25 Authors and How They're Coping with Social Distancing
25 Authors and How They're Coping with Social Distancing
Hannah Orenstein
I'm grateful to be with my family. We're taking turns making cocktails for happy hour and cooking dinner, and we're watching way too much Love Island.
Megan Campisi
I'm using my theater background to create a series of videos to connect people based on themes from my upcoming historical fiction novel Sin Eater. For my latest I've asked friends and colleagues around the world to share a virtue (rather than a sin;) I'm compiling the clips from 14 countries and 5 continents to send out some positivity and help connect isolated people while spreading the word about my book! (I'm editing this one now. You can see my first video on my socials.)
Abbie Greaves
As an author, I already spent a large proportion of my day alone, which fed into the editorial process for my debut novel, THE SILENT TREATMENT, giving me a greater awareness of both the challenges and benefits of silence. But this is an entirely new kettle of fish - not least because I have moved home and am therefore sharing my quiet working space with my parents and their various Zoom calls and conferences! I'm trying to be kind to myself, to note that I now have anxiety from both the publication of my first book and an unprecedented global situation. I remind myself of the need, therefore, to be doubly kind to myself. I'm also trying to find positives wherever I can. It's a great time to catch up on my burgeoning TBR pile, to watch some TV, to catch up with friends new and old online. When things feel calmer, I'm hoping this will mean I'm rested well enough to write with more energy and clarity than ever before.
Donna Hemans
In addition to writing, I've been painting pieces of furniture around my house. I've long wanted to bring more color into my space, and now, given the chaos and the prospect of being confined to this single place for a while, it seems like a great time to bring more color inside.
Nancy Star
I've put myself on a restricted news diet (once in the morning and once at night is enough!) which means that now at lunchtime, instead of catching up on the latest news by looking at Twitter or one of two beloved newspapers online, I'm reading a novel. Should have switched to that sooner!
Amrou Al-Kadhi
I'm re-learning the joy of writing. As a professional writer, so much of my writing was centred around commissions and deadlines, so much so that it could often feel laborious. I'm using self-isolation to unshackle any creative parameters I had placed on myself, and to take as many risks as I can in my writing. Although this is a very tricky and precarious time, I want to rediscover the unadulterated joy of my craft, not thinking of it as just a job, but as a joyous privilege, and to write the material I have forever wanted to write. One silver lining getting me through this pandemic is the prospect of reading all the zany and liberated material people will hopefully produce during it.
Sheena Kamal
I'm not coping great--just doing my best like everyone else. Trying to keep my spirits up, and some semblance of a schedule going. I'm lucky that I have a fairly well-run household and people around me to talk to. That helps. My favourite thing about sheltering in place is that there seem to be no rules anymore, so anything goes. That's also, coincidentally, the worst thing about it, too!
Dani Alpert
It turns out that I’ve been living the Covid-19 lifestyle all along. I live in New York, and well, I’ve seen things, so distancing myself from people isn’t anything new. I've been using elbows, knees or toes to push, pull and click for years. Again, New Yorker. My favorite thing about sheltering in place is the slower pace. I’ve also reconnected with friends that I haven’t spoken to in a long time. And I can wear the same sweater for days guilt-free.
Adi Alsaid
My day looks pretty much the same as usual, minus my coffee shop writing sessions, which I sorely miss. Fortunately, they’ve been replaced by seeing more of my wife, who normally works long hours as an elementary school teacher. I’m working on a couple of passion projects that make this time feel exciting, as well as taking a free online class on science and cooking. Somehow, the days feel short, with not enough time to do all the things I imagined home isolation would call for.
Heather Chavez
Since my day job is with a health care organization, my challenge has been to keep distance at work so I don’t get sick myself, or bring contagions home to my family. Though she doesn’t love it quite so much, my favorite thing is having my daughter home from college 24/7. Forced bonding is bliss.
Erica Bauermeister
Authors are the original self-isolators -- except when we have book launches. My memoir House Lessons, launched on March 24th, so I've been coping with social distancing by learning the mechanics of virtual book events, Zoom book clubs, etc. I'm finding that the contact with people has been a huge beam of sunshine during this time. In the evenings, when our internet is reliably unreliable now, I find myself returning more and more to books. This, too, I love.
Loretta Nyhan
Writers tend to be socially distant already, so isolation isn't a problem. The real issue is focus--how can I write when the world is falling apart? It's hard to escape into the realm of the imagination when reality is so powerful and demanding of my headspace. There are always silver linings, though. My family is getting in each other's faces--as our faces are usually pressed up against screens, this is a good thing!
Brooke Fossey
How I’m coping with sheltering in place with four kids, my husband, and a dog—a running list: long family walks, well-intentioned schedules, open windows, closet cleaning, earphones, personally recommended shows, reading, Zoom happy hours, prayer, sunshine, group texts with ridiculous gifs, occasional cathartic cries, facetime, quiet time, alone time, writing time.
Tracy S Walder
My favorite thing about sheltering in place is being able to make amazing memories with my family. I am not sure when we will ever have time to all be together again like this and though the circumstances of the situation are stressful, it is ultimately about the every day memories and new traditions we have created.
Alli Frank
My writing partner, Asha Youmans and I are stoking the creative fires(six feet apart, actually two miles apart) figuring how to launch our book, Tiny Imperfections, amidst a pandemic (May 5 2020). And we thought writing the book was the hard part! My favorite thing about sheltering in place? Oddly, it's the challenge of having to be everything I am inherently not. More at ease with close quarter chaos (I have two daughters, a hyper dog, husband also working from home), honoring a simple life (I'm an adrenaline junkie always on the go), enjoying my own company (I am the group gatherer among my social circle) and feeding people ALL THE TIME (Asha can attest, cooking is not my strong suit).
Jason Pinter
We have two toddlers (33 months and 16 months), so it's hard given that schools, playground, playrooms, and parks are closed down and we can't have playdates. Add to that my wife and I both work full time and need to carve out schedules to allow us both to work, in addition to taking care of the kids. We went out to my parents' house, as they have more room than our 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, and that's been easier and people aren't packed in on top of each other like in our apartment building. Our favorite things is having a little more space for our girls to run around, and for them to spend more time with their grandparents. It's honestly hard to name a favorite thing since it's inconvenienced pretty much every aspect of our lives, but given what so many people are going through, I'll take inconvenience over worse alternatives. So we're healthy, we're making due, and we're finding ways to get through this. Perhaps the best thing I've seen is how many authors have banded together to help support each other, especially ones who've had books published during these hard times. People are going out of their way to promote their fellow authors, and I hope this is something that continues even once things begin to return to normal--whenever that may be.
Anna P. Murray
I'm writing a daily blog about living in the epicenter, NYC.
https://medium.com/@annamurray
SAMPLE
I’ve decided to document this first-in-a-century event as the Corona pandemic arrives in New York.
— Our local deli will close.
We ordered breakfast today. I’ve known the delivery person for at least 15 years. He told me they will close tonight. Amity is a neighborhood institution of at least 50 years.
I wonder if they will be able to reopen. I worry for the workers who will not have a paycheck.
— Smells
There are two smells I can’t get out of my nose. One is the apple-scented hand soap I just happened to buy a lot of a few weeks ago. The other is Clorox.
— Sad dog walker
Our dog walker came for the last time today. Dog walking services have been deemed non-essential.
She loves our dog and left this note: "I have always enjoyed my walks with the happy boy. I'll hope and pray for the day I can see him again."
Russell Heath
Spending less time shopping; leftovers don't molder in fridge. Book tour canceled; introvert secretly relieved More time flailing away on social media thinking it will make a difference to sales Routine a mess; no exercise, forget to call mom Futilely hoping people will read more video game less Loving the one-way roller coaster of my retirement pittance Intimidated by house chores that no longer have effective procrastinatory excuses Was there supposed to be an election this year?
Eileen Moskowitz-Palma
My middle grade debut novel launches on April 14th and all of my book events have been cancelled. At first I was devastated, particularly about the cancellation of school events because that was the part I was most looking forward to since I am a former elementary school teacher. But then I realized this isn't about me, it's about all of the kids who are coping with uncertainty , unscheduled days and no activities to help get them process anxiety. It's also about the parents who are struggling with helping kids stay occupied and educated during long days at home. Now more than ever, kids need to be inspired to write. So I started offering a free virtual creative writing camp using Zoom, the platform most schools are utilizing for distance learning. I have spent the past week connecting with kids from all over the country through our shared writing experience. It has been just as healing for me as I think it has been for them. It gives me a reason to get up in the morning and to put on real clothes and do my makeup. It gives me a sense of purpose and it allows me to serve others so I don't spend as much time worrying about myself. It has saved me.
Eric Smith
It's been interesting. I'm trying my best to not fall behind on the work I know I have to get done, both in my life as an author and my career as a literary agent, but when the news cycle is a constant stream of dread... well, that can be hard. There was a recent, really great episode of Print Run that I recommend everyone listen to. It's an outstanding podcast about publishing and the writing life. They talk about the urge to get a TON done while stuck inside, but the reality, is that you can absolutely burn yourself out in the process... which takes care of any productivity you were hoping for. So, I'm coping by trying to stay updated as much as is healthy, and making sure the people around me are still safe and comfortable. My wife, my kiddo. Books will still be there at the end of the day. As for my favorite thing... probably all the movies and TV I'm catching up on.
Debra H. Goldstein
I have been rationing a bag of Dove Dark Chocolate with Almond candy and trying to apply the message on each wrapper to each day. My favorite two have been: “Every moment matters including this one" and “Keep life moving forward, looking backward is only for time travelers.”
Megan Collins
I'm coping with social distancing pretty much the same way I cope with everything else: watching funny videos on YouTube. For example, I had a random memory today of the "Would you please pass the jelly" Polaner All Fruit commercial from the 80s, and I pulled up the video and watched it three times in a row because I couldn't stop laughing at it. Another go-to comfort video of mine is an old Family Fortunes clip where the contestant inexplicably answers "turkey" three times in a row, starting with his response to "Name something you bring to the beach." Since there's so much to be anxious about right now, it definitely helps to laugh.
Leslie Zinberg
My co-author Pam Siegel and I have recently published a book on mindful grand parenting, entitled Grandparenting: Renew, Relive, Rejoice. In it, we offer 52 ways to mindfully connect and grow with your grandkids. So many of the moments relate to what is going on in this surreal world, such as practice patience, be grateful, be where you are, calm yourself, take pleasure in nature, eat mindfully, set an intention, and more. The book resonates with parents and grandparents alike. During this quarantine period, both Pam and I have been practicing these moments at home, and speaking online. Each of us has made it a point to implement structure into our lives: exercise in the am, meditate, and then work. I set an intention each evening about how I plan to operate the following day. This is most helpful. I am finding that this gives me some peace, and direction. And, my husband and I work to give each other space during the day, and reconvene at dinner time. We also have had great fun face timing with our grandchildren, seeing how they do their school work, exercise, and express their creativity.
Stephanie Wrobel
My favorite thing about sheltering in place is spending more time with my dog Moose!
Tory McCagg
Meditation and visiting with my chickens both of which are a form of my favorite thing about sheltering in place: being home.
