"Write in These Times"
I do my best to avoid posting more than one blog post a month. This month, however is exceptional...for just about everyone just about everywhere. The global response to COVID-19 is unprecedented. It's as thought the entire planet is shutting down – from school and business closures to temporary lockdowns of entire communities, regions and countries.
Whatever our beliefs about the virus and about the means being employed to stem the infection rate, we have all been affected in countless ways, and the social, financial and political ramifications will ripple through our lives for years.
For right now, though, perhaps the most radical impact is the "social distancing" we are being urged to practice. Workplaces have emptied as employees have been sent home to work or, worse still, have been laid off without pay. Cafes, bars and restaurants have shuttered their dining rooms. Public events of all sorts have been canceled or rescheduled, as have major family celebrations.
We human beings are, for the most part, social creatures. From backyard barbecues, local playgrounds and our neighborhood Starbucks to museums, concerts and sporting events, we take every opportunity we can to gather in groups and to socialize face-to-face. Today, much of that has been taken from us, and more is disappearing every hour. Despite our networks of online connections, we are more isolated now than most of us have ever experienced. It's not only disorienting; it's disheartening.
Yet every challenge also presents us with opportunities. Every challenge.
Some of those opportunities are global: an easing of environmental degradation, for example (parts of China have cleaner air today than they have had in decades due to the temporary shutdown of industry). Others are personal: an easing up on the relentless distractions and busy-ness of our lives, which offers us the time and space to be more contemplative...to notice where some of our activities have, perhaps, been misdirected.
All my books for writers talk about the myriad distractions we allow into our lives, distractions that prevent us from acknowledging, accessing, experiencing and expressing our passions. And many of my coaching sessions focus at least in part on how those who want to write but aren't can carve out creative time from their activity-laden lives.
“I don't have the time to write” is the refrain I hear most often in my work.
Well, now you do! You may, in fact, have more time than you know what to do with.
Given that, it's definitely time to work on that book, screenplay, stage play, short story, poem or blog post you've been meaning to get to...or simply to journal.
Maybe it’s time, now that you have the time, to refocus on your creativity...to tell your stories...to share your stories, whatever form they take.
Maybe it's time to take advantage of the time-and-space opportunity that this crisis has granted us to steep yourself in your passion, whatever it is.
Now that you have the time, it's time to write. Right now. So..write now!
Here's a bunch of resources, some of them free, to get you writing...and keep you writing!
To help keep you creating through these challenging times, I have scheduled a FREE online writing workshop for this Saturday – 3/21 at 10am PT / 1pm ET. It's called Write in These Times, and I encourage you to register even if you can't make the live event. That's because by registering you'll get a link to the workshop recording, which you can then experience on your own time. Register now at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4768137033059301131.
I continue to offer my regular Sunday writing workshops at 11am PT / 2pm ET. This week, it's Organic Screenwriting, but coming up are topics like The Heartful Art of Revision, Write to Heal and Birth Your Book NOW! These workshops are only $20 each and are accessible online wherever in the world you are. Look for the full schedule on my events page. (If you have been attending these in person at The Literate Lizard bookstore in Sedona, see below for an update.)
My NEW Global Coaching Group for Writers, 6 Thursdays from Apr. 2 to May 7, 6-8pm PT / 9-11pm ET. Space is VERY LIMITED, so register NOW at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1341947750086961932.
Prefer to maintain your social isolation? Here are some resources you can access on your own...
You'll find a ton of free videos, many of which will inspire you to write, on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/markdavidgerson.
All my books for writers and my two Way of the Fool books contain a ton of writing exercises, journaling opportunities and guided meditations. Even my novels and memoirs will inspire you to commit to your passions, whatever they are. You'll find all my books here on my website. But if you're seeking instant gratification, look for the less-expensive ebook editions in Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook and Kobo stores worldwide. Want to try before you buy? My page on the Bublish website gives you access to free excerpts from all my books.
And speaking of guided meditations for writers, you'll find 10 of them in my recording The Voice of the Muse: Guided Meditations for Writers. If you're an Apple Music or Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber, you don't even have to pay to download the album. You can stream it for free using one of those services.
Not ready for a group but not keen on DIY? Consider one-on-one coaching/mentoring. It's the best investment in your creative future that you're ever likely to make. Look for more information elsewhere on my website or drop me a line to set up a free 20-minute intro.
Bottom line? Despite all the chaos and uncertainty in the world around us, this is the perfect time to write! In fact, the most powerful path through any crisis is through our stories. Now is the time to free yours!
Questions? Reply to this email, and I'll get back to as quickly as I "A writer writes"can.
Finally, these are challenging times for everyone. Be good to each other, have compassion for those facing more difficulties than you might be, and please don't hoard!
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If You’re in the Sedona Area…
Due to the temporary closing of Sedona's The Literate Lizard bookstore, my SUNDAY WRITING WORKSHOPS will be offered ONLINE ONLY until further notice! To register for "Organic Screenwriting," "The Heartful Art of Revision" or my "Global Coaching Group," please go to my events page. Don't let health concerns stifle your creativity. Connect online and WRITE ON!