Writing In The Worst Of Times
In recent years, I’ve tried to find ways to deal with my problems and emotions that didn’t involve some form of escapism. After high school, I took a good hard look at myself and decided I didn’t like some of my destructive habits, like not dealing with my problems until they become severe.
Oh what lovely bullshit that was.
While suffering through the pitiful excuse of an education that the United States gave me, I was told to write what I feel. You know the whole, “write what you know” bit? Yeah, I tried that? Didn’t really work out for me, as it made me think consciously of my problems. And then I was told not to write what I know, to be “daring” and write things unknown to me. And what do you know- that is a form of escapism! For me at least. Your mileage varies I assume? I hope so. But writing fantasy worlds and thinking about the nuisances of sexuality when it comes to elves is great and all until your problems hit the glass ceiling.
I’ve hit a wall writing wise. Whatever I put out on the internet feels terribly stupid and dispassionate. Is dispassionate a word? I don’t even care.
I think it’s because I’ve wanted to keep my problems out of fiction. But really, that is the single best tool I have to deal with them. Because I think both arguments are bullshit really. You should write what you know- be willing to leave yourself vulnerable in writing- and take into consideration what you might not know and let it lead you.
Right now the world is dealing with some pretty heavy shit. We have a pandemic going on. The voices that claim it to be fake are much too loud and are causing dangerous conflicts that could result in the deaths of many. World leaders- both here in the US and around the world- are doing nothing. No one, to my present memory, has ever been through a terrible situation and not looked to fiction to ease their worries even for a single moment. What I’m saying is this: write in the worst of times, because it’ll make a damn good story in the best of them.
