These past few weeks have been surreal. It’s certainly been an emotional roller coaster for many of us.
In late February, I had to see to a family issue. My mother has dementia and is going downhill fast, struggling to cope with even the basics. On my return, I had some minor surgery which then became infected and took a little while to get better. During all this, the coronavirus was in the background.
Where some people had difficulty in fully grasping the situation, like those on Bondi beach, we also had the complete opposite where shopping hoarders made it look like something out of a zombie apocalypse. Fear does strange things to people.
Since then, in Australia, things have been moving fast; social distancing, travel banned, state boarders closed. News can change on an hourly basis. Here in New South Wales, there are now fines if someone is caught outside their house without a ‘reasonable’ excuse. Reasonable is essential grocery shopping, exercise, a medical reason, compassionate grounds, or work or education which cannot be done in the house.
Only this week, my husband started working from home after trying to make it happen for some time. It has been during this past week that his offices began taking things more seriously, due to Government intervention.
During this difficult time, people need hope and humour to help get them through.
This made me wonder about my writing and my chosen genres, which are not exactly happy places. And yet, my muse tends to go down dark alleys. Lately I am once again plunged into darkness. Of-course, I like to come out into the light every once in a while!
As writers, right now we have the opportunity to write and share our stories with the world. Whether they are of love, hope, comfort, or to help others face their fears, we need tales of humanity and connection. Now more than ever, more people will want to delve into the world of fiction*.
These times are tough, but we need to remember to just keep going, one day at a time. Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to start afresh, we will make it to the other side. Stay safe everyone!
How are things in your world during caronavirus? How have you been coping during this time?
*Amazon’s Kindle is currently offering two free months to its unlimited e-book service to new users. Both my short stories, The Ghost at Willow Creek and Legacy and Other Short Stories are available through Kindle Unlimited for FREE. Now could be a good time to try stories from new authors. 😉
The purpose of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.
Main image courtesy Pixabay
It’s going fine here in Virginia. We are under stay-at-home orders by the governor until June 10th. My husband is working from home, too, and thank goodness both of us can be quiet for hours at a time so the other can concentrate.:-) We’re getting out once a day for exercise and live in a place that’s not too populous, so we don’t run into other people when we’re out there.
And there’s toilet paper in stock at our grocery store.:-)
Sounds good Priscilla! We’re fortunate that we live in a small country town, so we don’t run into other people when we’re out either. I went out for an early morning walk for the first time yesterday (without the dog) and it was great. Now that my husband is working from home, we’re starting to get into some kind of routine. We’re also fortunate that both our kids are still at home so that we know they’re safe. I’m glad you’ve got toilet paper – it’s a bit of a luxury item over here! 😉
Hi Debbie, what a wonderful heartfelt post. It’s true, we need humor, we need hope and to write stories to help our world. I wish you all much health and hope through these ever evolving times.
Thank you, Erika! Thanks for stopping by and being a co-host this month. I hope you and your family stay safe!
Reading and writing are my go-to’s. Well, they pretty much always are anyway. 🙂
Take care!
Hi Madeline. I think I’d be clawing the walls if I didn’t write! It helps that I’ve got a good reading pile to get through too. 😉 Stay safe!
C-19 hasn’t stuck hard in Nayarit yet. We’re expecting it will. In the meantime, we’re doing our part by staying home. Today is day 19. I am cutting back on watching news. It’s good to be informed, but too much of anything isn’t healthy. Stay safe, as I know you will.
Thank you, Joylene! I found myself watching too much of the news and needed to cut back. I wasn’t accomplishing anything, so now I limit my news intake to about once a day, just to keep up to date with what is happening. Glad to hear you’re safe. Take care!
We’re starting to see toilet paper and food that had been wiped out back on the shelves in my town in Indiana. The first wave of panic is over, and hopefully we don’t set off another one. Our stay-at-home order is only until April 6, but I’m guessing it’ll get extended soon. But we’re hanging in there. My kids spend a lot of time talking to their friends online, and I’ve been reading a lot. And we’re all praying the virus eases up sooner, rather than later.
Hi Kristi! I think our first wave of panic is over too, thank goodness! Food is rationed though now when doing the grocery shopping. Our stay-at-home orders are indefinite, but today we’ve been told it could last up to 90 days. My kids are the same when it comes to talking to their friends. Thank goodness for the internet! Stay safe!
It’s been pretty quiet around here. No virus in town, but we are seeing the numbers rising for BC. Nice to know you’re all right. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thank you, Anna! Good to know you are safe and that there is no sign of it in your town. Watching some of those numbers go up can be a bit scary. Take care! xx
Will do, Debbie. 🙂
That ballad of the dunny roll was hilarious. I loved it.
You definitely have been going through extra stresses. Hopefully it will calm down soon and things will go back to normal. Or mostly normal.
I think things are starting to settle down now, thank you, Lynda. The ballad of the dunny roll is funny and quite clever, I think. Doing Banjo proud! 😉 Take good care of yourself up there! xx