Moscow is home to a vibrant writing community. Students and faculty at the University of Idaho as well as the broader community participate in literary events, writing groups and more in normal times. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has impacted the way Moscow writers interact.
Sonya Bramwell is one of the organizers of the Kenyory Writing Group. Normally, the Kenyory Writing Group meets on Saturdays to write together at Café Artista. Bramwell said the group is like having a gym buddy — the writers support each other and provide accountability.
However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Café Artista has not been available as a meeting space, and the writers have had to stop meeting face to face.
“I haven’t done a ton of writing,” Bramwell said. “I’m home all day long with the kids, and the group was my little escape to get out and go interact with adults, have coffee and do some writing. So, it’s a little bit more challenging now.”
Bramwell said the writers have used their normal messaging app to check in but have done their writing alone. At one point, the members considered using Zoom meetings for critique sessions rather than writing sessions with one another.
UI writing groups have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well. Director of Creative Writing Programs Tobias Wray said he has observed impacts to graduate and undergraduate programs and his personal writing communities.
“We were meeting with the MFA folks, the graduate students, along with other creative writing faculty, and the general refrain was that it’s been a bit too distracting to read or write right now,” Wray said. “We’re not really being productive. We’re trying to get through balancing new online classes and finishing up coursework. I think everyone’s more interested right now in checking in with loved ones, friends and family near and far.”
Wray said writing courses and groups have moved online, and literary events, like public readings and book launches, have been canceled. He said some groups, like the Woodland Pattern Book Center in Milwaukee, have posted writing prompts online and hosted virtual events.
Bramwell and Wray said they have written much less than normal. Wray has spent his time reading, advising and checking in with friends, family and creative writing students. Bramwell has focused on taking care of her children.
Interacting with writing communities has helped both Bramwell and Wray maintain their mental health. Bramwell said the Kenyory Writing Group members have shared memes, creative challenges and support with one another. Wray has participated in Zoom meetings with friends in the writing community as well.
The Kenyory Writing Group members discussed implementing critique sessions before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Bramwell said if the group members can find a solution to implementing critiques, the sessions may continue after the pandemic ends.
Some things in the writing community, however, cannot be moved online. Wray said Zoom meetings are not a perfect replication for live conversations.
“I personally hope that on a social level, things change a bit more,” Wray said. “We have a better understanding of the spaces we need, of what people mean to us and why we do things like write, why we pursue other people’s stories and engage in conversation. That in-person interaction might become more essential.”
Wray said there will be novels, poems, movies and other creative media written about this time. He said these stories will be used to help the community process the events of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think at our core we’re looking to better understand stories, looking to better understand ourselves through telling each other our stories,” Wray said. “Right now, everyone’s story is actively changing. I think to better understand the impact of this moment, we’re going to have to look for stories as they unfold.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]