Writing Secrets: What did lockdown teach us about creativity?
I don’t know about you, but I heard a great many lockdown resolutions which included the words “book” and “finish” or “get on with”. And I’ve heard an equal number of retractions since.
I don’t blame them. I too have learned a number of chastening lessons about creativity in a time of pandemic.
Firstly, anxiety and creativity don’t necessarily work well together. It’s hard to think deeply and coherently when your mind is racing over every “what if…?” and “how will we ever…?”
No-one was without anxiety during this time. We worried for ourselves, our families, the poor, the economy, unemployment, the capacity of the health system, the world …
For myself, I found that my greatest challenge was managing that anxiety, not allowing it to spike into panic (particularly over things I can do nothing about). It’s that constant hum of disquiet which interrupts the inner stillness required for creation, and the managing process itself is exhausting.
So if you didn’t “finish” or even “get on with”, don’t beat yourself up, that would be my advice. But let’s learn from this, for the future.
When your apprehension overwhelms your ability to write, just keep your hand in. Freewriting will help quiet your mind: it’s meditative. Not only does it always help your voice and build your style, but it calms you. It might even still the clamour enough to allow you to write for real.
And keep a record: people’s reactions, their responses, and the way it feels – before you forget. Times of anxiety might not be the best times to write, but the memory of times of anxiety will surely provide material for future writing.
Another aspect was voiced by one of our mentees: “I had all this endless time. I thought I would write screeds. Instead I did nothing. Now that I’m busy again, I’m writing far more.”
I have always found that. When time is a precious commodity, you hoard it, ring-fence and use it well. When it’s plentiful, there are always other things to fill it with. You don’t value it.
So, when you’re moaning that you don’t have time to write, remember that you’ll probably write more, and better, for having less time. Scrape yourself a patch of it – every day, or every other day, or three times a week. It doesn’t matter as long as you hoard it and hold it safe.
If you have two hours a week, you’ll use it well. You won’t have the time to get stuck, or make endless coffees or drift off into a day-dream.
Like most people, you probably spent your life wishing to be granted time for writing. Well, be careful what you wish for. And remember, you don’t need a lockdown to make time for writing.
Read Richard’s latest blog: ‘Monday Motivation: What to write when its all beenw ritten before‘
Upcoming courses:
Introductory Power of writing course: Start when it suits you
Free webinar on the art of the short story: 17 June
Screenwriting Workshop: 20 June
Virtual Story Weekend: 26 to 28 June
