I admit that I tend to be more prolific in my writing when everything is going great. When I’m feeling good and the sun is shining, the ideas seem to flow a little faster. But today, my home in normally sunny Southern California is cold, dreary and raining. The Coronavirus has our spirits feeling uncertain. It’s understandable if Winter doldrums and the global situation have left you with writer’s block. But now is when you can and should dig deep and do what you do best…Write!
Perhaps the best way to get yourself out of a writer’s block caused by the recent turn of events is to try something new and write what you wouldn’t normally attempt.
Challenge yourself by trying a new genre. This might be particularly healing if you normally write comedy and the idea of being funny just doesn’t seem apropos right now. Similarly, if you’re a romance writer, maybe the idea of writing about love isn’t ringing true at the moment. So imagine for one minute that you give yourself permission to break into a new genre based on your mood.
“The Last” by Hanna Jameson is an excellent read, and may be exactly what you need for inspiration at this time. Here is a quick synopsis:
A psychological thriller that follows an American academic stranded at a Swiss hotel as the world descends into nuclear war—along with twenty other survivors—who becomes obsessed with identifying a murderer in their midst after the body of a young girl is discovered in one of the hotel’s water tanks.
The word “stranded” in this description is particularly apt for what many of us are going through right now. In addition to the “whodunit” nature of the book, the narrative also addresses the isolation of the characters and how they deal with limited supplies and increasing boredom.
No doubt, we are all living in unchartered territory at the moment. The headlines are scary and people are reacting. Businesses we all frequent are affected and many are closing. Lines at grocery stores are long and shelves are empty. But there is one thing that doesn’t change.
You are a writer, and writers write! It is easy to become lost in our isolation and boredom. I encourage you to write about those feelings. Turn them into realistic prose. Be raw and honest. Write like you feel. Give your readers the gift of your emotions.
If you want to share your thoughts, please know that I’m here to offer support.
