I don’t know about you, but my writing has gone downhill since COVID-19 starting making its ripples felt here in the good ‘ole US of A. Within days after spring break, my university closed its doors to in-person instruction, and I’ve had to transition my entire curriculum to an online format (a rather arduous task, I might add.) On top of that, I’ve been busy with everything related to COVID. It’s been an exhausting few weeks and the uncertainty of what’s coming next keeps us all too anxious to focus on much other than viruses and the rigors of our new daily routines.
So, writing has taken a back burner. This is a major no-no. But, how do we keep motivated to write when we’re so exhausted from everything else, pandemic notwithstanding? Honestly, I wish I had an answer for you because I’d love to hear it.
I guess what it really boils down to is motivation and dedication. In times like this, it doesn’t hurt to remind us about the reason(s) why we write. To help us keep focused on task with an eye toward the goal of writing, add a 5-10 cushion to your writing time. We are going to use this time to clear our minds and create a mindset for the writing task at hand.
Sit down, set a timer on your phone, and close your eyes. If you’d like to add some calming, light background music, go ahead and do so. For some, it helps them to imagine being at some special, quiet getaway place like a tropical beach or woodsy hiking trail, the sounds of crashing waves or a bubbling creek singing in the distance. For me, it’s the whir of air pumps as I stare out at the lunar landscape from my EVA suit. Once you’ve set the ambiance, begin with a few cleansing breathes. Breathe in for a count of four, hold in for four, and breathe out for four. Think of nothing but the breathing and the counts.
After a minute or so, you should start to feel relaxed. At this point, continue with your breathing, but instead of focusing on the count, change your focus to why you write. Meditate on these two questions:
- What is/are your motivation(s) for writing?
- Are you truly dedicated to that/those?
When your timer goes off, open your eyes and begin composing your prose.
In order to be a productive writer in times like these, we need a clear mind so that our brains can face time clearly with our muse. Otherwise, the connection is bad and your brain and muse hear nothing but a garbled and repetitive, “Can you hear me now?”
We always have the unexpected pop up in our lives, but we have to expect that will happen. Developing good habits to deal with the unexpected so it doesn’t interfere with our writing is the trick to getting words on paper. Good habits are just as easy as bad habits to create – all you need is repetition and a deep-seated desire for the anticipated outcome. Good luck, stay safe, and happy writing!
