A Writer’s Life During the Pandemic
Staying connected via your laptop when story telling seems trivial
Having written both fiction and nonfiction to reach readers, I think I am qualified to speak about the murky world we are navigating.
Communication other than the news has been suspended, meaning live broadcasts and venues have been closed and shuttered,respectively, for safety during the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The government’s draconian measures seem to be like scenes from sci-fi films and shows — everything from the cinematic throwback Escape from New York to the more recent adaptation of the Handmaid’s Tale streaming on Hulu.
Crackdowns and bull horns and rationing and travel passes
We are not there yet, but we are not yet excluded from these measures. Will it come down to it? Plans change hourly. Rumors abound.
Books and laptops with streaming libraries seem the likely solace. Many writing forums are giving scribes, like me, a respite by opening up a topic and inviting people to respond to connect and to affirm.
WEEK 1:
My experiences so far— not to disparage any of these groups — is that the participants on these writer’s forums are venting, not writing. They are connecting by sharing frustrations, which is a function of their experiences.
As writers we are told “write what you know.” What I know is there is a microscopic villain and the heroes — my protagonists — are the vaccine makers who have yet to provide the magic saving bullet.
I write to clarify my thoughts (the voices in my head) and tell a story that is relatable. What is relatable is that economic concerns feel real and social distancing sucks. None of this is fun to think about, much less write about.
WEEK 2:
Like many writers, I can not do my side hustle — pet care — because most of my clients are at home working. Only a few months ago, this would have seemed like a gift. Great, I would have said to myself, more time to write.
I am texting loved ones, cleaning, taking power walks, scrolling social media sites, basically anything else but writing. Why?
Writing seems almost like a betrayal of the social contract. I should be spending more time on more serious endeavors, but the alternatives I have chosen have not been redeeming. Ok, I did sign up to foster a dog….
WEEK 3:
I considered blogging about “tips and tricks” to pass the time. The key word is “considered.” That is providing more useless content in cyberspace.
Maybe pulling up old journals is next, or better yet writing as if I get amnesia. I will try to turn back the clock and time travel (mentally) to write the stories I would want to read pre-Coronavirus.
Actually, as time passes the amnesia part becomes easier. Once the shock and fear subside, it is easier to access the creativity that temporarily went into hiding.
Stay tuned…
