How to Keep Writing During the Pandemic
How to Keep Writing During the Pandemic
By, Celeste Chin
My house was quiet when I rolled out of bed early yesterday morning. I made my way to the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. After dropping a few cat treats on the floor for my circling feline, I grabbed my cup from the Keurig and headed for the television. Watching the morning updates on COVID-19 had become my obsession. But as I rounded the corner, I gave a passing glance to my computer and stopped short of picking up the remote. Before this pandemic, early mornings were my most productive writing time. But my usual routine suddenly changed when our daily lives all but shut down.
So, instead of turning on the news, I headed to the basement–my favorite reading place. I curled up on my well-worn couch as I picked up a book off the coffee table. After a few sips of hot coffee and a few pages in, my mind was transported to another place and time. An hour passed before I reluctantly shut the cover, lifted my empty mug, and rose from the couch. My mind was clear and relaxed. The very inspiration I sought, less than 12 hours before, showed up in droves and I made a beeline for my computer.
So, I ask: With more time to write, has your creativity self-quarantined itself elsewhere? Have you struggled to write anything down? Or have you abandoned your writing goals completely? If your answer is a resounding “yes” to any one of the previous questions, then follow these steps:
Be kind to yourself. Life as we know it has changed for the foreseeable future. Accept that you will need time to adjust.
Know what frees your mind and sparks creativity. Creative thoughts and ideas come to us when our minds are open and unencumbered. Almost every writer I know has a specific time or place when they are open to inspiration. Some claim it happens while they’re about to fall asleep, during a shower, while driving, after watching a movie, or reading a good book. Think about where you typically process your best and most creative thoughts. Then go there and do that activity. If that is no longer working due to current circumstances, try other ways to open and relax your mind–just as I changed my morning routine. Again, be kind and patient with yourself.
Knowing where and when you work your best. Think about the places and time when you were most able to write your thoughts and ideas. Do you typically work best when the house is silent or when there is activity around you? Do you work better in the early morning or late at night? Take into consideration your new environment and find the time that will be most conducive to the way you write best.
Note that prior to recent events, your inspiration and ability to write may have happened in tandem. You may need to accept that this may no longer be the case. When the ideas start flowing, write them down or record yourself a message on your phone. Then come back to them later when the situation is optimal for you to write.
Create a new routine in your new normal. Once you can answer the above points you will be able to create a new writing routine and let your creativity flow again and get back to your writing goals.
Remember, during adverse times we can feel a lack of control which can add stress to our lives–the great killer of creativity. Focus on the things you can control, such as creating a new schedule that works for your writing. If you are like me, your writing will be cathartic and give you a much-needed break from the worries of today.
If you have any questions or need to talk through something you are working on, please email us at info@creativelicensepublishing.com. We are here for all writers during this time and are giving FREE advice to keep you on track and moving forward toward the goals you set for yourself.
Stay well.