You’re Not Writing Enough… And That’s Okay Right Now
By: Rachel Drane
Tags: Life, Writing, Inspiration, Mental Health, Covid 19

It’s Day… Whatever of Lockdown. Everywhere around me people are reaching outside of their comfort zones, trying to adjust to the New Normal. Going above and beyond to try and stay healthy and connected during this confusing time. Probably using features and apps in ways you hadn’t ever planned on. (I, for one, never expected to receive a Zoom invite from my dad.)

What I’ve found to help me is to stick to some kind of loose morning routine. To have a sleep schedule. I’ve been trying to move throughout the day and get some sunlight if I can. But because of social distancing, there’s a lot more literal and figurative space in my life. Most likely, in all of our lives.Which — as a people-loving, introverted writer — is both a boon and a burden for me.

I don’t think I have to explain the burden. But the boon? Suddenly, I’m ordered to stay home. Automatically ridding my life of a whole lotta distraction. Which makes me excited. Because maybe I can finally sit down, organize all of the projects I want to work on and then start working on them.

Because, whether you’re conscious of it or not, we’re wired to believe that any amount of “free” time is — and should be — opportunity to “be productive.” And in a capitalist society like ours (don’t worry; I’m not going to launch into a civics lesson), we’re conditioned for “not enough.” So this pressure to constantly be getting more done. Which can be exhausting.

Brené Brown describes this in her book Daring Greatly:

[F]or many of us, our first waking thought of the day is “I didn’t get enough sleep.” The next one is “I don’t have enough time.” …Before we even sit up in bed… we’re already inadequate, already behind, already losing, already lacking something. And by the time we go to bed at night, our minds are racing with a litany of what we didn’t get, or didn’t get done, that day.

Sound familiar? Have you been plagued with a niggling sense of guilt recently, ever since social distancing? That you could be — and should be — doing more?

There’s no excuse, right? Many of us have been “gifted” with this extra space and time. We should be the most productive we’ve ever been! We should be writing multiple stories a day! We should clean the entire house! We should be crafting and cooking and figuring out what else we can broadcast ourselves doing!

Well… not exactly. See, the thing is, there is an excuse. There are several excuses. Why? Because we’re living through a pandemic, people. An experience that obviously threatens people’s physical wellbeing but also their emotional, mental, and psychological health.

And as someone who has lived with mental illness for the past 11 years, I’m well aware that all of the invisible hardships we’re being put through are most certainly taking their toll. It takes energy to process what the world is going through. It takes effort to change your life for the good of the community.

It’s all work.

While we’re all probably feeling some sort of pressure to be productive during this time, it seems that writers might be feeling it more acutely. Because it seems whenever a writer has any time on their hands, they’re expected to write. If they’re truly “serious” about being a writer. We could be working to put a new story out there. Update our blog. Work on our ever-looming book.

We put this special pressure on ourselves that if we have time and aren’t writing, then that’s time wasted. It comes from capitalism, sure, but also from one of the truest (and most annoying ) pieces of advice ever:

Wanna be a better writer? Fucking write, already!

Again, it’s true! As it’s true of most forms of art or skill. But for whatever reason, writers are plagued more by this truism than others. Maybe it’s because no matter where we are, we should be able to write. Notebook, phone, computer — it’s all portable. We really have no excuse. It’s not like we need special clothing or equipment. Get inspired on the beach? Start writing in the sand! Get inspired while locked in an empty room? Start writing on the walls in blood!

And maybe some of you out there have been able to use this time in a way that supports your writing. Maybe you’ve been able to attend online writing classes or have been able to practice your craft.

But if your writing productivity hasn’t exploded, that is okay! If you haven’t been able to write at all, that also is okay.

Did you hear me? It’s okay if you haven’t been writing more. The most important thing is keeping yourself, those around you, and your community healthy. To help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Writing can wait. It’ll be there whenever you’re ready.