I’m 8 days into my self-proclaimed #PlayIn19Days challenge and… I’m doing okay. In terms of my own guidelines, I’m actually a little behind. But I have a great idea/approach that I’ve never done before so I think that earns me a little leeway. Anyway, I wanted to blog a little bit about what I’m writing, to document my process and articulate the story. So here you go:

The play I’m writing is entitled Waiting for Villa. It’s about a Nicaraguan community that is uprooted by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Specifically (as I have written so far), it follows a man and a woman facing employment and relationship issues all while the storm rages Central America.

My idea is to tell the story through several short scenes (1-3 pages long) and this is how I’m approaching the 19 days part. Each day, my goal is to write at least 1 scene that moves the story forward. I think it’s neat and somewhat easy. This approach also lends to the fact that I did not live this experience, living in Nicaragua, escaping a hurricane. The short scenes allow me to write very little, while also opening a window to the truth.

This story is inspired by the small village of Villa Catalina, in Chinandega, Nicaragua. I was privileged to have visited the village through Teatro Catalina and Amigos for Christ last March. I got to see this poor community and meet some of the families and play with a lot of the children. We got to learn about the history of Villa, from before Hurricane Mitch all the way to the present. Many people don’t realize that the effects of a hurricane can be detrimental and life-changing. What’s worse is that some governments ignore the state of living of their people, making it difficult for families to prosper and children to get an education. Teatro Catalina is a company that advocates for theatre education for kids in Villa Catalina. A lot of people in the states (and everywhere) underestimate the power of theatre, but for a kid in Nicaragua, it can mean confidence and leadership and hope for the future. So I’m using my theatre education and my privilege to write a play, to enlighten the world on the horrific hurricane and the hope that followed.

I hope to finish in 19 days mostly to just finish it but also to give me time to edit it. I will reach out and do some more research to make sure that the story is realistic and factual. And I may want to submit it to some contests because why not? I really want this story to be shared, one way or another. If you have any insights, please share. 🙂 

On another note, writing every day is helping me, emotionally. I knew that it would help me feel more whole, more purposeful. Creating is good for my soul!

To follow my writing and life on a more daily/140-character basis, you can follow me on Twitter @marissamaym .