By Edwin Hickman
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the world, and the quarantine and social distancing measures are expected to go on indefinitely. Though it is certainly not an easy time, it is a time to be productive, for school and work, as well as passion projects. For creatives out there, amateur and professional, it is an opportunity to create the dream project you’ve always had. As an amateur fiction writer, I find that this time at home is a good time to write and formulate story ideas. Though I am also busy with online assignments and housework, I see this as a time to not only work on current projects, but to also find inspiration for new ideas.
In a humorous article from the Federalist, writer Neal Pollack mentions the literary efforts of several writers during times of quarantine. In particular, William Shakespeare’s career was heavily affected by the plagues of his time. In an article from the Guardian, author Andrew Dickson details how the outbreak of illnesses affected the livelihood of playwrights like Shakespeare. King Lear, one of the Bard’s bleakest works, was first performed in 1606, the same year when a plague outbreak occurred in London and closed down all theaters. Themes of death, desperation, and nihilism are seen throughout the play. It can definitely be inferred that Shakespeare took inspiration from the events around him.
When it comes to my writing process, once I have a concrete idea, I usually begin by making an outline. This helps me have a guide to follow when writing, preventing me from getting lost and desperate to find structure. I also try to write a list of my cast of characters, making notes of their features, motivations, relations to other characters, and other relevant details. Depending on the story, I also develop the setting in detail, building a world to create lore and locations. This is all dependent on the genre as well as personal preference, but I recommend it as I find it makes writing easier.
Another major part of my writing process is finding inspiration. I particularly enjoy fantasy, horror, and historical fiction, so I will often look to sources in these genres. The works of writers like J.R.R Tolkien and Stephen King have inspired me in the past. One particular story that comes to mind during this time is “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe. One of my favorite Poe stories, it features the character of Prince Prospero, who has hidden himself and a large group of nobles away in order to avoid a deadly plague. The fictitious Red Death in the story is thought to be inspired by tuberculosis, a disease that took the lives of many of Poe’s loved ones.
Besides other works of prose, I like to use other sources for inspiration. One of my biggest sources is playing some of my favorite video games, which can often feature worlds and characters that rival that of prose characters. Whether it be a survival horror game like Resident Evil 4 (2005) or a fantasy adventure game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), these games feature immersive worlds that could bring an author’s most vivid descriptions to life. Another big source of inspiration is researching history. From anything as ancient as the conquests of Alexander the Great, or as recent as the political machinations of the Cold War, I find that real life events can often be as interesting as fictional stories. History can be used to influence the lore of a fictional world, or can influence the choices taken when writing in a real-world setting.
So, what kind of fiction will come out of the COVID-19 quarantine? A biological horror story about a deadly pandemic? A science fiction story about a scientist struggling to maintain the health of a space station? Honestly, who knows. What is apparent is that this time spent away from the rest of the world is the perfect opportunity to get to writing. Whether you’re in the middle of a project that needs finishing or have an idea for a story you want to start, I recommend you use this time to finally get to it.
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