According to a new survey by the Page Turner Awards, there might be one unexpected positive of the coronavirus lockdown: the emergence of more great writing.
While film and TV productions have stalled, the solitary nature of life over the past few months has lent itself to writing — everything from poems and short stories to (perhaps) even the next big literary success story.
The survey tallied responses from writers across 15 different countries.
Among its notable results:
- 61% of respondents stated they have been able to write more (or about the same) since the lockdown started.
- Being able to write more or about the same would be encouraging for the 34% of writers who write full-time. This means that lockdown hasn’t disturbed their main livelihood — in fact, it may have even helped.
- While most are writing more thanks to home-working and the lack of opportunities to socialise, unfortunately 33% of those who are writing more are able to do so because they have lost their job.
- UK writers have been writing a lot more than the survey average (60%) since lockdown began
The Page Turner Awards are open to published and unpublished fiction and non-fiction writers from all genres.
Judged by high-profile experts from the literary world sponsored by ProWritingAid, the Awards give writers and authors the chance to have their work read by a group of literary agents. For more information, click here.
Have you been writing more since lockdown began? Tell us all about it over on Twitter.
For writing advice, hints and tips from “The People’s Friend”, click here.
Iain McDonald I am the Digital Content Editor at the “Friend”, making me responsible for managing the flow of interesting and entertaining content on the magazine’s website and social media channels.
