Having fun in isolation can be a great source of inspiration. For example, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (the first science fiction novel) was created because she was bored during long duration of stormy weather in an isolated home (Dr. John Polidori, Percy Shelley, George Gordon "Lord" Byron were staying at the house and played as well). Sound familiar?
Let Mary Shelley inspire us during our Coronavirus/COVID-19 quarantine. We'll use her example. Maybe in 200 years, something you created during this time will be considered "a classic?"
Story Writing Game:
1) Getting Together - Make some snacks and beverages and gather your family/roommates in the living room. Don't have enough people? Invite people to play on Zoom, Facetime, Google Hangouts, or countless other virtual platforms.
2) Time Together - This can be done in one night. It can be done over several weeks. If you want to allow more participation, one part per week.
3) Choose A Theme - These can include: love, death, good vs. evil, coming of age, power/corruption, new/future technology, survival, courage/heroism, prejudice, individual vs. society, war and so many more. Feel free to make something up personal to the group, like a specific location or event.
4) Write A Story - Take 30 minutes to write a quick story. Make up a character and plot from your experience. Think of a specific location (real or made up) to put them in. What is the incident? How did that incident impact the character? What does that incident lead to? How does the character change? How is the story resolved? It doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, it's better if it's not.
5) Read the Stories - Everyone takes a turn and reads their stories and/or outlines. Use voices and act out scenes. Find props or a costume if available. When everyone is done, vote for who wrote the best story/outline.
6) We're Not Done - Take the best story and make it yours. Spend another 30 minutes using the best story/outline to make a new story. How? If it's about love, tell it from the perspective of a jealous lover. A story about hero from a villains view. Write the opposite of the story. Or add you opinions and experiences.
7) Read the Stories, Again... - Repeat step 3 and pay attention to the differences. That's it!
8) Is That Really It? - It doesn't have to be. You can take your story and work on it on your own time. Think of your inspiration. Of everyone else's point-of-view. Different opinions and experiences to the same story. Use it. Expand on it. Develop and refine it. You may surprise yourself (and others) with your (possibly monstrous) creation!
DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!
And, please feel free to contact if you have any questions or suggestions!
Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) No indoor activities
2) No sharing bathrooms
3) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.
4) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
5) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
6) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
7) Wear a mask and practice social distancing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)
8) Limit attendance. Check local health department for guidelines and restrictions.
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.
Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.
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