National Writers Series launches website to collect pandemic stories — and there are prizes

TRAVERSE CITY — There are a lot of stories about the coronavirus these days. But those stories aren’t your story. And that’s the one the National Writers Series (NWS) wants to make part of local history. NWS co-founder Anne Stanton says the organization has launched a website, Life in the Time of Virus, to capture this history. The compendium of entries is planned to become a permanent digital archive, thanks to support from the Traverse Area District Library. NWS wants people to write about their experiences during this one-of-a-kind moment in history, where you live it, as you live it. Writers of any level are invited to submit their story in one of three categories: elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult. Each category will be awarded first, second and third prizes. "What we want is what you feel today as the story is swirling around you like you are standing in Lake Michigan," Stanton said. "You have your space, the news is a blizzard, your friends are doing one thing, your family is doing another, and your brain and your eyes are working overtime … What are you seeing, what are you thinking? What would you like your children to know about this, and how they should live through this experience, if some like this happens again?" NWS is accepting submissions from anywhere in the world, but prizes will be awarded to those living in the five-county area: Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Kalkaska. Submissions need to less than 500 words — and civil. Writers can enter more than once, but are eligible for only one prize. Submissions will appear with first name and last initial, but full names are needed on the entry form. Judging will begin on June 30, with winners announced at the NWS summer fundraiser on Aug. 22. Prizes range from $50-$100-$350 Downtown Traverse City gift certificates for the three adult winners to $25-$50-$100 cash prizes for three elementary students. Because the story is evolving day-by-day, week-by-week, the website will stay open indefinitely. Learn more and enter at: http://lifeinthetimeofvirus.org