 Category


Before this global pandemic occurred, I never realized how lucky I was. I had two working parents. I got to go to school and be with my friends. I got to go to class and ask questions to teachers in person . . .

Curve Ball

by Haley DeLoy, 04/23/2020, Traverse City, Mi. High School 9-12 Category

The World Put on Pause

by Erin Evans, 04/22/2020, Bellaire, MI. High School 9-12 Category

A Blessing in Disguise

by Jordan Lesperance, 04/21/2020, Grawn, MI. High School 9-12 Category

Living in the pandemic

by Jamie Corn, 04/16/2020, Cadillac, Mi. High School 9-12 Category

3rd Place – Create

by Emma Laible, 04/02/2020, Traverse City, Mi

High School Category


“Oh my gosh! No school for three weeks! This is gonna be great!”
“Ugh, that means I have to turn in all of my late assignments by tomorrow.”
“Girls, this is serious. This isn’t something we should be celebrating.” . . .

Family Time enjoying Cheers!

by Jürgen Griswold, 06/30/2020, Central Lake, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

Coronacation

by Anika Hintz, 06/29/2020, Interlochen, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

The pandemic through my eyes

by Lydia Signorello, 06/10/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

My life journal: Corona-virus

by Emily Lamblin, 06/05/2020, Gaylord, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category

Taking on the world

by Mischa Beyers, 06/05/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

my experience in quarantine

by Lucy Johnson, 06/05/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

My Quarantine

by Tanner Hawley, 06/05/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

Quarantine in the eyes of a teenager

by Becky Eubank, 06/04/2020, Gaylord, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category

Life During Quarantine;:Thoughts From My Journal

by Peyton Corbin, 06/03/2020, Gaylord, MI. Middle School 6-8 Category

My Pandemic Experience, a fictional short story

by Ghannon Gray-Edel, 06/03/2020, Gaylord, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category

Is this our new normal?

by Cecilia Balog, 06/03/2020, Williamsburg, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category

Lets Get Pandemic Honest

by Alana Knepper, 06/02/2020, Gaylord, Mi. Middle School 6-8 Category

Special Mention – How The Corona Virus Impacted Me

by Savannah Wells, 05/13/2020, Boyne City, Mi

Elementary K-5 Category


Hi, my name is Savannah Wells and, well, I’m going to be telling you how my life has changed because of the Corona Virus. My mom is a flight attendant so she is considered an essential worker but according to the CDC guidelines, she is at high risk so she cannot work but she is still getting a portion of her pay so for a family of 5 we can barely make a living, but because of our wonderful schools and city, we can have snacks and a full meal . . .

Covid-19 took over my life 2020

by Ava Hissong, 05/13/2020, boyne city mi, Mi. Elementary K-5 Category

Quarantine

by Max Davis, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

3rd Place – Internal Drama

by Akyedzi Acheampong, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI

Elementary K-5 Category


Hi, my name is Akyedzi but you can call me Chez and this is what is going on in my head. Wait can pigs fly? When did I get a cow? Oh, I don’t have a cow. What’s the difference between a potato and a potato? Why am I doing this anyway? Oh yeah it is for a prize. Now I am . . .

Thoughts

by Evi Mar Danielson, 05/12/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

Pushed Away

by Emma Kerr, 05/11/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

2nd Place – At Home

by Mae Schillinger, 05/07/2020, Traverse City, MI

Elementary K-5 Category


The deer are running across the backyard.
I am six.
Will this Corona virus ever stop? . .

Odd Times

by Giuliana Dercole, 04/30/2020, Suttons Bay, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

Scared

by Cora Schillinger, 04/29/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

1st Place – Nelly Thinks

by Issabelle Brooks, 04/17/2020, Beulah, MI

Elementary K-5 Category


“Oh hey! I didn’t smell you there!” My name is Nelly. I am a German Shorthair Pointer. I’m almost a year old but I am the queen of my house. I love to help clean dad’s toes.
My sworn enemy is kitty the cat. She is as black as your nightmares . . .

Staying Home

by Morgan Runyon-Wierman, 04/17/2020, Traverse City, MI. Elementary K-5 Category

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