I keep seeing all these memes about how famous people made masterpieces while in quarantine, including Shakespeare penning King Lear during a plague outbreak. Meanwhile, I’m trying to manage distance learning with the kiddos, feed these very hungry children, and keep them busy while stuck at home 24/7. Oh, and I have a book coming out in July.
Writing? What is that even?
After finishing ELIXIR SAVED, I was actually planning on taking a break from writing to fill the creative well. But this forced break, where the idea of writing seems foreign and unattainable during a global pandemic, wasn’t what I had in mind. I had been hoping for a minute to breathe, to dig into my to-be-read pile with joy and enthusiasm, and to the take time to enjoy the outdoors in spring.
The other day, I browsed through my notebook for my witchy middle grade WIP. Meaning I stared at my notes and beat sheet somewhat blankly and added a few questions (like what does it even look like to write a contemporary story in the time of coronavirus when you started the story before there was such a thing?), which I have absolutely no answers for. Then I put it away and ran around with the boys in the backyard instead. My brain was so not able to focus on anything creative like that.
C’est la vie! In between all the family stuff (and managing my own anxiety, which has been high lately…to say the least), I’ve squeezed in a few minutes to work on updating my website with a new look and I’ll slowly be updating the pages as well. This kind of work uses a different part of the brain that doesn’t seem so stuck by the current state of events.
In some good news, ELIXIR SAVED has been popping up for pre-order on retail sites, like IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Book Depository, and Kobo. I’d love if you’d add it to your Want to Read list on Goodreads. Oh, and ELIXIR BOUND in ebook is only $0.99 right now! If you haven’t read it, now is a great time to pick it up. If you’ve already read it, I’d love for you to leave a review of it on Goodreads and Amazon or other ebook retail sites.
How is everyone doing? What are you all doing?
You are actually well positioned to sell online. This is where it is, and likely will be when this ebbs, also. Wishing you the best with Elixir Saved.
I have the same thoughts on my stories, the “before” ones that reflect none of the new reality. My agent had just begun subbing a MG of mine that definitely doesn’t reflect how it is right now. So we halted that for a while.
But here’s the thing: whether it’s a year or two, when this the pandemic will be mostly in the rear-view mirror, the “after” reality will be closer to the “before” but also somewhat changed. We can’t know its details yet or see it clearly. Some revisions and small alterations to stories will still work. Contemporary shouldn’t be set in a particular year or month. Contemporary is always “now,” whatever that NOW is.
I appreciate your thoughts, Mirka. They’re similar to mine, and even still I’m finding it hard to find a way forward on this particular manuscript. It’s probably best to take a break from it and focus on something else.
Sometimes we’re filling our well even when we don’t realize it. Although writing has been a solace for me during this time, there have been other times in my life when I haven’t been able to write during difficult times. But I realize later I was storing up stories even without realizing it.
I agree with Mirka that online is where it’s at right now. Best wishes for your new book!
Thanks, Jenni! I’m glad you’re finding solace in writing. I know the writing will come to me when it’s time, but I always get antsy when I feel like I can’t write.