AT first, you imagined this was something far away, a problem in China.
You heard about it and thought they would deal with it. It couldn’t affect us
here in the U.K. Most of the leaders in the western democracies probably felt
the same way and some were complacent. Then the news spread that this was
serious and killing thousands of people.
These are unprecedented times,
and everyone is going to have to adapt. People assume that writers live in
self-isolation anyway, so these are ideal conditions. They should be able to
cope better than most. This is true to some extent, but it doesn’t quite work
that way. The life routine has been fundamentally disturbed. No one has seen
anything like it. Many writers have expressed frustration at their inability to
write a single word. We need life to be normal as much as the rest to draw our
inspiration.
The weekly shop feels like
risking your life and doing a chicken run. Everything is out of sync, and this
can have damaging effects on your mental well-being. To guard against lethargy
and despondency, routine and structure is important. It’s good to have achievable
goals however small and to fix regular activities. Even if it’s a walk, reading
or exercise. You should try to strike a balance. A fixed writing routine, even
a couple of hours, will help you make progress.
Pablo Picasso, the world-famous artist wrote that inspiration is
undoubtedly there, but it has to find you working.
It’s also equally important,
not to beat yourself up. You don’t always have to be doing things and it’s all
right to be bored. The Well of inspiration needs time to refill. It’s okay to
just exist and survive. Above all, be kind to yourself and to those around you.
The other critical issues of lockdown are, loss of freedom, income,
meeting friends and relatives and insecurity about the future. Psychological
obstacles will have to be faced and overcome. It’s not going to be easy on any
level.
On the 22nd March
2020, the Coronavirus epidemic worldwide had cost 13,000 lives. In the U.K, the
death rate stood at 300 people. I wrote on my blog that people were not
treating this deadly virus seriously and social distancing was disregarded in
many places. Only last week, several hundred parties had to be closed by the
police. I wonder what they were thinking. People were dying and they thought
having a party was a good idea.
It’s now 26th April. One
month later. The Covid-19 virus has killed over 20,000 people in the U.K alone.
Worldwide the death rate is over 190,000 with infections at over 2.7 million
people. All in just over 30 days. Tragic and devastating figures, with each
death affecting so many families. The figures will unfortunately become worse
before they improve.
At first, it was assumed that only the elderly were being affected, but that
theory has long gone. Young, healthy and vibrant people are succumbing to this
deadly virus. People, who had dreams to fulfil, all cut short in a matter of
weeks. It’s a sobering reality.
The world has come to a
standstill. Nature has revived however, rivers are cleaner, birds sing, and
pollution has dropped. It’s as if the universe has set a reset button on earth,
to make it stop, take stock and breathe. Although it’s bleak now, a better
world may emerge after the Coronavirus is defeated. More care for the earth and
its environment, although the greed for money and power will probably dominate
noble thoughts and actions.
The weather in the U.K has
been uncharacteristically bright and sunny over the past six weeks. Some
writers have made progress with their novels, whilst others have struggled. Literary
agents and publishers have reported an increase in submissions in this period,
so writers have adapted to this lockdown to polish their manuscripts and
submit.
The lockdown affords an opportunity for writers to make progress, to catch
up on their reading, but on the other hand, they must deal with the engulfing sadness
all around. It’s not an easy balance and everyone longs for a return to
normalcy. When that will be is anyone’s guess. It’s already five weeks into
lockdown and it will probably extend further.
It’s been compared to war and
it feels like it. Each day, the number of deaths is read like a grim reality.
Another stark reality in the U.K is the higher death rate amongst the ethnic
population. You worry why that should be so. What factors are causing a higher
death rate? Several BAME doctors and nurses have already sacrificed their lives
battling the virus on the frontline.
You applaud the great work the NHS, doctors, nurses and all the key
workers are doing. You clap your hands every Thursday to show solidarity. It’s
a nice gesture to cut the loneliness. You hope that a vaccine is found soon,
because the world cannot standstill for much longer without devastating effects.
You pray that your loved ones emerge safely from this crisis. You hope again that
humanity can defeat this deadly virus and life returns to happier times.
