July and most of August has come and gone like a storm where my family and I experienced intense illness and a painful personal loss. Thankfully, the storm has passed, and life is returning to its normal bound path.
Except for a few particularly bad weeks, I have kept writing. It has been immensely satisfying to break into a new act in the story. I don’t want to give too much away, but my main characters have made some significant discoveries that will both come into play now and later in the story.
The last I was told by the editor working to publish the They Walk Among Us anthology, our short stories were to be published in July. So far, I have not heard anything from him or anyone else involved in the project. I assume that this pandemic is to blame for the delay, but I plan on contacting them in the next little while to try and find out when “Night Watch” will be available.
On the topic of the pandemic, multiple social media platforms have advertised an upcoming film that deals with various love stories during the spread of COVID-19. This trailer reminded me of an age-old argument that circulates in artistic circles during and after major events.
There are artists (of all mediums) that claim that it is appropriate to address major catastrophes, war, and other reality shaking circumstances as they occur or shortly after to keep the clearest perspective and draw the most attention. Memories can be dimmed over time. On the other side of the debate are those who believe distance should be put between the creator and what they choose to place in their work so that it is reasonably and fairly represented. History’s lens changes how those looking through it view the aftermath.
No matter where you stand in the argument, it is impossible to deny that flavor distilled from present happenings will find its way into every aspect of life. And that might not be a bad thing. Countless lives across the world have been affected by the virus and whole nations have felt the shifting of ideas. Now, when people open a book or see an ad for a film where characters face overwhelming odds in a quest to do what is right or save the world, they may find themselves drawn to the story in a way that would not have been possible before. Maybe individuals who had no interest in poetry will find the stark images and slant speech echoing their own turbulent emotions.
So, is it too soon to start using present-day upheaval as the backdrop for stories?
My fear is that companies will use these important events and ideas to line their pockets. My hope is that creators will bring ideas and perspectives to life that will unify their audiences. I expect that we will see a little bit of both outcomes. Only time will tell.