Monday, April 20, 2020

#IWSG Admins share their coping skills during the global shut-down.



Alex



Im fortunate that I am still working, so my daily routine has only been disrupted by the closure of my gym. I walked before, but now I am doing a lot of walking! Im a homebody anyway, so Ive had no trouble staying at home. My current manuscript is with my test readers, so while Im not writing, I have been working on home projects. And Ive always been a compulsive hand washer, so that part is super easy. Plus we have toilet paper – score!

I try to limit my news time though, because I know so many are less fortunate and facing not just a health crisis but a financial one as well. I feel blessed. We are still ordering stuff online and getting take out, doing what we can for the economy. And I promise, when the ban is lifted, Im going to stuff myself silly at my favorite restaurant!

Mini-Alex says – stay safe.




Pat



What am I doing? How am I coping? Doing what I do and coping how I cope. That wasn't very eye opening, huh? Always something to do at my place. Whether that be puppy training, cat wrangling(stuffing a pill in a cat can be a pain in the butt...sometimes literally), or writing away. Actually released a novel, too. Finally! So the world may be going crazy, but it still keeps spinning away and so does each day that I fill and continue on with each new one. And as for my spot in the world, people are still being dumb and going out for no reason other than to chat. We haven't been hit hard yet. Give it time though. Such people will see to it.




Lee



Admin from Northern California checking in and hoping this post finds you and yours well. I have to admit that this long period of isolation has been a challenge for me. I’m used to being alone, but I’m also used to inviting friends for dinner or working out and  practicing yoga with others at the gym every day. When none of that was available, I decided to set a challenge for myself to stay active. I set a goal of 4 miles of walking daily. I thought that would give me the exercise I needed and also keep me semi sane. So far I’ve only come up short of reaching my mileage goal three times, and three days I went over that goal by a mile. The interesting thing about my challenge is that I began to enjoy the slower pace. Instead of racing around in my car, I was walking. I was seeing the place I’ve inhabited for many years. Once this pandemic has run its course, I’m hoping I don’t lose the perspective I’ve gained.


Diane


Greetings from Eastern North Carolina!
Since my office is in our house, the shutdown feels like a normal day. My husband still goes to work as they consider him “essential.” (He says – “Apparently the military will collapse if the drawing monkey doesn’t show up. You’re all welcome.”)
But since it all feels surreal and a heaviness is thick in the air, I’ve been coping by just focusing on what needs to be done for Dancing Lemur Press and her authors. I tried working on my own story, but that felt forced. Working on edits, researching promo opportunities, and preparing for our next release, the IWSG anthology Voyagers: The Third Ghost, keep me going. 

Plus, I have two cats to keep me company!




D.W.
Elizabeth

Blessings from Wild, Wonderful West Virginia! That’s my state’s welcome sign motto. Unfortunately, with Covid-19 hovering at every border, we’re barely moving, much less running wild. My boys are all home. Two were released early from college, two are working from home. No one brought clothes. Or the food from their cupboards or fridges, but they all remembered their Xboxes and televisions which they’ve used to take over my living room. Since there’s no risk of guests dropping in, I decided it didn’t matter where they set up gamer central. 


E.S.

Tyrean

Blessings from Washington State! Our motto is Alki, which means I'll see you in the future, by and by. In the first state in the US hit by COVID, I feel like I've been on the COVID roller coaster long enough. I'm ready to get off this ride! One of my daughters did not come home from college because her college town has not been hit hard by COVID. Both of my daughters are doing classes online. My husband works from home now. Several people from his work tested positive. I tutor students online via Zoom and I am a property manager, which means I do need to travel to the property to deal with some issues like unsafe decking, bird's nests in dryer vents, etc. and I know people who are out of work, struggling to make ends meet. We know doctors, nurses, firefighters, and police officers who are facing this firsthand every day. Yet, we keep living, working, dreaming, even singing. I've been part of a worship team for my church and we've recorded worship sets in small groups, six feet apart. I am still writing. I walk every day. And, when it doesn't rain, I live in a pretty amazing place so I feel blessed, even in all of this. As I tell my students, we are living history. Our journal entries could create living history for students in the future. So, I'll see you then, by and by. Alki. 


One of my walks near the Narrows Bridges. T.M.

Juneta

My daily life has not changed a lot as I am mostly homebound due to mobility issues. Luckily we had about three weeks supply of TP when our part of the world went crazy. At the end of April if this continues that may be a different story. We are four adults sharing residence. All still working outside the house, three in necessary jobs: fireman, trucking dispatcher (gotta get those supplies delivered), and Pet Smart dog trainer which yes a pet store with dog food is apparently considered a necessary job like groceries. Pet Smart does close two hours earlier than normal. A lot of businesses have shut down, while others have gone to delivery only. The Governor has officially issued a stay at home and no traveling except necessary things. They are checking vehicles. Our curfew is 11 p. m to 5 a. m. I already had my food delivered but the store is out of everything so it is hit and miss whether what you need is available, but we good for now. It is just a wait, watch and plot game now. Yes I am working on writing. Attending Zoom get togethers, and praying everyone I know and don't know stays well. Everyone here, except me, are people who go, go, go everyday of the week. They are a little stir crazy, but are already planning to take cruises starting in June if Covid19 lets them.



Heather

"You must be loving this lock-down thing! I bet you're writing all the time!"

Nope. Not a word. But, I'm thinking. A lot. I think about writing. I think about ideas. I think about stories. I think about characters. I think about plot. And, even though I haven't written one word of any of this down, I know that I can, because I've been thinking. Writing in my head is going to get me to that next step of writing on my computer.
Stay safe, stay sane, stay sassy!


14 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A great look into our lives behind the scenes!

Juneta key said...

Its good to hear everyone is doing well and staying safe. Stay Well.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

LOL! Elizabeth, we have 4 TVs, but they aren't all in the same room.

It was really good to hear from everyone.

Tyrean Martinson said...

It's really interesting to see everyone's life behind the scenes. I love Elizabeth's note on the gaming room! :)

cleemckenzie said...

It sounds like we're all coping in some way! But as my nephew--also a writer--says, we've been in training for this for many years. Writers are used to long periods of isolation. True, but never because someone told us we had to, say I. Very different. Hurray for the IWSG Admins!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Glad to see everyone is safe and healthy and finding a way to cope during these super challenging times.

Fundy Blue said...

It was great to hear how all our hard-working admins are faring. I'm glad to hear you are all doing well so far. Elizabeth's picture cracked me up! Take care, everyone. Thanks for all you do!

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Roland Clarke said...

Thanks all for this uplifting and encouraging glimpse at your lives. As I'm retired and disabled, home is where I am almost all of the time - writing, eating, and gaming. And looking forward to Voyagers.

Stay safe, sensible, and inspired.

Jemi Fraser said...

Nice to hear from everyone! Glad you're all safe and coping pretty well. We're doing the same here in Northern Ontario, Canada. Stay safe everyone!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Well done you guys ... always good to have a bit of reality check of life behind the IWSG adminners ... I enjoyed the read. As I'm on my own I'm just quietly getting on with things - I do have a lot of clearing out to do - which must get on with. Take care of you ... stay safe - Hilary

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Thanks Alex, Pat, Lee, Heather and the whole team for your tips, insightful testimonies and most of all keeping up our spirit. Take care and have an inspiring spring. See you all on the 6th May.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to all for your inspiring words. Alex, I, too, stay away from the news. Drama and hyperbole does not help. I'm so lucky to be one of the "haves" in terms of stability and able to help out some of the "have nots." Heather, I'm right there with you. All this "extra" time has been otherwise consumed, but the characters in my head continue with their lives. And like Tyrean, I walk to hold onto what passes for sanity in my world. Stay safe!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Enjoyed hearing about you all. We're still all in this and reading all these positive perspectives is cheering and hopeful.