A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative While Sick
Making the leap from BigLaw partner to novelist comes with unexpected challenges - including learning how to handle sick days when you're your own boss.
From Billable Hours to Creative Time
As I lie here on day six of what might be a cold, flu, undetectable COVID, or pneumonia, I'm confronting a reality that I need to reset some (internal) deadlines to finish my next draft -- which makes me terribly annoyed. The last thing I want to do right now is open my ever-expanding Excel spreadsheet of novel revisions and thoughtfully work on structure. I can’t even sit up straight at this point.
And that's okay. I am still trying to learn that this profession is NOT like being a BigLaw partner - I do not NEED to work when severely ill, I have no billable hours minimums to hit or year-end deals to close. . . only, with writing, I so WANT to work!
My sickness essentials: hot tea, huge water, Calm Magnesium drink, Starry Sugar Free, sparkles and a book.
(Yes, I am aware of the irony in complaining about not being able to work while writing a full blog post, but my assumption is this blog requires less polish than a manuscript, so please forgive me, dear reader.
Also, I secretly do track all my time with my most favorite app/website Toggl Trackr because after 20+years of billing, I could not leave it behind and honestly, it brings me such joy to see an objective measurement of the effort I am putting in on my novel, this blog, learning/classes, etc.)
The Guilt of Not Writing (And Why We Need to Let It Go)
So, I'm super frustrated about losing a week of progress on my revisions. My internal deadlines keep slipping, and this year has been a masterclass in life getting in the way of best-laid plans. The transition from legal writing to creative writing has been particularly challenging – legal briefs come with built-in deadlines and external accountability, while novel writing requires self-imposed structure and motivation. . . and getting paid is entirely speculative.
But I remind myself: no clients are waiting for my emails, no deals will go sideways if I stop checking emails, no bonus will be withheld if I slack off. To be on a self-imposed schedule is a blessing in so many ways, including when I feel like a truck ran me over. So instead of beating myself up, I am grateful for the ability to take the time to recover. My mind will function at optimal levels again (I hope!) and until then, I am just trying to “work” by doing things other than writing.
When Your Creative Practice Gets Derailed: Alternative Ways to Feed Your Creativity
While sitting upright at my desk hasn't been possible, I've found other ways to stay connected to my work-in-progress:
TV and Film About Powerful Women
Lying on my couch wrapped in two blankets, I've immersed myself in content related to my novel's themes about female founders and leadership:
Vogue in the '90s took me on a lovely trip down memory lane, and watching Anna Wintour 100% counts as studying girlbosses.
I attempted The Intern for research on female founders but abandoned it halfway through, I think after the scene Robert De Niro lets one of the 20-something interns move in with him. C’mon Robert de Niro.
I also re-watched The Proposal and despite its problematic trope of demonizing successful, efficient women in high heels and pencil skirts, I sure do love me some Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. I also love the Alaskan setting, though of course dislike the dog-hunting eagle.
Also, while not a show about powerful women, but I binged The Man on the Inside and was surprised to see one of its outdoor locations (California Street in San Francisco) is the same setting as one of my end scenes. So I will count it as "work"!
Reading as Research
I finished my re-read of Glossy (one of my touchstone girlboss books), then completed The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, a book that slipped my radar until I heard Gabrielle Zevin recommend it during a recent Chicago Public Library talk. While it didn't resonate with me – perhaps due to my unfamiliarity with comic book culture or the wandering plot – I made myself finish it.
I started Rachel Kushner's Creation Lake, which has me captivated at 30% in, proving that even when we're sick, the right book can pull us in.
Exploring New Creative Mediums
I've also ventured into social media content creation, trying to learn the intricacies of TikTok and Instagram Reels. Despite my nephew's critique about my unpainted toes in the first video I posted to TikTok (lesson learned!), it's been kind of fun making little videos. I can't imagine videotaping my whole life. . . but selecting music and creating a specific vibe offers a different kind of storytelling experience. I guess there’s a reason TikTok is a whole “thing.”
Key Takeaways for Sick Writers
As I write this through a Dayquil haze, I'm learning that productivity doesn't always look like we expect it to. The transition from attorney to author isn't just about changing what we write – it's about reimagining our relationship with productivity, creativity, and self-discipline. . . and leveraging the motivational tools from life as a lawyer to help propel the writer forward to completion.
For now, I'm trying to accept that while I can't attack my novel revision with the same intensity as a legal brief, every bit of creative work – whether it's watching relevant media, reading similar books, or even dictating stream-of-consciousness blog posts – will hopefully contribute to my growth as a writer.
And I will 100% bill (myself) for this blog post.
Toggl Track is my jam.
