Member-only story
The world has changed a lot in the last few days hasn’t it? In the UK, everyone who can is working at home. We are being told not to go out and socialise. Pubs, restaurants and shops are closing. Today is the last day of school until God knows when.
I had to be in London earlier in the week and it was eerily quiet. The station carpark was at half empty weekend levels, rather than the usual overflowing weekday status.
I don’t know about you, but I have struggled with my creative routine. For me this has been more to do with a busy day-job phase, where work has been eating up the little slots in my day that I reserve for writing. But even so, as everything we know ceases to operate, our usual routines can disappear as well.
I remember in the days following 9/11, back in 2001, with so much serious stuff happening in the world, I often thought why am I bothering to write about the Countess and her talking handbags? It seemed too frivolous in the face of life-changing events.
Part of me feels a bit that way now. I was getting all geared up for book launch activities and now my schedule has fallen apart. We have no idea what the next few weeks and months are going to be like.
But it is OK to create. People need at-home entertainment more than ever. We need escapism. We need to be cheered up.
