#WritingInLockdown Challenge ~ 1.0
I started the #WritingInLockdown challenge on the Facebook and Instagram pages of A Rustic Mind, where I have been writing and posting a poem on each day, beginning from 21st March, 2020. Answering below, a few FAQs I got on this segment/challenge:
What gave you the idea to start this challenge?
I hadn’t been getting time to engage in hobby writing/creative writing since the past few months. The only writing I had been able to do since the beginning of this year was professional writing. The lock down brought in some free time, mentally and physically. And I was badly missing my writing hobby which was a solace for me. Also, I saw many people engaging in nominating friends and family over various challenges. Since this is the only thing I’m good at, it led to the ideation and implemetion of #WritingInLockdown challenge.
Has this been helpful?
Oh yes! I haven’t felt so liberated, at least mentally, in a long time! My creativity as a writer is coming out superbly!
Do you plan to continue this segment/challenge now that the lock down has been extended?
Yes, very much so! I intend to post a poem, microtale, musing, or just about anything, for each day of this lock down, till it continues.
In what other ways has this challenge been helpful?
Honestly, this has kept my mind off the negativity surrounding the Covid-19. Not to mention it keeps me creatively engaged too.
That’s about everything I have been asked on DMs regarding this challenge. Since lock down 1.0 has ended, I thought of starting on a new note with the lock down 2.0 (starting on 15th APril, 2020)
So sharing all the writings of the lock down 1.0 in this blog post. So far I have written 24 poems/musings under this challenge.
1. World Poetry Day
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#WritingInLockdown challenge Day 1: Wrote a little poem (after a long time) on this World Poetry Day. May the reader, writer and poet in you be inspired by the magic of poetry and words, today and always. Happy World Poetry Day, folks.
2. Life in Quarantine
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#WritingInLockdown challenge Day 2:
What to do?
Wake up and exercise and exercise at home, together if you can.
What to do?
Decide what to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner, help each other prepare the meals and have them together.
What to do?
Clean the house together because nobody got time to do it in busy schedule and right now calls for it.
What to do?
Watch a movie together, get your family into the ‘Netflix and chill’ mood.
What to do?
Listen to music together, dance to it or let it play as you cook, play games or clean the house together.
What to do?
Help out the women with household chores like cutting and chopping, cleaning the utensils, starting the washing machine or putting out the washed clothes for drying.
What to do?
Play card games, board games or read a book together.
What to do?
Call friends and relatives to catch up and ask them how they’re doing.
What to do?
Engage in DIY activities like painting, baking, and other creative activities, together.
What to do?
If out of options to do stuff and bored, stop each other from stepping out of the house.
What to do?
Be there for each other and with each other.
What to do?
Stay indoors as much as you can, because THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
What to do?
Use this time to analyse and realize your mistakes, and strive to BE A BETTER HUMAN once this is over.
3. The Little Joys
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#WritingInLockdown challenge Day 3
And when the dark times passed,
Never again did she take for granted, the simple things in life.
From a walk in the park, to enjoying a sunset on the beach.
From a hike up a hill, to witnessing the sunrise indicating a new day and beginning.
From the scent of the flowers, to the sound of birds chirping and water flowing by in a stream.
From family to friends, checking up regularly and hoping for everyone’s well being.
From the house help to the cleaner, valuing everyone’s work whether small or big.
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Here’s hoping we come out healed, whole and better on the other side of this world health crisis. Stay strong, people 
