Creating in a Time of Uncertainty and Chaos
My debut middle grade novel, INTO THE TALL, TALL GRASS, came out on April 7th. I have two small kids, and my partner is out of the house, an essential worker. I myself am an RN and work as needed. How the heck am I supposed to get anything done? Well, to be honest…it’s been rough. All I want to do is write. I want to get lost in my world and my characters and escape from this insane world we are living in right now. I want to feel that rush of drafting and excitement at solving plot issues and holes. But I move between the spaces of “I just can’t create today” and “I really need to create today”. So, the question is…how do we create art during a time like this? Should we? Must we? What if we just can’t? On the days I simply cannot focus enough to create, I don’t. I release myself from the pressure to do so. I try to figure out what makes me feel better right now. Baking? A new hobby? An old hobby? Comfort reading, television or movies? Many times, I just sit with my kids outside and do nothing at all. For the days that I really want to create, but am finding it hard to focus, here’s what I’m doing to give myself the best chance: *Put my phone on silent or Do Not Disturb and put it in another room. Seriously. I put it in the living room and leave it there. For a one-hour minimum. This is THE biggest time suck to my productivity. *Feed whoever needs feeding. Kids, pets, partners. *If I can, I turn off the WIFI on my computer. If you need WIFI for streaming music, fine, but get off Twitter, Instagram, Facebook. GET OUTTA THERE!! It’s not doing you any good and you know you need a break from it all anyway. Make it intentional. *Set a goal. 200 words? 1000 words? I measure what I would call success, be it one scene, or one page, but I give myself something to work toward. Even if I don’t make it, I have the goal in front of me. *I plan what I am going to write about ahead of time. I know exactly what I am going to be working on when I sit down. *Headphones. It’ll get you in the zone and at a minimum block out background noises. Some people like music. Personally, I cannot listen to music with words without getting distracted. I have a friend that likes to listen to soundtracks for movies that convey the mood of the WIP. Right now, I like nature sounds with water. Most importantly if you just can’t get into the zone, don’t force it. Stop. Be gracious with yourself and say you’ll try again later. I’ve had periods of productivity and periods where I cannot get a single thing down, and that’s okay. | 
N.K. Jemisin’s 
The release date of 
- Author of CONVENTIONALLY YOURS Annabeth Albert's NEVER HAVE I EVER, an LGBTQIA+ romantic comedy in which former friends turned enemies have to work together, in cosplay and out, to Mary Altman at Sourcebooks Casablanca, by Deidre Knight
- TJ Klune's THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA, to Karisto Oy (Finland), by Elin Rydner at Lennart Sane Agency, on behalf of Elaine Spencer