25 March 2020

#WIPWednesday

The essay I mentioned submitting for syndication last week was not accepted. I've considered submitting to some other outlets but I don't think I will. There is a lot on the topic out there right now and it'd just be white noise.

Plus, as I mentioned last week, I'm giving myself permission not to worry about my writing – old or new – for the foreseeable future. If something runs again, I'll share it. If inspiration strikes, I'll write. But, I don't need to expend any energy trying to make those things happen.

18 March 2020

#WIPWednesday

I've spent weeks funneling my frustrations over the dismissing and downplaying of the novel coronavirus into writing.



This week, I did finish the essay I mentioned having a first draft of last week, and I am pleased to say it was published on Invisible Illness (a Medium publication) and curated in the Mental Health topic. I also submitted my previous piece for syndication and am awaiting a response.

But, as I also mentioned last week, my frustrations have now subsided into resignedness.



I no longer want to funnel my energy towards trying to get people to listen to the experts and understand the threat.

We are staying home in a social distancing quarantine. My kids have started e-learning through our school district. In the coming weeks and months, life is going to look and feel very different. We are well prepared for these measures, but it will still be challenging.

So, I'm going to do my best to give myself some grace. I doubt I'll get much writing done with everyone home – and that's okay.

I do hope to keep up with these weekly #WIPWednesday posts, even if I have no progress to report. For a while, the occasional graphic may be the only new content I have to share.

Hope you all are well and also giving yourself some grace.

11 March 2020

#WIPWednesday

It is no secret what's been in the forefront of my thoughts lately...






As a society, we tend to polarize everything – one extreme or the other. And, in the U.S. especially, many pride themselves on being unshakable – they mix-up taking logical steps for preparedness with showing fear and weakness. They are the resulting pushback of those who take preparedness to the extreme by hoarding supplies and spreading panic.

As with most things, the healthy place to be is not in the extremes on either end but somewhere in the middle. Do not panic or spread doomsday fears. Do not hoard supplies causing shortages. But also do not ignore or downplay the facts and worsen the situation by being careless.

Your lack of preparedness will be a burden and a risk, either to you and your family or to the community, should an outbreak occur in your area.

Also, if you don't know what to believe from the media, do your own research. Don’t get caught up in politicizing COVID-19. Skip media outlets and go straight to the source information. Look not only into the current situation but also into past pandemics for reference. Be knowledgeable with facts, not spin or hype.

#preparedontpanic #covid19 #pandemic #preparedness #pandemicpreparedness #dontpoliticizethis #findthefacts #writerelizabethjoyce
A post shared by Elizabeth Joyce (@writerelizabethjoyce) on








I actually started paying attention to what was happening when the WHO first brought attention to a new coronavirus in early January – mostly out of my fascination with novel diseases. At the time, I felt little concern that it would turn into a pandemic. Even as the US recorded its first case on January 21st, then a second (being the first in my home state of Illinois) on January 24th, and then three more cases, I felt little concern since the infected persons had traveled from China.

But on January 30th, when the 6th case was the spouse of the Illinois patient – someone who had not traveled – I switched from passively following the developments to actively seeking out information and facts as I became more concerned about community transmission. The first official case of community transmission in the US (someone with no travel or contact with any known case) was announced in California on February 26th. This is when I began to consider the possibility of a pandemic, though I'd already started to prepare for a possible outbreak in my area.

I don't consider myself a "prepper" or an alarmist. Preparedness seemed the responsible, logical response to the situation. But as I took what I thought to be rational steps – stocking up in case of quarantine, donating disinfecting wipes and extra food to the local food pantry, reconsidering some of our plans – I became increasingly frustrated by the number of people downplaying the issues, spreading misinformation, and, especially, by our government taking no serious steps to slow or contain the spread.

My frustrations lead to a new graphic, a #BookShareSunday post, and two new essays: "Please Stop Using Seasonal Flu Deaths to Downplay the Threat of COVID-19", and "We Are Much Too Quick to Dismiss the Past as No Longer Relevant." I actually have a first draft of another (loosely related) essay done, as well.

But, now, my frustrations are subsiding into resignedness. All that's left to do is see how this plays out in the short term and over the next year (because evidence does show a second wave next winter is likely) and ride it out the best we can.

04 March 2020

#WIPWednesday

My first newsletter of 2020 went out this morning. If you haven't yet subscribed, please do! Less than a quarter of those who have chosen to follow my social media pages will actually see any given post. Subscribe to my quarterly newsletter for quick, easy access to all my latest work and exclusive newsletter tidbits delivered directly to your inbox every few months.