Throughout 2020, escaping into stories and art was the way many found safety and shelter from the most difficult days. Elizabeth Bates discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
We have been pretty lucky where I live in northern Washington state in that our cases have been far lower than in many places around the country. That said, many businesses are closed, some having had to close permanently. Schools are closed besides some small cohorts in hybrid models. My job as a high school teacher is entirely remote.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Gene Weingarten's One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America, Caroline Fraser's Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and J.W. Ocker's Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items have been some of my favorite reads during quarantine.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
I felt like I was able to get entirely absorbed in “The Haunting of Bly Manor” and any show that can draw me in like that is noteworthy, in my opinion.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
I have written more during the pandemic than I ever have before. I wrote an entire 80,000 word novel. I am now almost 10,000 words into a second novel. Not to mention countless short stories and poems that I have drafted during these months of the pandemic. The pandemic has been very good for my writing life.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
I am excited to continue the drafting and revision process of my #NaNoWriMo novel.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
When the distractions of "usual" life are removed, sometimes the writing comes easier.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Everyone in the #WritingCommunity on Twitter is so supportive and it is a great way to socialize with people who have the same mindset and interests. I would like to make a special shout-out to Shawn Berman, editor of The Daily Drunk, as he is such a great Twitter friend and his publication brings joy to so many people.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
I'm a plotter. If I don't outline, I can't write when it comes to a novel. I guess I'm a bit more of a pantser when it comes to poems and short stories. I just let those sort of flow out of me and see where the words take me.
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
My favorite place to write is whatever place I happen to be when my baby decides to take a nap. :)
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
Just the entire Taylor Swift folklore album, honestly!
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene you've written since the pandemic began?
My favorite scene I have written since the pandemic began is a scene in my first novel, Lapse, that is written to function as music on the page. It's sort of hard to explain without giving a spoiler, but I had so much fun writing that scene because music means a lot to me.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
I have started a literary e-zine with my sister, Dwelling Literary, and I am very much looking forward to publishing our inaugural pieces in December 2020!
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Keep writing because the more practice you get the better you will become. The only way to become a good writer is to write...a lot!
ABOUT elizabeth bates
Elizabeth Bates is a writer from Washington state where she lives with her husband, son, and two Siberian Huskies. Bates is the editor of Dwelling Literary. Her column, “Full Send,” has been featured at The Daily Drunk. Bates’ writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Versification, Seaborne Magazine, Your Dream Journal, GLITCHWORDS, Second Chance Lit, Poetically Magazine, and elsewhere.
To learn more, follow Elizabeth and her writing journey at her website and on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Elizabeth!
