One day you’re waiting for the sky to fall

The next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all.

—“Lovers in a Dangerous Time” by Bruce Cockburn

As stores, businesses, and life as normal shut down around the world, Italy faced the worst times it had seen in recent history.

Citizens were asked to remain inside their homes as loved ones grew sick, were hospitalized, and even died. Trapped with their fear and uncertainty, the entire country seemed helpless against a terrible, silent enemy. And yet, even as life as they knew it crumbled around them, not everyone gave into despair. One by one, still streets were transformed when citizens took to their balconies and windows and together raised their voices in song.

It is an age-old truth: when crisis hits, humankind’s salvation comes through our greatest strengths. Kindness. Sacrifice. Love. Art. And in these moments, as confusing and terrifying as they can be, writers are uniquely positioned to transport readers from their fear-stricken realities to places far away, magical, and all-absorbing.

As I write this, the world is in a tumult because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially, we all thought/hoped that this thing would clear up within a week or two. Now, all indications are that we’ll be experiencing the personal, medical, and economic ramifications for months to come, with earliest projections of (mostly) normalcy coming six months from now.

But this isn’t humanity’s first dark hour, or even its tenth. Or hundredth. If history teaches us anything, it’s that human beings—and all life across the universe—will never be free of strife, danger, and unexpected catastrophe. Illness, war, natural disasters: all march through the pages of human history with little thought for the lives and livelihoods they destroy. Coping with disaster, it seems, is as much a part of being human as breathing.

And so writers—like artists, musicians, and performers—must be more than just human. We must be the light that pierces even the most dangerous darkness.

When the going gets tough, the tough get writing. Not just through this pandemic, but through every rough moment, whether in the world or in our own lives.

I’ve seen an irritating fact pass through social media hundreds if not thousands of times: Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague. Well, bully for him. But the truth is, Shakespeare wasn’t lauded and appreciated for being a literary genius during his time. So don’t worry about being Shakespeare or writing the contemporary version of King Lear. Don’t think about fame or popularity at all—just write.

This is how life goes on. How stories are told. How lessons are learned. And how history remembers us.

Be the Mirror for the Times

In strange and turbulent times, nonfiction writers and essayists capture every moment. These writers tell the stories of the people who best represent the present, from those with the smallest and quietest voices to the world leaders who will shape the future for years and even decades to come. We’re all living history, and everyone has a story right now. So what stories will stand out? With an eye on context, writers can use these moments to plumb our deepest fears and elevate our unexpected triumphs. Nonfiction authors can choose their voice and their eyes, from personal points of view to seemingly omniscient observations, reflecting both reality and what George Orwell called “Newspeak.” How and where you tell the tale, however, is entirely up to you. So what stories will you choose to tell?

Write It to Remember

Anyone who loves writing—whether they’re an author, professional writer, or even just a dabbler—has at one point or another created a journal. Sometimes it seems difficult to process the quickly changing events of a crisis as they happen. Journaling can allow our brain to manage and purge our worry and fear. Even if it’s just a few lines or observations, think about getting down the small details. Look for moments of hope as they contrast with moments of darkness. You’ll see the balance shift over time—and eventually tip toward resolution. Maybe these moments and reflections will stay private and tucked away forever. Maybe they’ll inspire an article, short story, or poem. Maybe even a book. Whatever you decide, consider recording turbulent times for your own personal history.

Provide a Safe Place for Readers

Escaping from fear can be a challenging prospect. Technology provides us with numerous options: movies, television, video games, and social media. But only through books are we most effectively whisked away to a completely different world untouched by our current reality. Especially in fiction—and the more fantastic the better (who doesn’t like living at Hogwarts from time to time?)—books provide an escape that can last for hours, days, or even weeks. And through your writing, your short stories and books and poetry, you have the ability to make a safe place for someone else. Will readers forget their troubles? Unlikely. But for a short period of time, they can leave them behind, giving their brains and hearts some time to breathe and heal.

Isolation can open up opportunities for everyone, but especially for creators. For writers, it’s an opportunity to not only lose ourselves in our work but also use our creativity to help others.

You don’t need to be Shakespeare. Whether you’re writing literary fiction, poetry, historical fiction, horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy, westerns, personal essays, or even comics and graphic novels, your creativity is a gift. And there’s never been a better time to use that gift to lift up others.

“Start doing things,” says astronaut Chris Hadfield in his YouTube video “An Astronaut’s Guide to Self Isolation.” “They don’t have to be the things you did before. Take care of family, start a new project, learn to play guitar, study a new language, read a book, write, create. It’s a chance to do something different which you’ve maybe not done before. And then repeat . . . But there’s never been a better time to self-isolate.”

Hannah Guy lives in Toronto and is a professional writer and copywriter who specializes in books, books, and more books. Follow her on Twitter at @hannorg.