Days Upon Days
How are writers coping with the Covid-19 pandemic? We conduct an informal check-in.
/ Article by Ally Chua
There was a tweet that went viral in April, around the time most countries began implementing nationwide lockdowns, movement restrictions and urging people to stay at home:
It was understandable why the tweet resonated with people – or perhaps, struck a nerve. After all, it was the real-life actualisation of a common refrain – oh, I could do so much if only I had more time. In Singapore, the Circuit Breaker in April only allowed people to leave their house for essential activities. For a lot of people, sheltering in place meant a blank slate free from previously penciled-in routines and responsibilities. Daily activities such as going to school, going to work, dining out, watching movies, and other events were replaced with Zoom lessons, digital meetings, Netflix, and food deliveries.
Of course, this blank slate came with the quandary from “The Monkey’s Paw” of being tied to a global pandemic. Instead of unburdened free time, many of us were weighed down with worries about our loved ones, jobs and future, alongside the anxiety from the pandemic and tumultuous events like elections in Singapore and protests across the globe. Rightfully, the original tweet was lambasted by many who pointed out that there was no right way to cope with this pandemic. That self-care should come first before any thought of being productive:
So, how are writers coping with this pandemic? I tweeted three questions aimed at writers of all kinds via Sing Lit Station’s Twitter account to find out how they have been coping with the pandemic. The three questions were:
How has living in the pandemic been for you? Don't think, just type the first thought(s) that comes to mind! #fastestfingersfirst
Did you start any new projects or collaborations (be it about writing or otherwise) during this time? Tell us more about what you are doing! Plug your upcoming projects!
What was your average day like during the pandemic? Take us through your routine. #memebonus #gifbonus
I received a number of varied responses.
There were also those who found it harder to cope, or wasn’t sure what to make of this period:
Some took the chance to reconnect with or affirm their loved ones, especially for those who were staying overseas before returning to Singapore when Covid-19 hit.
During my Twitter takeover, I also asked about each writer’s daily routine. I saw that for many, their routines had not changed drastically, even though there was a hint of repetition.
The repetitiveness is understandable, given that we experienced fifty-six days of Circuit Breaker where people stayed mostly at home. So, I was also interested to know what people were reading or writing during this period.
The responses gave me an insight into how our writers are coping. Of course, while informal Twitter check-ins may not give an accurate representation of the state of the literary community, what I saw was that many writers have gotten used to their new routines (or found that their routines had not changed much), and that they were keeping their days occupied. Some turned to checking in with their loved ones, while others watched performances and shows online.
I also noted that while some had put writing on their backburner, there were others who turned to writing during this period. I recalled what editor Toh Hsien Min remarked in the latest issue of QLRS – that the journal saw “a bumper crop of submissions to consider, as writers sheltering in place around the world had more time to write and to submit (as I personally did).” So it was not an isolated phenomenon. After all, for many writers, writing is a form of catharsis. It gives us an outlet to deal with our anxieties, to work through our fears – something that is perhaps well needed during this period.
How have you been coping with 2020 thus far? Feel free to share on the Twitter thread here. I hope that you are all doing well, and if you’re feeling down, I hope that better days are in store for you. Take care of yourself, everyone!