As part of NCW’s Lit From the Inside programme, Casper Rhodes-Leeder took part in a webcam writing workshop led by UNESCO City of Literature virtual writer in residence Liz Breslin. Here, Casper presents a poem inspired by online learning and working from home during the pandemic – and reflects on the ways that everyday technology can inspire your writing.

Webcams are a relatively recent invention in the scheme of things. The first commercial webcam – which was black and white, connected via a serial port, and cost $100 – was released in 1994. I can’t imagine how the world could cope during a pandemic 30 years ago, let alone even farther back (although I don’t suppose they had national lockdowns and rules of six during The Plague). Webcams have become an integral part of many people’s day-to-day lives, whether through online learning, working from home, or the weekly friends and family quiz. Despite potential privacy breaches and the easily forgettable omniscience of webcams, it’s hard to get by without them. Virtual writer in residence Liz Breslin led me to think deeper about the webcam and it’s many roles through her fantastic writing prompts. I didn’t immediately consider the poetic nature of video calling, but during lockdown it’s more vital than ever to draw inspiration from your surroundings. A greater awareness of the everyday can produce some brilliant writing.

As the third lockdown has continued, online lessons have become normality to me. I remember last summer returning to my Sixth Form for a mere two hours of face to face learning for each of my A-level subjects. The empty classrooms and hallways felt surreally haunted for the last weeks of summer term, normally so vibrant and busy, yet I was incredibly relieved to be back. All of my teachers have been wonderful, wise and hard-working during my online lessons. However, the atmosphere of a hot July day in a stuffy classroom, shirt sleeves rolled up reciting Shakespeare, and afterwards, sitting outside with my friends in the sun during breaktime, cannot be replicated over video call.

A greater awareness of the everyday can produce some brilliant writing.

Despite this, we are still able to connect and create new experiences over video calls in different ways. I have become familiar with the humour and embarrassment of answering a question whilst my microphone was muted. I have taken satisfaction in submitting a word document to my teachers that took hours of typing, and then turning off my laptop. I have smiled seeing my classmates’ pets and family in the background of their videos. I miss many people and parts of my life in the past, but I can try to appreciate the tell-your-grandkids uniqueness of the last year. I encourage people to not only get through these hard weeks by looking to the future and anticipating the return to ‘normality’, but also by paying attention to the incomparable moments that happen every day.

Inspired by Liz’s workshop and the grid layout of zoom video calls, I wrote the following piece:

Imagining the City brings together five writers from UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world to explore connections between Norwich and their cities; link up with local writers; and work on a range of commissions. Read more

Image (c) Waldemar Brandt