How to Write When the World Conspires Against You

Right now, it probably feels like everything in the world is going wrong, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. I don't know about you, but when I feel like this, it's not very easy to write. Writing requires a certain amount of get-up-and-go, and when the whole world seems to thwart you at every turn, that get-up-and-go can be hard to find.

Maybe you're having a bad bout of the Block. Well, if it's caused by any of the usual suspects, it might not be so hard to stave off for a while - but eventually everybody gets down in the dumps, whether it's COVID-related or not. There's not a lot we can do about our current situation, but there's a ton we can do about our own attitudes.

This sounds like the beginning of some cheesy pep-talk, and it probably is, but bear with me here: there are a thousand ways to improve your mood.

• Get out in the yard or take a walk. Absorb some sunshine. 
• If there's a particular person getting on your nerves, try to escape for a little while. Lock the door, hang a do-not-disturb sign, or (my favorite) do both. 
• Turn on some music, even if you can't stand any noise when you write. Music cheers people up. Sing along. Dance.
• Scribble in your diary, journal, on the back of a pizza-box, whatever. Write it all out - your thoughts, feelings, frustrations, anything that's been on your mind lately. This is always a good idea, whether your angst is from corona or something else.
• Now, since you've hopefully calmed down a little, open up your binder or notebook, or shuffle through those papers, and pick up where you left off. Try writing a few lines, or if that doesn't work, erase until you can write a few lines. (Sometimes it's just that your writing has gone in the wrong direction.)

This is all I have to offer if you're down for the count, writing-wise. It works for me. (This doesn't necessarily mean it'll work for you, but hey, at least there's some chance of success.)