Dark Times Filled With Light: Ways to Practice Creativity and Compassion in the Time of Corona
George Saunders, one of my favorite authors, said in an interview in 2017, “The best thing we can bring to any fight is a calm and compassionate mind.” This is a piece of advice I have spent a lot of time meditating on over the last week in light of the global Coronavirus Pandemic. This historical moment has filled the globe with uncertainty and many of us are struggling to simply know how we will all survive. As a teacher, I am lucky enough to still have a job at the moment, and though my husband still remains employed, as an employee in the food industry he has taken a significant cut in wages. Despite this, I do feel that we are incredibly lucky. Outside of our day jobs, we are both artists and have spent a lot of time in the last week discussing how we can continue to nurture our own creative energies and support other writers, artists, and community members who are struggling right now.
Here are some things you can do to help nourish your own creative practices and support others in need:
1. Seek Public Aid – Many writers rely on wages from various forms of work to support their livelihoods and artistic work. Funds for Writers has a pretty comprehensive list of grants to support writers at. Bomb Magazine has also put together a list of financial resources for artists/writers – a handful on this list include support for those whose main source of income is something other than their art/writing.
2. Keep a Journal – If most of your writing is Work with a capital W, and you are used to writing strictly as a means of income, then consider using this time to explore writing as an act of reflection and self-care. A great book to help guide creative journaling is Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Amie McNee, creativity coach and creator of the Instagram account, @inspiredtowrite, has also created The Journaling Compendium , a guidebook to journaling containing 31 prompts that go deep and help reconnect you with yourself.
3. Start or Finish that Project You Haven’t Had Time to – I know it can be hard to find worth in writing or creating in times like this, but if for no other reason than that it feels good for your soul to immerse yourself in work that isn’t reality, I encourage you to start that novel, finish that novel, write your memoir, take up poetry. Whatever it is you want to do, try it.
4. Be Kind to Yourself if You are Struggling to Create – We are all entitled to our own processing. If you are struggling to create because of anxiety, the kids being at home during your normal creative time, or any other reason, allow yourself a break. Try to practice another form of self-care like yoga, meditating, or reading until your creative energies are restored.
5. Buy from Your Local Independent Bookstore – While Amazon may be convenient, it is important to keep in mind that most small businesses are having to close their doors for an unforeseeable amount of time. Not only do bookstores support writers, but they employ your local community members. Many local bookstores are working tirelessly to find ways to remain open. Stacie Willoughby, co-owner of my favorite local bookstore, Spectator Books in Oakland, said in an email that “What we're doing at the store while we're closed to the public is basically putting in a ton of hours trying to convert our processes to phone & email sales overnight.” So, even if your local bookstore doesn’t yet have an online store, call or email to see if they are accepting orders another way. Willoughby says, “if you are able to help out your community or people less fortunate than yourself in ANY way right now, do it -- you'll feel a lot better, and everyone wins!”
6. Take a Class or Workshop Online – This helps both you and other community members. One good way to go about this is by following a favorite author on social media and signing up for classes they are teaching. One writer I love with upcoming online classes is Chloe Caldwell. Check her website to register for upcoming classes. Some other great options include:
The Writer’s Grotto in San Francisco, which has recently gone online.
One Story - Which is always a great source of online courses
DIY MFA – This is a great alternative if you are hurting for cash. It is free and claims a likeness to a brick and mortar MFA program.
Studio Story Chicago - Their Pajama Seminars series features two hour sessions with acclaimed authors, focusing on a genre or topic of interest.
NY Writers Coalition - Currently offering FREE online workshops daily.
7. Host a Virtual Writing Group – Invite your writer friends to meet and discuss each other’s work or books you all are reading via a virtual meeting platform like Zoom or Google Hangouts. My writing group [Liturgy] normally meets every Sunday to write together and every other Thursday for workshop. We will now be meeting using Zoom and Ann, a member of the group, said “I can’t wait to see what the [Liturgy] writers will share this week because diving into [their] work will remind me of who I am again.” I encourage you to open a bottle of wine and pull out the pita chips and hummus while you meet so it feels like the real deal.
8. Include Your Family – For many writers with children out of school, it can be difficult to find time and space to create. Instead of fighting to separate from family to work, consider including them. Set a timer for 30 minutes (more if your kids are docile and willing) and have the kids paint, draw, or read while you write. If you have older kids who enjoy writing, come up with a writing prompt you can both use. These types of activities are a great way to build family bonds and break away from screen time.
9. Attend a Literary Happy Hour – Many authors, small presses, and bookstores are hosting virtual Happy Hour readings where you can join and listen to authors read and discuss their work. This is a great way to help support writers whose books are coming out at this time and have been forced to cancel book tours.
10. Turn off the Screens – While social media is a wonderful tool to stay connected during orders to stay in-doors, too much of it can add to anxiety and feelings of isolation. Make sure that after you get all your virtual everything in, you take time to power off and sit with yourself and anyone you share a home with.
11. Stay Informed – Courtney Maum, author of Before and After the Book Deal, has organized a comprehensive list of ways to support authors during this time in her free newsletter. Go to her website to sign up.
12. Get Some Fresh Air – Though many places around the country are implementing “Shelter in Place” orders, exercise is considered an essential need that allows you to leave your house for the outdoors so long as you practice social-distancing. Exercise is a great way to clear your head and get the creative juices flowing. If you want a look at how exercise influences my own writing, check out my essay What Training for a Marathon can Teach You About Writing a Novel.
13. Practice Patience & Compassion – There is no blueprint for how to navigate this new territory. There is no right or wrong way to be creative in this moment. Just remember to love yourself and extend love to others.
Title adapted from Juan Gelman’s collection of poetry of the same name.
"I allowed myself to write without judgement or editing, and in doing so I was able to let go of that baggage a bit and leave it behind me. I’ve had an idea for a novel in my head for about 16 years and the course helped me to finally start getting it on paper."
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About Shelby Hinte
Shelby Hinte is a writer and educator living in the Bay Area. She received her MFA in Fiction from San Francisco State University where she was the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Graduate award. She has been a contributing food and beverage writer for Edible Santa Fe. Her fiction has appeared in Vagabond Lit, Witness Magazine, Hobart, Quiet Lightning's Sparkle + Blink, decomP magazinE, and elsewhere. She is currently at work on a novel about women and vortexes in the desert.
