Production in the Time of Corona, or Why I Needed New Commandments

At first it seemed that being forced indoors, laid off work, and practicing social distancing would foster my creative endeavors. Just imagine what I could do with loads of free time alone—time to finish abandoned projects, to bolster my research, to type the stack of story notes languishing atop the file cabinet, and to expand a few weak plot points. I should even have time to change every passive verb to active.  The possibilities were endless.

During these weeks of solitude I could complete my ghost story compilation, expand my YA hero’s tale, finish three or four book trailers, post a series of promotions on Social Media, and review my neighbor’s manuscript. There would be nothing to steal the day’s hours, nothing like extended luncheons with friends, meeting exercise buddies at the gym, or attending a gathering for business, church or neighborhood watch. Fewer shopping trips, scant errands, and no long drives to visit relatives.

In this time of Corona and sheltering in place, all the hours I used to wish I had are suddenly here, like they’d been dropped in my lap. With all this unstructured time, I could even plot The Great American Novel.

So, after three weeks of being alone, how’s my writing productivity? Actually, it’s between dismal and pitiful. During this forced isolation, I’ve watched more television and computer videos than the previous five months combined.

I watch local news, national news, and international news—what’s going on? Are the numbers rising or falling? Has anyone in my county been infected? What are the doctors saying and what are their latest predictions? How can I make my own masks? Then, when I’m sated with news, I watch a TV series I missed last year and re-watch episodes of “Chicago PD.” Every evening, instead of reading inspirational writing books like “1,000 Active Verbs” or “How to Write a Book in Twelve Days,” I search YouTube for videos that’ll make me laugh, like old skits with Harvey Korman and Tim Conway, Johnny Carson shows, Laugh-In reruns, or Laurel and Hardy dancing to Santana… something, anything that no way resembles my new bleak and sometimes frightening existence.  

So what’s with all these television shows and computer videos? Why aren’t I using my time to write – or at least to edit what I’ve written?

At last I had to admit: I was no longer acting like myself. The creative person who used to pen quirky, entertaining stories that won prizes and were published wasn’t home. She must be hiding because she certainly isn’t sitting at her desk, pencil in hand. After three weeks of avoidance behavior I asked myself: How do I get out of this unproductive cycle and make the best of all this extra time? I realized I needed a Wake Up call.

That’s when I decided to surround myself with Wake Up signs. Positive, demanding signs like, You WILL write today! Signs I could post on the walls of my living room, den, and office. Signs I could tack on my computer monitor and television. Signs on the kitchen cupboard and the bathroom door. I needed visual reminders, commandments if you will, that I’ve been wasting time I will not get back.

So I shut off everything but the fridge and coffee pot while I fashioned my nine productivity commandments:

• Thou shalt WRITE today.
• Thou shalt not watch more than three hours of television (including news).
• Thou shalt only watch computer videos on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Thou shalt not drive to town for any reason that can be delayed until later.
• Thou shalt complete and post a book trailer or other promotion every week.
• Thou shalt put pen to paper for three hours a day—better if it’s four.
• Thou shalt faithfully digitize all penned notes.
• Thou shalt post Tweets, notes, messages, or articles about writing every evening.
• Thou shalt promise my greatest fan to expect more chapters in her inbox—and faithfully follow through.  

I considered writing ten of these commandments, but nine seemed to work—that’s two or three per room. I typed each “Though Shalt” on a single page using 48-point font or larger, fashioned an eye-catching border, and then printed them on colored paper.

While hanging the nine signs, I worried what others would think when they saw these commandments tacked around my home. But then I remembered our Corona edict to shelter in place. I no longer have any visitors. Even the postal lady and the UPS man knock once before sprinting away.

For the next two weeks at least, it’s just me, my signs, and my writing. Here’s to increased productivity! 🙂