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Why It’s Tough to Be Creative In a Disaster
Writing through difficult times
When social events and gatherings first started getting canceled due to COVID-19, I thought I’d have plenty to write about, and more time to write.
After all, think of the great works of literature that were created out of boredom!
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, for instance, was written in 1816, a “year without a summer.” A volcanic eruption had caused cold, gloomy weather worldwide, so Shelley and friends wrote to pass the time.
But instead of drafting a novel, I’ve been playing Solitaire. I’ve also been spending more time in bed than at my writing desk. I could be creating the next sci-fi masterpiece. What gives?
We certainly have more distractions, in the form of games and the Internet, than people did 200 years ago. It’s easier to tweet than it is to create a new genre of literature.
The pandemic has also upended some of my previous article ideas. A lot of my drafts seem unimportant when compared to our new normal.
Everyone is also under a lot of stress right now. It’s tough to focus on writing when, in the back of my mind, I’m wondering if the grocery store will have food and supplies the next time I go. Sound familiar?
