Pivoting to Create

Writing in times of trouble

I postponed a scheduled post because with everything that’s going on, it felt tone deaf and there’s plenty of that going around. Whether it’s the news cycle, politics, the job market, personal situations, or any of the other dozens of topics that are in flux and disarray, times like these can bring forth a lot of anxiety and second guessing, whether it’s what we post, what we write, what we say, or what we do.

But within all the turmoil, one truth shall always remain:

We have agency.

Agency is a term being used a lot lately and the meaning we’re referring to is when you have the ability to make decisions and act independently. It’s a word with a LOT of weight to it and that weight can lead us on one path or another, or it can have us at a standstill, feeling as if we’re at an impasse.

Versus other times in the last couple of decades, this feels much more collective than many of us have ever experienced. How people respond to present times is one thing, but the art we create also has agency and we also have decisions to make about what we create, how we create it, and why we create it. Because of this, I’ve found myself revising several outlines, because I feel the need to do so. I know some other people who feel the need to pivot full into venting and making a statement. I know some people who feel the need to go the opposite direction, because they need to escape from whatever they’re feeling and experiencing.

This isn’t a post about judging others with what they have to say in their work or in general. This is about going beyond the very real paralysis a lot of people seem to be experiencing.

“How can I create at a time like this?”

“What do I have to say?”

“Things are too heavy…”

“I feel numb.”

“I’m angry ALL the time.”

“I feel out of control.”

“I can’t focus.”

“What does it matter?”

ALL of these quotes are from conversations I’ve had with friends, family, writers, artists, musicians, and people in general. The fact is that life can hit plenty hard, leaving us winded, stranded, without bearings, and wondering how we can get back to what we love.

These times are most definitely not the exception.

I’ve said before that writing has been a lifeline for me. That’s not overhyping what writing means in my life. When I hear someone struggling, I always recommend that they should buy a notebook and put words to what they feel and what they’re living. Giving it a name and getting to know what you’re experiencing can be extremely powerful.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, write what you’re feeling. Bleed out the poison. Instead of screaming into the void, put it on paper so you can feel it leave the confines of your body and so you can better understand it. Write about that feeling and how in turn that makes you feel. Write poetry, write essays, write a story with a character feeling what you’re feeling. Take control of those emotions and make something special.

If you’re feeling sad, think of those times you’ve seen a movie, read a book, read a line in a poem, or listened to a song that broke your heart yet somehow helped you feel better. Feeling angry? Think of the same things but when you heard something that so perfectly captured that rage you were feeling that you’d see a scene more than once or put a song on repeat. If you’re feeling lost, words can help you find your way back. It could be understanding what you’re feeling or having a character go on your journey. It could be something completely different that is waiting for you to exercise your agency to create.

Why do I say this? Because I’ve been lost, I’ve been broken, I’ve experienced intense health issues and injuries, I’ve had dark moments, I’ve had the rug pulled from under me, I’ve wanted to punch through a wall, I’ve wanted to scream so loud I’d leave everyone deaf, and each time, writing was my anchor. It helped me gain clarity and focus, and I think we can all use plenty of that in these times.

Because we have something to say.

Because it matters.

Because even in times of trouble, you have agency and if you need to pivot, then pivot.

Just keep going, because you can and you should.

Peace, love, and maki rolls.

JD