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Strange times writing notes:
1. I believe that the same faculty of envisioning that allows creative writing is often involved in how we read the news. That can mean that working during a crisis is very hard, because you just find yourself imagining bad outcomes.
Conversely…
1. I believe that the same faculty of envisioning that allows creative writing is often involved in how we read the news. That can mean that working during a crisis is very hard, because you just find yourself imagining bad outcomes.
Conversely…
2. If you can get through or around that, you can occupy your scenario-exploring mind with your chosen narrative rather than whatever horror show is playing out, and that helps stop you going mad with fear and rage.
3. Getting there can be tricky, so it’s important not to make it harder for yourself. If you find yourself working on the “wrong” thing, cut yourself some slack. Work on it. Let it calm you down and see if you can circle back.
4. Your normal workflow may be disrupted either by practicalities or by mood. That’s fine. You may produce short fragments from different areas of your story. That’s great! Bank ‘em, then edit them in later - maybe as a way to climb the wall when/if you feel disconnected again.
5. Or you may find you just work for hours and everything else goes to shit around you. That’s ok too - it has a grand literary history - but don’t let it hurt those you care about. Writers who can’t step back tend to have sad lives. Don’t valorise being a gigantic ass for art.
6. Writing is always a marathon. Writing now is some kind of weird orthogonal endurance race where you can use any vehicle, route, tool or cheat that works… but remember that life comes first. Be a bit kind to yourself. The trick is to make it through. The writing will happen.
