When the World Falls to Pieces, Write!

by Rochelle Melander

“Art is my cure to all this madness, sadness, and loss of belonging in the world and through it I’ll walk myself home.”
― Nikki Rowe

It’s been a week. Between worrying about whether we’ll be able to afford health care next year and watching the horrific videos of demolition claws tearing down the East Wing and the East Colonnade of the White House, I haven’t been able to focus.

What is the proper response to political or personal crisis?

Legend has it, the reformer Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew the world was ending. He replied, “I would still plant an apple tree today.”

While no doubt an apocryphal story, the idea gives me great hope. In times when it feels like the world might be going to pieces, we can plant and build.

A long time ago, when worrying about a romantic interest, my mentor gave me a prescription: Cultivate your own garden.

It’s a reference to a quote from Voltaire’s 1759 novella Candide, “We must cultivate our garden” And it was the best advice for me—dig in your own dirt and plant what you can.

For me, my garden has always been about writing. And if you’re here, possibly yours has been, too.

Austin Kleon quotes Roland Allen, author of The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. Allen says, “people often start diaries in times of upheaval.” Kleon did that: writing daily morning pages from 2017-2021. He writes, “a notebook is a good place to have bad ideas. It’s also a safe space to share your secrets. To think the unthinkable. To say the unsayable.” (https://austinkleon.com/2017/01/19/a-good-place-to-have-bad-ideas/)

During World War II, a Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis wrote a diary that has been translated into more than fifty languages and has sold more than 25 million copies. In it, Anne shared her observations about life and her experiences living as a teenager in the cramped attic space with 7 other people. The Diary of Anne Frank has transformed many young people from silent observers to speakers of their own truth.

Because Frank was so prolific, it’s easy to romanticize her time in hiding. But it was extremely difficult—and distracting. As a young teenager, Anne Frank hated being couped up with her family, the van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer. She had to follow all kinds of rules to protect their safety. She couldn’t go outside. But because of visits from helpers and radio reports, she knew what was going on. Anne wrote:

“Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. … Everyone is scared. … No one can keep out of the conflict, the entire world is at war, and even though the Allies are doing better, the end is nowhere in sight.”

While some write in a crisis, others make art.

During the Spanish Civil War, Nazi German and Fascist Italian air forces bombed Guernica, a town in Basque Country of Northern Spain, to support Francisco Franco’s Nationalist faction. The bombing took place on Market Day, when thousands of people gathered in the town to purchase supplies. This was the first large-scale deliberate attack on civilians—and it angered many people. In response (and from the safety of Paris), the artist Pablo Picasso painted Guernica. The painting was exhibited at the 1937 Paris International Exhibition before touring the world. The exhibitions raised funds to support Spanish war relief.

Here’s my call to you.

In this time of great upheaval, create.

Not to change the world, even though it will.

Make art to change you

Making art will calm your frazzled nervous system. Writing will comfort and heal you. Making art will strengthen you.

Make art to revive your spirit

Anne Frank did. She said, When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived!

Make art to chronicle history

When the first portions of the left wing came down, legacy media barely covered it. We wouldn’t know that ICE agents are taking American citizens without the witness of other citizens. This is why we need people to take pictures and write a record of what is happening at this point in history.

Make art to change the world

Martin Luther said, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” When I wrote, Mightier Than the Sword, I wanted to teach young people that there are many ways writing makes a difference. From social media posts to social commentary, people are writing change.

If you’re struggling with distraction, having trouble setting aside time to write, or feeling alone in your writing journey, try my Show Up and Write program. We meet three times a week and you get the first month for a very low fee. Sign up here https://writenowcoach.com/show-up-and-write-writing-circles/