Writing Through Challenging Times

by Tracy Shawn

It takes energy, determination, and focus to get those words down. And it can be even more challenging to find the motivation to write when being bombarded by bad news and anxious thoughts. And let’s face it, there’s lots of bad news out there—plus a lot more of us are feeling a higher degree of anxiety because of it. How then can we writers continue to concentrate on our craft? Below are three tips to keep your creativity flowing through difficult times. 

Keep Balanced

It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of news, easy to keep reading every commentary, easy to fill one’s time—and precious energy—with the desire to “keep up.” I know. I’ve been there. The key is balance.   

Pick one medium, such as your favorite online news source, television broadcast, radio station, or if you’re old school—a newspaper—and try to read or tune in just once a day. For the most part, consciously limiting both your media outlets and time (perhaps 30-60 minutes daily), will help decrease burnout, and, therefore, can increase writing productivity. 

Also, be aware of how much time you spend on social media. Yes, social media platforms are spaces where authors enjoy connecting with readers (and other writers, as well!), but just like time spent catching up on the news, it’s easy to go past—way past—what best serves you. So, focus on the platform that you enjoy the most and, again, set up a general time limit and routine that will uphold your goals instead of luring you into the one-too-many-hundred clicks of random scrolling. 

Get Centered

Whether it’s the turmoil of the outside world or personal struggles—or for so many of us, a combination of both—the ensuing dread and weariness can fray one’s nerves, can fracture the concentration of even the most disciplined of writers. 

An antidote to this emotional fatigue can be found in the simplest of pleasures such as talking to a friend, taking a walk, drinking a cup of tea or savoring a tasty meal (while doing nothing else—not even reading—especially the news!), or just lying down on a patch of grass and closing your eyes. If your words feel stuck, then, and your creativity stagnant, take a break. Slow down. Concentrate on the simple act of breathing. This time spent centering yourself can refuel your energy, can help get that ink flowing—or more likely, that keyboard tapping again! 

Stay Connected

Whatever genre you write in—whether it is to entertain or enlighten—your words matter, your craft makes a difference. 

Reading, as we all know, is healing. It’s the time spent away from online noise, a world that can sweep us away from worries and concerns, a safe, accessible place that can help us feel less alone and more connected. 

As the famous author and civil rights activist James Baldwin said: “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” 

So, dear writers, keep connected to the very heart of why you write, the very reason why writing through the pain is more important than ever. 

—

Tracy Shawn is based on the coast of California. Her novels Floating Underwater (2021) and The Grace of Crows (2024 as a second edition) have won a variety of indie book awards. Her short stories and poems have appeared in several literary publications, including a featured work in Spillwords Press. She’s written numerous articles for print and online publications and is currently working on her third novel. Visit Tracy Shawn at: www.tracyshawn.com

FLOATING UNDERWATER

Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, Floating Underwater follows a woman’s astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her own self-actualization and power.

Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision predicting a third miscarriage comes true.

Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences, and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma learns to accept her gifts and embraces a far different future than she ever could have imagined.

BUY HERE

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing