How Has 2020 Been Treating You?

How has 2020 been treating you as a writer? With the pandemic in full force globally, and politics raging here in the U.S., it has been a bit difficult to focus on writing projects. At least it has been for me. I write two monthly professional newsletters, do the occasional blog, and the occasional review, and have two writing projects in mind - one of which I am actually working on, and should have up on Amazon by the end of the year. I had hoped to have a short, book-length cozy mystery out for Christmas, but that is;t going to happen. I will write one in December of this year, but it won't be published until November of 2021. I will do that each year - write a short Christmas-oriented mystery to be published in the coming year.  

For those of us that self-publish, that venue is still available. For those that had books being developed by publishing companies, that might be another story. The pressure around us can easily lead to writer's block, loss of productivity, frustration, and anxiety. We may be dealing with working from home (unless we already worked from home, as I do). We may be dealing with other family members being home, and their energy interrupting our focus on work. We may be dealing with family crisis due to COVID-19. We may simply be frustrated at not being able to get a haircut, to have dinner out, or go see a show. 

We cannot travel for research, so we have to depend on the Internet. Sometimes we cannot keep our daily routines. We are not able to meet people, to interact, to have the experiences that feed our creative nature. Do we want to write about the pandemic? Personally, I do not. I may reference it in stories and books years from now, but the shock is too fresh for me to want to write about the pandemic while it is happening.

Entering 2021 we will see multiple vaccines becoming available for COVID-19. We see a new administration in the White House here in the U.S., and we see ourselves adapting to a "new normal". Whatever that "new normal" is, we will experience it and write about it. The year 2020 hit everyone hard - we need to incorporate its lessons, reprioritize our lives, and move forward.

(c) November 2020 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited without written permission from the author.

 

Sustaining Yourself As A Writer

 

What can we do to sustain ourselves as writers? This is a real question right now, as we deal with outside influences such as the current pandemic and a make or break election for our country. We need to sustain ourselves as individuals, to keep a balance with all things in life, and to be our own self-support. We need to have a passion for writing, and we need to write consistently. 

What can we do to keep ourselves motivated, and keep the words flowing?

• Start writing - start the words flowing. We can go back and fine-tune them, but we need to have something to fine-tune.  
• Use a writing prompt. This can be something that you make up yourself, or you can find them on the Internet. If you are in a writing group, you can share prompts with each other,
• Keep a journal - any kind of journal. When you are not thinking about what words need to go next, amazing ideas pop out unannounced!
• Free-write - set a time for a specific amount of time (you get to choose how much time you want to write), set a timer, and start writing. Keep writing until the timer goes off. It doesn' have to make sense - just write!
• Don't even try to be perfect on your first (or even second) draft. You will end up with something that is perfectly spelled and punctuated - and boring as all get out!
• Write every day. Be consistent.
• Set aside time to read something that interests you.
• Set up a space that is conducive to writing. The desk in my office is angled to face the door, which faces the living room. Looking up occasionally is a good way to ground and center myself. And to keep track of whatever my cats might be doing!
• Interact with other writers - whether it is in person, or online.
• Respect your writing - treat it as your job, because it is. Yes, it is also your passion, but that passion needs to support you!
• Set small, achievable goals.

Wishing you all great success with your writing!

(c) November 2020 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited without written permission from the author.