The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Blog for April 1, 2020

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April 1, 2020, and there is absolutely nothing to joke about. Laughter, when it does happen, is based on morbid irony, rather humor. Did you ever imagine a scenario like the one we’re living in?

Sadly, I did. It was the key plot element that united my Harvester Files series.  The fact that fiction and imagination are now reality scares the bejesus out of me. Too bad I didn’t find a fictional vaccine that worked, but I did manage to have my hero and heroine prevent a massive outbreak.  Funny, the one thing that could’ve controlled my virus had it escaped was what we’re looking at now–QUARANTINE and SOCIAL DISTANCING.

As often as I can, I post on the IWSG’s monthly blog, answering their question and offering you, those who follow my blog, a chance to connect with other writers whether or not you’re one.

This year has turned into everyone’s greatest nightmare. Personally, I was convinced the worst was behind me, especially after  losing several close friends and my father last fall. How could anything be worse than a funeral every second week? Be careful what you wish for.

Now, while I do not personally know anyone who has died from COVID 19 yet, I do know it’s just a matter of time before I will. My 92-year-old  mother is in a nursing home, and we’ve seen how things play out there in Spain, Italy, the USA, and even parts of Canada.

Here’s this month’s question:

The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?

Simply put things in my world suck! I don’t mind having to stay in. I can disappear inside my head and socialize with my characters at the drop of a hat. No, my problem is that as essentially a romance writer, I can’t envision how anyone can meet and fall in love in this world we now live in. For years, we’ve been urging people to put down their phones and tablets, get off the computer and Facebook  or Twitter and socialize, face-to-face. Now we’re urging them to do the exact opposite.  We were already an anti-social world. How much worse will it be when this is over, and the fear of touching someone persists?

Another example of irony. Ontario teachers were having labor issues with the government prior to the pandemic. One serious bone of contention was educating high school student using online courses. Now, the only educational opportunities around are online courses. At least we’ll get to see whether they would work or not.

Prior to the pandemic, the gulf between the haves and the have nots was expanding. Now, it may well be shrinking, but at what cost? Millions are unemployed, some waiting for government handouts to see them through, others already destitute in worse shape than ever. The homeless are at risk, too, and the working poor, who can’t stay home if they want to keep a roof over their heads and feed their children.

And then we have the people we never really noticed putting their lives at risk to perhaps save ours–doctors, nurses, PSWs, firefighters, police officers, mechanics, truckers, grocers, pharmacists,–the list goes on, but if they get sick and worse case scenario, die, who will look after us? Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, forest fires aren’t going to stop any more than care accidents, cancer, diabetes, mental illness, and heart disease will. In fact, curbing the ability to exercise and connect with people will  place an even greater burden on those with chronic diseases like those mentioned above.

Finally, before the pandemic, we were being urged to save the planet by reusing and recycling, bringing our own bags to the grocery stores, our own cups to the coffee shops, drinking from water fountains and refilling our water bottles there. Not anymore. You can get your coffee at the drive-through, but leave your cups at home. Some places will still let you use your bags if you bag your own, but because of the social distancing, in most places, the cashier bags and uses plastic. And as for the water fountain, well, you’re on your own. Any attempts to reduce the amount of plastic waste have gone by the wayside, along with everything that was major news pre-pandemic. If anything, we are creating tons more plastic waste. Everything is now single use and disposable, especially medical waste like gloves, masks, and gowns. We’re doing twice the laundry since hand towels are washed after every use. I’ve resorted to paper towels–not because I want to, but because I can’t keep up.

So how are things in my world? They’re lonely, confused, disoriented, and frightened. I’m in the high risk group, asthmatic and four months away from my 70’s birthday, not sure I will even see that day.  At this time last year, I was planning my future cruises. Now, I’m just hoping and praying I have a future.

So, to avoid drowning in this morbidity, I am burying myself in my writing. I will have a new book out in may, a short story in June, and a second book in July. It’s the only way I can handle this new Twilight Zone.

What about you? How are things in your world?

Stay home, stay safe, and stay hopeful.

To read other answers to this month’s question, check this out.

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html