I’ve seen a number of articles encouraging writers to use this time of isolation to create. We’ve got the time now to do those things that you didn’t get done before. Another mentioned a list of historical figures who created wonderful literary works during a time of isolation.

All that encouragement is wonderful. But at some point during this whole worldwide, never experienced before stay-in-place, social distancing thing stuff happens and no creative comes. I miss hugging my family. And although we can get together on zoom—it’s not the same.

As authors, we are encouraged to add the senses to our stories. Otherwise, the scene appears flat and lifeless. So it is in the real world. I’m blessed to be in isolation with my wonderful husband. Even so, depression raises its ugly head for me. My productivity is no match for those who encourage us to hunker down and do great things.

The strangeness of this new normal makes it hard for me to focus on writing and social media promotion.  I struggle with shutting down emotionally and crawling under a rock of distress. Focusing on my writing isn’t easy.

I work part time and how we conduct business has changed. Gloves, face masks and sanitizing my work space are part of the new routine. Masks make us distant. No more leaning in close to whisper. The muffled conversation that needs to be repeated because I can’t always make out what the masked person before me is saying.  No more hugging co-workers and clients alike because of social distancing.

Now my mother has declined even more since the isolation that she has to be moved from assisted living to a nursing home. She fell because of her confused state and an undiagnosed UTI. Somehow she’d evaded the nursing staff on the evening shift, took the elevator to a different floor,  moved her wheelchair to the other end of the building and opened a stairwell door, and fell ten steps. Mom was looking for something—whether it was her daughters or some other thought she was fixated on. Her mental capacity has slowly unraveled to confusion and little recall of past events either short or long term. I’m grateful she broke no bones in her fall, but I agonize over the state of my new normal. I can’t see her, touch her, offer her a comforting word. She is lost and alone in a strange environment. Zoom and Skype don’t bring her the reassurance that I am there for her like a hug and kiss on the check. Hard to write beautiful words when the world seems ugly.

Celebrating Lily at two months on Facebook

I have a beautiful new granddaughter born on March 8^th, who’ve I’ve not gotten to hold. Lily is far away in North Carolina and I watch her grow via face time and google duo from my isolation in Illinois.

My five-year-old grandson lives across town and spends the night as often as he can. Now we chat briefly on the phone. He wants so badly to come for a visit. His new normal is confusing and sad. Perhaps if I wrote children’s books I might have some clever way to help him during this time. But like my mother, he must trust me when I say it’s important to stay inside until it is safe to come out.

David jr age five.

Prayer gets me through the feeling of hopelessness. Jesus comforts and keeps me when I begin to fear. I wait for the day I can gather the family around me and love on them. Just like books need all the senses to make it real. I need the closeness of those I love to make my life feel real.

For those of you like me who find it hard to be creative in this season of time, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, let me share with you a verse that encourages me that life will get better, my words will flow and family time is just around the corner. Ecclesiastes 3:11a He makes all things beautiful in his time.

I replay that promise in my mind. I recall all the times he has done that for me. When I’d almost given up hope, I got my first book contract. When finances were tight God provided in miraculous ways. His time is always the perfect time.  He will bring beauty forth. At the end of this narrow tunnel.  I believe my words will be deeper, stronger, and more inspired and so will yours.

How have you been handling this “new normal”?