Authors aren’t strangers to solitude. But as the pandemic pushed us even further into isolation to protect ourselves and our communities, worry, fear, and sadness have encroached on that creative space for many.
Even as things slowly start to reopen, we don’t know how long this will last, or how the next couple of years will play out. And that uncertainty can make it hard to write or promote. So we turned to several successful authors to ask them how they’re getting through the COVID crisis, and what tip they’d give to a fellow author right now.
We’re so grateful for the wonderful responses we received, and thank each author who contributed these inspiring words. We hope this helps our readers find encouragement and feel less alone during these difficult times.
“In a world filled with lockdowns, masks, and grief, the writing process is my refuge. I may not be able to affect what’s going on outside, but I control the world my words build. That knowing gets me through.” 
—Beverly Jenkins, USA Today bestselling author of On the Corner of Hope and Main
“Even though we mostly work from home, and theoretically our job should not feel terribly different right now, it does. If you’re finding it hard to focus for hours at a time, you’re in the majority. For that reason, I’ve tried to give myself the grace of NOT writing when I’m too scattered. I do research or edit or write in a different genre, using muscle memory more than creativity. I think when we feel so uncertain, it’s hard to be certain about what we put down on a page… and that’s okay. ‘Writing like normal’ can’t happen when the world isn’t normal; don’t blame yourself if you need to press pause.” 
—Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways
“I think the most important thing is to not compare yourself to anyone else — including the old you. Just decide what you can reasonably get done in a day and then do it. I’m certainly not writing at my usual pace or my usual quality. It’s okay. It’s all okay.” 
—Taylor Jenkins Reid, NYT bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six
“Your writing is not garbage. Even your draftiest of drafts. Even that work-in-progress that you know needs an infinite amount of work (I promise, it won’t be infinite). And those few words you managed today? Not trash. Moving away from that thinking is one of the kindest things I ever did for myself. I am in the business of words, so I know words can be weapons. Why would I weaponize them against myself? My words are a part of me and I am worthy of grace, first and foremost, from myself. You are, too.” 
—Samira Ahmed, NYT bestselling author of Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know
“With the onset of COVID-19, I found myself wrapped up in the fear of the unknown, digesting every article I could find and basically living my entire day on social media. It got to the point where my anxiety was heightened and my productivity had completely halted. I started cutting off the Wi-Fi to my computer during writing time and I no longer take my phone to my office. I designate one hour each evening to catch up on news updates and social media. Putting distance between myself and what brought the most negativity into my workspace has made a huge difference in my productivity.” 
—Colleen Hoover, NYT bestselling author of Regretting You
“During stressful times, I try to practice gratitude. It’s easy to focus on what we fear, what we lack, what we want. Many of us are facing health and financial troubles now, which can overwhelm us and harm our mental health. But what are we grateful for? It could be something as simple as a good meal or blooming garden, or something profound like the love of family. When I feel overwhelmed and stressed, I try to think about what I’m grateful for.” 
—Daniel Arenson, USA Today bestselling author of the Earthrise series
“Remember that creativity is the place that you can go to escape chaos. You might have to run a whole new gauntlet — Zoom meetings, homeschooling, cooking for many people, many times a day — but once you’re there, on the page, you are in control. Maybe no place else in life will you ever have more control than you do when you’re creating something.” 
—Lisa Unger, NYT bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
“Besides the universal tip of ‘Be as kind to, forgiving of, and supportive of yourself as you are to your best friend,’ I find that the Pomodoro method helps me with productivity. You use a timer (I use the Focus Booster app) to focus on one thing for 25 minutes then take a five-minute break to do whatever you want. Then you do another 25 minutes. And after four straight Pomodoros, you take a longer break. Essentially it’s like writer sprints but you can use it for research, brainstorming, even self-care.” 
—Kellye Garrett, author of Hollywood Homicide
“It’s difficult enough to be a writer on the best of days, let alone with a veneer of doom hanging over everything. So here’s what I do: I focus on the next word, and then the one after that, and then the one after that. And then the next sentence. And then the next paragraph. Word by word. It’s always safe inside a story! And I try to grant myself the joy of opening that story door every day. We happily chose this writing life ‘before’ — and it’s just as wise (and valuable) a decision now.” 
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The Murder List
“For writers facing deadlines, well, the whole world has fallen off its axis now. That means for everyone: you, your writing partners, your editor, everyone. So first, pace yourself — self-care is important, and if that means taking some days off, then do it. Because we all need to come out the other side of this with sanity intact. But also communicate, whether that’s to your editor or agent or critique partner. If you need more time or if things are going slow, it’s okay to ask. Most people are pretty understanding these days, but try to give as much heads-up as possible so that everyone can adapt as needed.” 
—Mike Chen, author of A Beginning at the End
“Distract your brain with a creative outlet that (a) doesn’t have anything to do with your book and (b) doesn’t have anything to do with making money. Both points are important; this needs to be a creative outlet that’s stress-free and doesn’t have any stakes. If you fail, you’ve wasted nothing, not even time, because the whole point was to use your time just doing the thing, not succeeding at it. Allow yourself to revel in the fun of creating. That release allows your brain to open up to the creativity of your writing.” 
—Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of Bid My Soul Farewell
“It’s so easy during these days to become overwhelmed with the idea of productivity, and feeling like we should be filling our time writing. But it’s important to recognize that so much of our energy is being spent on worry and anxiety. That we are living through an unanticipated period of time, and we don’t know how it’s going to change the world. It’s okay to take a step back and just relax. Take care of your health — especially your mental health. Taking care of yourself will allow you to be a better writer at the end of the day.” 
—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars
“Try your best to take advantage of the new opportunities made available to you due to events being moved online! I was disappointed that my bookstore launch party got canceled, but I ended up doing a Q&A on Instagram Live instead with some authors who would never have been able to come in person. I’ve since done several interviews and panels with authors in other cities and time zones around the world and have felt such a sense of community and connection. This is your chance to do really fun and unique online events with people you may never have been able to meet up with if things were still happening IRL!” 
—Cameron Lund, author of The Best Laid Plans
“I know it can be easy — particularly in this time when we’re all VERY online because what else can we do — to just crank the ‘comparing myself to others’ dial past 10 and up to 37. You might be seeing writer friends talking about hitting word counts in the thousands, while you can’t bring yourself to get a single one out. Maybe it’s because you’re having a hard time emotionally, or you’re at home with your little ones, and trying to find that time to sit down is a bit impossible. There are a lot of reasons to not be writing right now, and they’re all very valid. Know that you aren’t alone. Talk to your friends. Take a breath, treat yourself well, and come back to the words when you can.” 
—Eric Smith, author of Don’t Read the Comments
“Remember that your work matters. That the world won’t always be like this. That though we are going through massive, seismic changes, art still matters. The quote that has been my touchstone through this crisis comes from Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, who said, ‘Where do I direct my attention, of which there suddenly seems to be a surplus?… Direct it at the same thing you loved on the first day of this year. Then, crank up the intensity.’ Books are a wonderful, joyful escape and will continue to be so. Be kind to yourself, but don’t be afraid to keep writing, to keep working, to keep producing because readers want what you have to say.” 
—Lauren Blakely, NYT bestselling author of Caught Up in Us
“It’s hard to focus and to feel creative right now, but keep up with the habit of writing. Just write. Don’t worry if it looks like crap. You can always edit crap later. You can’t edit a blank page.” 
—Janie Chang, The Globe and Mail bestselling author of The Library of Legends
“Find a way to connect with your readers that feels right to you. Here’s what I’ve done: Since mid-March, I’ve been serializing a free novella to give my newsletter subscribers something to look forward to during this strange, stressful time. I send a new chapter each Friday, along with a personal update, a photo or two (usually of my cat and dog), and a reminder to take good care of themselves. I include a short note at the bottom about my free books, sales, and upcoming releases to keep them up to date on my publishing news without being intrusive.” 
—Melissa F. Miller, USA Today bestselling author of Irreparable Harm
“These are difficult times. I’ve seen writers beating themselves up because they’re not spending as much time on their books. Relax. It’s not reasonable to expect stellar production now. Perhaps you have kids to homeschool, like us. You might have loved ones that you are worrying about. Maybe you’re finding it difficult to concentrate. Don’t beat yourself up — everyone is in the same boat. It’s a question of prioritizing and being patient for things to return to normal. If, in the meantime, you’re able to find five minutes in between episodes of Tiger King to note down a few words, then that’s a bonus.” 
—Mark Dawson, USA Today bestselling author of the John Milton series
“Living in Australia, I can’t travel back to the States a few times a year as usual. I miss my friends and family. Working helps, but some days writing is hard, and the words don’t flow as freely. I’ve learned to focus on today instead of worrying about tomorrow, and it’s a great time to try something new. I’ve started writing a self-help book for mystery authors. Be patient with yourself. Take one day at a time, and don’t be afraid to talk about how you’re feeling with those you trust. We’ll get through this together!” 
—Cheryl Bradshaw, USA Today bestselling author of Bed of Bones
“Many of us experience some level of anxiety and or depression through this pandemic. It’s a normal emotional response to something this awful. When I found myself hitting a low point, I imagined talking to a four-year-old version of myself. How would I respond to her fears and worries? Instead of demanding she push through, get the writing done, and display her happy face on social media, I urged her to enjoy a bubble bath. I gave her permission to take a walk, plant flowers, bake a chocolate cake. Whether we’re four, or seventy-four — let’s be kind to ourselves. Especially now.” 
—Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of A Woman of Fortune
Looking for more encouragement or solidarity?
Here are some wonderful articles authors have written on writing, creativity, and productivity during the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay and Being Broken in Half (But Wanting to Be Whole)
by Chuck Wendig, NYT bestselling author of Wanderers
Finding Creativity in Chaos
by Lisa Unger, NYT bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
Writing from the Bottom Rung: How to Sustain Your Creativity During a Pandemic
by Lisa Cooper Ellison, editor and writing coach
Writing During the Coronavirus Pandemic
by Kenji C. Liu, poet and author of Monsters I Have Been
Writing While Furloughed: What Impact Did Unemployment Have on My Writing?
by Nancy O’Toole Meservier, author of Red and Black
How to Organize Your Home Office: Pre-Pandemic Advice for Post-Pandemic Life
by Ronda Kaysen and Michelle Higgins, authors of Right at Home
Learning Keeps Us Going: Lessons from Teaching My First-Ever Online Course During a Pandemic
by Adam Smiley Poswolsky, author of The Breakthrough Speaker
Also check out LitHub’s video series Sheltering, featuring many great author interviews on a variety of topics during the pandemic.
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