Being Creative Through Tumultuous Times

I know I'm not the only one feeling distracted and distressed lately. There's a part of me that thinks I should not look away, that a minimum is to witness what's happening in Minnesota. 

At the same time, for most of us, the rest of our lives continue. We have our usual things to balance: work, family, and (what often gets squeezed in last) our creative work. 

Sometimes I try to compartmentalize, and when I write an email letting people know about another interesting interview with a Michigan writer or illustrator, I just write it like I normally would without acknowledging horrific scenes that almost all of us have seen on the news or social media. Sometimes it feels strange to not acknowledge what is going on in the world and the feelings of fear that many are experiencing and to just proceed with business as usual. 

So, while acknowledging that our primary purpose on this blog is to talk about writing and illustrating books for children, I also wanted to have a space available for you to talk about how the state of the world affects you and/or your creative work, as well as to offer advice for your fellow writers and illustrators.

How are you feeling? Are you continuing with your writing/illustrating/submitting like usual? If not, what has changed?