The July–August 2020 issue of Poets & Writers features thirteen quotes by “Authors on Creativity in Quarantine” describing their (in)ability to write during the pandemic. Says one guilt-free poet: “I’m not writing a lot creatively right now. I am having wonderful exchanges with my students. I go out and talk to my neighbors. I guess this will all end up in a poem. But maybe not. And that’s just fine” (Gabrielle Calvocoressi). COVID-19 has not affected the amount of creative writing I do. I still write every day. Nor do I feel compelled to act as a witness to the pandemic, although my characters may be more fearful, angrier, or in search of escape. But the act of writing itself remains constant. And that’s just fine. For more of my thoughts on writing, see REFLECTIONS.
