Is Your Writing Life Affected by the Pandemic?

 

The quote for today says "Everything that happens in our life is a catalyst for change and growth."

These words seem to carry more weight in our world today than ever before. Since mid-March, I've certainly had time to look at many parts of life in a different light. More than likely, you have, too.

That includes our writing life. How has your outlook on your writing world changed? Do you feel as though you've grown as a writer, stayed the same as before, or regressed? 

I have not been nearly as inspired to write during this downtime, and that concerns me. Yes, I write this blog 5 days a week, and I keep up with my commitment to my online writing group, but writing new stories has been far slower than usual. In talking with other writers, I find that I am not alone in this change. In fact, many are doing even less than I am. If you're feeling the same way, don't despair. I'm hoping that when our lives start running on a more normal track, we'll want to write more.

I have seen calls for submissions in a couple places (please don't ask where; I didn't keep note of them), so some writers might find inspiration from seeing those calls. Try a search engine to see who is looking for pandemic stories. Since writers are always looking for inspiration and places to submit their work, it could be a real boon for some writers. 

There may even be a few writers who have been spurred to write more, not less, than usual. Cheers for all who fall into this category.

Some will delight in having more time to write since they aren't attending organized events, or spending time shopping, or have more time because they work at home and are not commuting. We're always hoping for more writing time, and now that it's been forced upon us, we should try to put it to good use. 

What about the growth part of the quote. Do you feel as if you have grown as a writer during the many months of our pandemic? If you're not writing, there is little chance for growth. For those who have been writing in 2020, you have a much better chance of growing as a writer. Keep going! 

The pandemic, the civil unrest, and the sniping back and forth of politicians is bound to affect us in many ways. Possibly in our writing life, as well. Take some time to ponder how you have been affected on your writing journey during this unusual time.

The Editing Process

Writing can be fun, satisfying, exhilarating. Editing? Maybe not so much. But, as the poster quote tells us, it is the right thing to do. Why?

After you write the first draft, then let it simmer alone for a while, it's time to start the editing process. Start at the very beginning and read through the entire piece. Oh my! You've probably found all kinds of little things that need your attention.  

1. Go back sentence by sentence or paragraph by paragraph.and correct spelling errors.
2.  Replace words that have been repeated too many times. 
3. Look for overly long sentences and either shorten them or divide them into two separate ones. 
4. Make sure you stayed with the same tense throughout. 
5. Clarify where a portion seems confusing.
6. Check to make sure subjects and verbs are both singular or both plural
7. Are there too many adjectives or adverbs sprinkled throughout?
8. Is the opening one that will hook a reader?
9. Is there a satisfying conclusion? 
10. Can there be a few more sensory details added?
11. If pertinent, did you show more than tell?
12. Does emotion come through?
13. If there is dialogue, is it punctuated correctly, tags clear and not overdone?

That's a pretty long checklist, but if you make sure you're good with all of them, your story or essay or article is going to be much better. It will also have a greater chance of being published.

If you use a program like Grammarly or something similar, you'll be a step ahead on the spelling, punctuation and more. 

Just this week, an editor sent back a submission for me to edit. She had requested one of my blog posts for a new anthology she is producing. She returned it to me with some thoughts and questions, and some suggestions to make it better. I worked on it yesterday afternoon, and using both her suggestions and changes I made on my own, I feel like it is a much finer submission. 

Editing is the right thing to do and helps you be a better writer. We write because our heart tells us we must, but the ordinariness of a good editing job clears the path on our writing journey.