A Writer’s Response to the Pandemic

One thing the current pandemic compels writers to do is to get us to stop and really think about who we are as storytellers, why we do what we do, and what do we want to do with the rest of our creative lives.

Last year, Chris Jones and the good folks at the London Screenwriters’ Festival hosted an online screening of my 6 1/2 hour masterclass which was recorded at the 2018 Festival. At my suggestion, proceeds were directed to the Fleabag Support Fund, created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Chris suggested I sit for a live Q&A at the end of the screening which we did at 11:30AM my time. Chris hosted the event and we even managed to get some live video questions from viewers.

At the end, Chris asked a probing question which was basically this: How should writers respond to this pandemic? What should we be doing in terms of our creative interests?

Let me paraphrase and expand on the response I gave. After thirteen months of the pandemic lifestyle, I believe it has even more relevance today.

As writers, we should be mindful about working on projects for which we have passion. As a professional writer, that is not always the case. Sometimes, circumstances necessitate us taking on an assignment that is not in the wheelhouse of our area of interest. For those gigs, we have to discover points of emotional connection to the material to bring our best to the project. Indeed, passion projects may over time fall by the wayside.

One thing the current pandemic compels writers to do is to get us to stop and really think about who we are as storytellers, why we do what we do, and what do we want to do with the rest of our creative lives.

Which leads me to this recommendation: Find that one story you’ve always wanted to write… and write that.

If you’re not sure what it is, frame the question this way: Is there a story you have in mind which at the end of your life, you would look back on with regret if you had not written it?

If there is such a story in your personal development slate…

Write. That.

Find that one story you’ve always wanted to write… and write that, no matter your fears.

I have been noodling around and researching a story for a few years, always on the fringe in part because I am so busy, but also — to be honest — it scares me. It is a novel. I have never written a novel. Plus, it is in a genre space I have never written in before.

But I love the story concept. I am fascinated by the characters. I can envision scenes which ripple with life. I know the broad contours of the plot.

A few weeks back, I went through my notes on the project and I decided… this is my next writing project. Period.

No setting it to the side. No excuses.

Because I am passionate about the story. And if I do not write it, I will always regret that decision.

I am doing a final revision of my book Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting: The Protagonist’s Journey. The team at Palgrave Macmillan is quite pleased with it. It is scheduled to be published by the end of 2021.

Once the book is good to go to be published, I know what my next project is… the one that scares me the most, but the one I simply must write.

On the creative front, that is my response to the pandemic.

Therefore, my advice is nothing more than to echo Joseph Campbell: Follow your bliss. Find that one story you know you must write…

And do that.