Reason #4: The Process - 11/03/25
Part 1: Shiver Quiver
My last major depressive episode was during the pandemic (shocker). I was isolated, trapped in a 400sqft studio apartment, states away from friends and my closest family - it was difficult, but I honestly got off pretty easy all things considered. During that time, I was genuinely considering hospitalization. And as I considered that possibility, I thought to myself: "I should probably come up with a story I can work on while I'm there, to pass the time".
The creative process has always been a great comfort to me; it keeps my mind busy, it teaches me new things, and it can draw excitement out of me even when I'm at the end of the my rope. I never was hospitalized, but I did conceptualize a webcomic called Shiver Quiver, a Tolkien-esque ice fantasy about two elves road tripping via sled dog to defeat an evil witch. Working on it was such a lifeline for me! When I was lonely, when I was too scared to face my problems, when I had absolutely nothing to do, I could work on something Shiver Quiver related. Art, writing, inspiration gathering, even conlanging! It really kept me moving in a time of stagnation.
Shiver Quiver is currently unrealized and on the backburner while I attempt to wrangle it's scope (because it got huge huge), but I still hold it close to my heart. I would love to reinvent it someday and actually complete it.
Part 2: New Projects
It can be shameful and embarrassing at times to brain storm new projects when you already have a trail of unfinished ones in your wake. But, in reminiscing about Shiver Quiver, I realized today that the idea of conceptualizing a shiny new story while I'm going through such a hard time could be just as helpful now as it was then! Even if there's a chance this new one could end up forgotten down the line, the act of creation will still have made me happy in the moment. It's exciting to think that there's an infinite amount of stories I could tell!
I don't have anything concrete yet, but I've been finding a lot of joy in Jane Austen adaptations lately. I think it would be incredibly fun to read more Austen, read academic analysis of Austen, watch more adaptations, and then potentially give a regency story a shot! Today's watch of the 2009 BBC adaptation of Emma gave me some interesting ideas about a fantastical aromantic retelling of the story - but I'll sit with it and see if I'm interested in developing this seed into something meaningful.
Regardless of what I do, I know it'll be fun. I hope I can keep telling stories every day for the rest of my life :)
Today was: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4 out of 5 stars