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Writing During a Pandemic

Normally, I am a very creative person and write as often as I can. But now? Not so much. Why is that? I have nothing but time on my hands. I’m stuck at home and need to find ways to entertain myself. I work on jigsaw puzzles with my husband. I cook. I clean. I do the laundry. I watch TV and DVDs. I study the German language. Our daughter is teaching it to us. I occasionally go for a walk in our neighborhood.

That doesn’t sound like a writer’s life.

It’s ironic that while I’m stuck at home, my creativity seems to be stuck as well–at least a good amount of the time. Where has it gone? I’m working on two novels, each with about ten chapters written, and  have both of them mostly planned out already. All I need to do is sit down and crank out the pages. Some days, I can do that, but other days I stare at a blank screen and have nothing to say? Some days I don’t even turn on my computer (the one I use for writing my novels).

I’ve talked to many other writers. Most of them say the same thing. It’s write write write and then nothing for several days. Rinse and repeat.

Why is that? Is it because we spend too much time talking with friends on Facebook, getting into heated debates on social media, checking the worldwide coronavirus numbers online, or watching the daily news briefings about Covid-19? Even if we don’t do those things and just watch TV, we get inundated with commercials that talk about the pandemic and about how concerned the companies are about keeping us safe.

Are we writers and artists and other creative-type allowing our fears to run rampant and squelch our creativity?

Probably. At least some days.

Maybe we need to step back from the news, from social media sites, etc. for a day every now and then and give ourselves a break, a chance to recover and recharge.

Please stay safe everyone and take those breaks, if you need them. We will get through this.

And, for my writer friends out there: We can do this. We will write!

 

 

 

 

susanfinlay :

View Comments (3)

  • I can’t imagine how hard this time is for you. You are so creative and your stories flow and allows your readers to escape into a new world as we read. You just need to take this time to escape from all the crazy and just try to relax and escape as you need to. You know your readers will be there for their next adventure when you are ready to share with us, we aren’t going anywhere. Stay healthy, stay safe, be happy by whatever you need to do so.