In the first few weeks that the UK went into lockdown we were inundated with articles online about how much extra time people now had, and what amazing creative things they would be getting up to as a result. As someone who didn’t go out that much to begin with, who is working from home with the addition of a homeschooled teenager, I actually think I have less time available than before. I’m not sure that creativity is fuelled particularly well by global pandemics and the anxiety that is associated with them either.
It definitely took me the first month or so to find my feet and restore the balance and structure that I need to function as a human being, let alone as a part-time writer. Working from home, keeping in touch with family and friends, being available for the other members of my household and still squeezing in some writing time, it’s been a real shift mentally far more than the physical act of staying in.
One big challenge for me is the reduction in thinking time, that’s hit me much harder than having to stay home has. I’m rarely alone at the moment and I when I am I want to get some writing done, but being at the keyboard is only a small part of the writing process. Travelling in the car, being at the gym, having a solo pint before a gig starts, those were the times I would spend breaking story in my head, or wrestling with a scene or mulling over a plot point. That time is sorely lacking during lockdown, so I’ve had to adjust how I approach that part of the process and do more thinking while typing instead.
I’ve managed to get very behind on my podcast listening too, not only has the removal of car and gym time meant less chance to listen to them, the sheer volume of extra episodes while show hosts are in lockdown (not to mention new shows appearing) has made it impossible to keep on top of things. As some of my listening is to hone skills and not just be entertained that hasn’t helped either.
One show I have dived into during the past week or so is one of my favourites, On Story podcast from the Austin Film Festival. They have a new weekly strand AFF At Home, which comes out every Wednesday and gives you focal points to think about to reignite your screenwriting spark. I’m a few weeks behind, but I’ve been really enjoying them, the episode on Action & Description in particular resonated with me.
Fiction & Nonfiction Adaptation
How Do You Know When You’re Finished? – May 27
I’ve had some good advice on calls with some writing mentors too in the past few weeks, which have really helped me focus on what I want to get done and how. My collaborators have played a key part in helping to keep me motivated and enthused too. The final pages for Season Two Issue 1 of Seven Shades (our sixth issue) arrived in my inbox recently, courtesy of artist and co-creator Dave Clifford. Writing Marvel style means I have some gorgeous painted artwork to look at while I dive into writing the dialogue for the second half of the issue.
I also had a brilliant Skype call (maybe the last one as we follow the world over to Zoom) with Steve Aryan to discuss one of the projects we are co-writing together and that gave me the chance to do one my favourite things, breaking a story. We’ve spent a lot of our time on projects scripting, planning production, or running a Kickstarter and I’ve really missed the giddy rush from chatting through character motivation and plot points together.
My main takeaway from trying to write while staying home is that staying home doesn’t automatically guarantee more time or inspiration, no matter what other people would have you believe. My natural tendency is to give myself more to do each day than I can realistically get done, so I’m doing my best to move to a ‘do what you can’ approach. If you’re busy, if someone needs you, don’t beat yourself up because your thirty page plan only got three pages in, try to set realistic goals and smaller daily ones. “The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do’ is on the wall at the gym I’m currently unable to go to, but I’m trying my best to apply that same philosophy to my writing. Doing some, no matter how little comparatively is better than doing none.
I just need to stop the part of my inner voice that’s saying, ‘You’ll regret it if you don’t make the most of this lockdown time” from getting in my way, see also avoiding the twenty four news cycle and my ongoing frustration with those who can’t follow the staying safe guidelines and I should be ok.