2021 Write Across America
A Writing Marathon is the realization of writing as a “moveable feast,” blending writing, a community of writers, and a journey through “place.” In the summer of 2020, four hundred teachers, students, and community members took a virtual road trip to eight Writing Project sites, engaging in place-based writing along the way. A representative sample of their writing has been published online, thanks to the work of Wesleyan undergraduate Elias Mansell.
Summer 2021 #WriteAcrossAmerica
The #WriteAcrossAmerica Virtual Writing Marathon happened again in the summer of 2021, and was open to anyone. Each stop on the itinerary lasted 90 minutes and included an orientation by the local Writing Project site to a place in their region or, to a new conception of virtual space. Each stop on the itinerary provided inspiration, time to write, time to share, and a sense of community. Local stops were facilitated by local teacher-leaders and welcomed all kinds of writing and writers. Work was shared online with the hashtag #WriteAcrossAmerica.
Goals of the marathon:
- Connect the NWP network and our wider set of colleagues through the simple act of writing together in community.
- Provide an opportunity for participants to “travel” in the time of Coronavirus and participate in a community of writers.
- Learn about different places through writing.
- Raise the collective visibility of the NWP network and our commitment to writing.
- Collect shareable resources for teachers to take their students on a virtual writing marathon in the fall.
2021 Summer Itinerary
Stops on the marathon too participants to the North/South/East and West. Participation was free.
All visits were scheduled at 2:00-3:30pm PT / 3:00-4:30pm MT / 4:00-5:30pm CT / 5:00-6:30 ET
May 25: Louisville Writing Project (KY)
June 1: Chippewa River Writing Project (MI)
June 8: South Mississippi Writing Project (MS)
June 15: Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project (PA)
June 22: Ohio Writing Project (OH)
June 29: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Writing Project (WI)
July 6: Boise State Writing Project (ID)
July 13: UCI Writing Project (CA)
July 20: Prairie Lands Writing Project (MO)
July 27: San Antonio Writing Project (TX)
August 3: Eastern Michigan Writing Project (MI)
August 10: Bay Area Writing Project (CA)