by Laurie McLean

We began this Motivation Monday series of blog posts in early March to help writers of all levels and experience to weather the storm that was the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine. We wanted to keep your spirits up. We wanted to share wisdom from other writers and people in publishing. We wanted to help you get back into the swing of writing.

We always meant for Motivation Monday to last as long as the quarantine lasted. And now that it’s mid-June, bookstores, parks, outdoor cafes and other creative venues are opening once again to the public. That’s a positive sign. We hope you agree that these posts were helpful over the past three months.

Bookstores are reopening, even though your experience will be different than it was back in February. Venerable SF landmark City Lights Booksellers, has reduced hours (noon-8 pm), limits on how many shoppers can be inside at the same time, and everyone has to wear a mask. Book Passage in both their Corte Madera and SF Ferry Building stores have changed their layouts to make your shopping experience safer. Yes, you have to wear a mask and practice social distancing, but you can BROWSE BOOKS AGAIN!

Most bookstores have learned new techniques and procedures that they are going to keep. Curbside and doorway pickups? They’ll still be available in most bookstores. Book Passage’s flagship Marin store will still offer those stress-free book chats on the patio by their children’s team. Book deliveries will continue, and the online author visits are still going strong.

You may not be getting as many free online chats and classes by famous authors, writing craft teachers and agents, but that’s okay. Everyone has to make a living somehow. It’s good to support the industry you, as writers, are a part of.

So Motivation Monday is going to step back from our weekly rotation. You’ll still be hearing from us every Friday with alternating podcast audio interviews and relevant blog posts. We might throw a few extra Writing Roundups your way with local events, news, and San Francisco Writers Conference updates. Plus you can always access any of our podcasts and blog posts at our website: SFWriters.org.

If there was something you want to see more (or less) of, please let me know. My email address is [email protected] and I’d love to hear from you.

Wishing you all the best in this New Normal,

Laurie McLean