Though many found catharsis in exploring the pandemic in their writing, others used words as an escape from the chaos of 2020. Hannah Peterson discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Things feel pretty normal here. Most everyone wears their mask but stores and restaurants are all open.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
How to choose! One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker immediately comes to mind. Also Lesley Nneka Arimah's What it Means When a Man Falls From the Sky.
If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?
Looking forward to reading The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I got really into anime this summer and it's so exciting to learn about and enjoy stories from another culture. It felt very refreshing and I'm still hooked on so many different shows! A couple of my favorites have been Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Hunter x Hunter.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
I'll have really strong bursts in which I'll be able to focus on my writing for a few days at time, but there was also weeks I would go without writing at all. I think the pandemic exacerbated a lot of events this past year that would've been stressful without COVID, but became incredibly more difficult and distracting because of it.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
I finished a novel in 2018, and have been editing it since then. I really feel it's so close to being ready for the next step.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
World events don't have to influence your writing if you don't want them to. A lot of people were encouraging me to explore my feelings about the pandemic or the state of the world and that's just not the type of thing I like to write. Writing (and this is reflected in the theme of my submission) is as much about the joy for yourself as it is for others. Ten years from now, I'd want to remember that despite the state of the world I found a way to write things that felt fun for me to create and, hopefully, for others to consume!
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
My good friends Anthony, Aidan, and I created a writing group for the three of us in which we met weekly for a while to discuss what each other was working on. Even if I didn't always write as much as I set out to, it was really wonderful to have discourse with other writers about their triumphs and struggles.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I love writing in cafes. So cliched, I know, but there's nothing like a cozy café to sit and write in. Obviously now I write much more from home. I try to make my bedroom/office as relaxing and café-like as I can. For me this means, writing by a window, fresh coffee, dim lighting, a jazzy playlist and a candle or two close by.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Christmas! I always feel very grounded and full during the holiday season. I like knowing, no matter what's happened during the year, there's this celebration at the end of it when we all recognize the joy of being together, of selflessness, and of gratitude. Even if "being together" means something different this year, what we are celebrating hasn't changed.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Just write and read what makes you happy and forget about the rest. Chances are, someone else will like it too.
