When I was a kid, we used to visit John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, Nevada. I don’t gamble, and I didn’t grow up with gamblers, but I did grow up right next door to Reno, Nevada and its plethora of casinos. We used to meet my grandparents for dinner at one of the Nugget’s many restaurants pretty regularly.
And…the Nugget had elephants. Bertha and Tina were elephants that probably performed in on-stage shows at the Nugget. I didn’t see any of the shows. Whenever we went to the Nugget, though, we would stop by the elephant enclosure to watch the elephants play, sleep, eat, and romp around. I was as invested in those elephants as kids today are in their video games. Not obsessed. Just invested. *wink, wink*
My elephant story has nothing to do with the actual blog topic, but every time I hear the phrase “the elephant in the room,” I think of those elephants, and I wanted to share my happy memory with you. ^_^
Now onto the actual blog topic. The elephant in the room – the thing that’s right there in front of us but that nobody really wants to talk about.
My husband was watching something on TV the other day, and he paused the show to point out to me how inauthentic the show was being…because the people weren’t wearing masks.
What a crazy thought! Right? Or, is it?
When we all first went into quarantine due to the coronavirus, some authors and I were chatting about whether or not the virus would impact Christian fiction. Would people start incorporating COVID-19 into their stories? At the time, we hoped this would be a short-lived issue and would fade quietly into the night. Consequently, nobody intended to incorporate any part of the pandemic into their fiction. Perfectly sensible.
Then the coronavirus dragged on. And on. And on. Here we are watching the number of cases and the death toll rise higher and higher. Society is changing around us, too. No matter where in the world you lay your pillow at night, you know about this virus. Whether you want it to be true or not, the virus has changed the way you do life on a daily basis.
Which leads me back to my husband and his problem with the fact that the people on TV weren’t wearing face masks.
What happens if people keep wearing face masks even after this virus no longer dominates the news cycle? What if some of these changes to our society and culture become permanent?
Do we start writing our romance stories with characters in face masks? Would you read stories where the characters are masked up?
As an author, I have to admit – the thought is daunting. How many times have I conveyed a character’s emotion by hinting at the corner of their mouth edging up? A lot! Or twitching. That’s a good one, too. The small smirk. The Cheshire grin. If everybody’s wearing a face mask, I lose one of my favorite tools. I won’t say it’s my most valuable tool, but it’s definitely one of my favorites. The mouth is how we see when somebody is entertained by something but doesn’t want to be entertained. The eyes don’t convey that as efficiently. Body language doesn’t show us that with the same kind of clarity. The mouth, though…it tells us so much about our characters.
So, yeah, as an author, the thought of losing my characters’ mouths makes me a little sad. (I know. That sentence sounds so weird. Hopefully nobody’s skipping down the entire blog post and stopping at just that one line.)
I’d really like to know, though, what you all think about the idea of face masks popping up in your fiction. Have you seen it yet? Do you want to? Or will it make you put the book back and not bother turning the page?
I admit, when I read fiction, I kind of want to escape to another time or place. I like a good piece of escapist fiction. At the same time, I want my fiction to be reasonably realistic. Which, as you can imagine, puts me in a bit of a quandary on this topic.
In any event – comment below and tell me what you think. One commenter will be randomly selected to receive a $5 Amazon gift card.
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, her family, and laughter – not necessarily in that order! She writes approachable characters who, through the highs and lows of life, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her. And, yeah, her books almost always have someone who's a coffee addict. Some things just can't be helped. Despite their different lives and situations, Heather’s characters have something in common. They're all flawed...but loved anyway.
Yes, masks tend to do that – mask. I do find that people can have the most expressive eyes and eye brows.
I think we will keep some of the changes. I doubt I will shake hands with anyone ever again.
I watch some shows or even lifestyle shows that are repeats and I think they are not social distancing. I then remind myself that they don’t have to. I think TV shows will need to include it and down the track novels will cover Covid but I don’t think we need them now. Maybe books dealing with the shut down etc and maybe they have to wear a mask out but here you can still see your boy friend/girl friend. I really think it will depend on the story and where it’s set. My state for instance has 8 active cases only and masks are not required where as the state next to me is in complete lock down.
With so many unknowns about Covid-19 like long term health issues it’s hard to right a story.
Like you mentioned I also read for relaxation. Right now reading about the current pandemic is not something I want to do.
I was never a hugger or into handshaking much myself. Someone tried to do the elbow tap and I didn’t do that either. I Guess to some it’s an alternative but to me it seems strange especially when the person who wanted to do it doesn’t normally shake my hand.
I, for one, hope it does not end up in my reading…
I do wonder about deaf people who read lips…how in the world are they dealing with the masked people?
I am Italian and hugging to us us as natural as breathing, so I am having a hard time with that😟
As someone who works part-time in reception in a medical center, I always love to smile at our patients. It’s one of the things that could ease their anxiety or express comfort. Since having to wear masks lately, I’ve had to use more of my voice (tone) to express emotions. I am finding it harder to give them that “love” or “comfort” with something covering more than half my face. I catch myself looking at someone, smiling widely … But they just look back at me (probably wondering why I’m staring at them. I am hoping the crinkles around my eyes tell them I’m smiling!) On the other hand, it is also caring to wear the mask as part of everyone’s protection.
Thinking about stories, I’ve been tossing about how/when to include Covid, etc in them. Should I rewrite scenes? Is it too soon to even discuss it? As we’ve always leaned back on, prayer is the key (I think) – asking for the HS to guide the way our story should go, whether it’s going to be a total escape (something I’m inclined to keep writing at the mo, and hoping Covid will be something that will eventually be just a memory) or so contemporary so as to talk to ppl’s hearts about all the matters and current issues that the pandemic has brought to the surface. ❤️
I definitely would not read fiction with face masks. I’m sick of it and how people are acting. Thank you for sharing about your real elephant experience. Blessings
Paula Marie! There is a group that makes masks for the deaf with clear plastic insert in the mask. Saw them advertised on Facebook. Also yesterday at the grocery store more employees were wearing face shields. Not the typical face shield. These had a bottom that fit around the chin, not open but weren’t up as close to the face as a mask .
Hi Heather! Masks and Covid 19 are a big elephant in the room. As a retired teacher I am in contact with many of my students – many who are still single so it is interesting to see their response concerning masks and romance. Also during this time in our small residential community sitting outside on our front patio people watching. One fun high school couple that live about 2 blocks apart meeting. Both just graduated from the same parochial high school. Every afternoon they skateboard and meet on our block, but social distance – no masks. Then they skateboard to her house and about an hour later, he skateboards home. Young love during a pandemic. While visiting Japan in 2008, masks are a way of life. Saw them on the street. Elementary and junior high kids wore them while serving lunch to their classmates in their classrooms. As Ausjenny mentioned while watching movies on TV to escape – masks and social distancing is the elephant in the room. For this avid reader, whose son went through a gut wrenching divorce during this pandemic I have found it difficult to read CCR at this time. Happily Ever After is not the new norm and seems surreal to read on many levels. So reading historical fiction or cozy mysteries. Folks are hurting spiritually and emotionally. So maybe there is a need to include a pandemic, social distancing (isolation) and masks; to show how to overcome adversity in trying times. Looking forward to read responses. Stay safe and healthy. Best wishes.
I’m not ready to have masks everywhere in my fiction. But I wear one almost all the time I am not at home.
A friend who is a speech pathologist working with children is continuing her business. She and the children wear those helmets which have the clear visors so their faces are visible and because the children don’t like wearing them, they get to decorate them to help create ownership.
Love the elephant story, what a wonderful memory for you.
Masks in stories, sure why not. We have had parts of the population here wearing face masks ever since the Asian BirdFlu scare for them it is the norm and mainly they wear them to protect others. Consideration for others will always be important to me. Masks could easily be incorporated into the story for example your main character was say a speech pathologist where they need to see the facial movements and many occupations already use them tradespeople, other health staff, food preparation.
God willing covid-19 will become like the influenza strains, where we have a vaccine every year and that will prevent so much suffering and distance between people.
I don’t think I’d either pick up or not pick up a book based on whether it mentioned covid. The idea of wearing masks becoming a normal thing in future is truly horrible (I struggle to breathe normally wearing them) – but I guess at least characters couldn’t spend all their time staring at each others’ lips, so maybe there’s something to be said for it! ;-)
I’m not personally ready for face masks in my fiction. Thank you kindly
Oh wow…that is awesome, it has been bothering me a lot, thank you!
How wonderful!
Yes this has been dragging on for way too long I think. As for putting masks on the cover of books and inside, well, all I can say is we need relief from all this craziness. We need what we know as normal (no masks, no fear, no uncertainty) So my vote is to not put our characters in masks. Besides, how would we see the tiny mischievous smile or the straight lined lips or the little chin indent when he smiles etc……
The nice thing about fiction is that it’s an escape from the reality of every day life. I wouldn’t expect to see masks on TV any time soon, since they stopped producing new content when Covid struck.
Once studios and production opens back up, it will be interesting to see how they handle things such as masks. I’m thinking it will be a mix. Some shows that “live” in the real world very well might use masks on their characters.
I prefer not to see face masks in books. I don’t need that much reality in what I read.
I was watching “Build Me Up” on HGTV recently and COVID hit during the filming of the show. It was interesting to see how they worked it in.
A cousin of mine works with the deaf and deaf/blind. She says it is really hard! With the deaf/blind, their normal procedure is to sign into their hands…
I definitely prefer NOT to read about masks in my fiction, as it relates to Covid and romance! I masked man in a suspense book, fine, but not in the rest! I did read a series of short stories that took place with Covid, called the Covid Diaries. The virus wasn’t the main focus in any. In one story, a woman had planned to leave her husband for her boss (he boss wasn’t totally sold on this idea, more like it was in her head) and then the virus hits and makes her wake up to what she should really be doing if she’s going to be a Christian. Another has a man text his sister, but he texts the wrong number, and ends up starting up with his lost love. I thought they were all cute, but I don’t want to read any more like that!! I prefer my fiction to take me to a different time and place. It’s too hard to tell if someone is smiling, happy, sad, etc., with a mask on.
You’re right – the eyes do say a lot. It will be interesting to see if the ways that eyes are described – or used to describe people – will change in the future.
Ha! Yes, reading a pandemic story – even if it IS a romance – doesn’t sound very relaxing at the moment. ^_^ Time, space, and distance – I think they’re all needed before the pandemic will seep into our fiction.
Paula – that’s a really good point! While clear plastic masks and shields help, a person who is deaf can’t really control what type of face mask other people wear. I have a friend who works at the hospital. I’ll ask her what their protocol is when they have a hearing impaired patient who lipreads. Maybe she can shed some light on it. The bottom line, though, is that we all have to adapt to this new way of doing things. I do know they have apps that you can put on your phone that help the hearing impaired. The person can type in what they want to say, and the phone will read it out loud to the person they are talking to. Then, in turn, that person can speak, and the phone will translate that into written text. It can be done without the phone having to change hands to help reduce risk of spreading germs.
Each week in church, when we have our normal greeting time, the pastor tells us to stand up and wave to people and smile with our eyes. I agree with him that our eyes convey a lot of our emotions – including joy – when we look at someone. So if I were you, I’d keep on smiling at people and trusting that they can see the smile in your eyes even if they can’t see the one on your mouth. ^_^
Thank you for stopping by today, Lucy, and sharing your thoughts on the subject!
I’m glad you could stop by today, Renate! I’ve seen people I know grow emotionally and spiritually during this season, but I’ve also seen people become more self-focused. I often say that hard times bring out the best and the worst in each of us. It’s important in trying times – as in regular times – to fully rely on God. I think there’s a way to work this situation into fiction that emphasizes that point – the reliance on God, the trust, the faith – all in the midst of the fear and uncertainty. Maybe it’ll happen in CCR, or maybe we’ll see it in more dystopian-type fiction. Who knows? It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure. :-)
I can understand that! I’ve lived 40+ years without wondering why some face masks fit my face better than others. I haven’t had to worry about masks long enough for it to feel normal yet.
I love your attitude Dianne! You have a willingness to go where life takes you (at least in fiction), and I can appreciate it! ^_^ And yes – God willing, we’ll have a vaccine before too much longer.
Very concerning point about the masks. I think if this drags on have some book with masks and some without.
Hahahaha! I love what you said about characters not staring at each other’s lips. It gave me a good chuckle. ^_^ My biggest complaint about face masks is that they fog up my glasses. No matter how I try to fit them to my face, I end up with foggy glasses. I have several friends, though, who have discovered that they have a kind of claustrophobia when it comes to masks. As soon as they put that mask on, they feel like they’re trapped and can’t breathe.
It seems like your opinion is shared by many. I can’t say that I blame you. I’m not sure I’m ready to write that kind of fiction! ^_^
Right!? Masks hide so many of those fun little facial expressions. I’m not ready to give those up. ^_^
Someone was telling me that they saw a commercial where the people were in face masks. I don’t know what the commercial was for, though, so who knows? Maybe it was selling face masks. ^_^
There’s definitely a fine line between real fiction and too-real fiction. ^_^ Thanks for stopping by today, Betty! :-)
I’d say that your opinion is firmly in line with the majority today, Trudy. Although the short stories you read do sound interesting! :-)
I’m glad you could visit the blog today, Debbie! I guess we’ll all have to wait and see what happens with fiction & masks. This next year should be interesting both in televised and in written entertainment. ^_^
I don’t plan to put masks or covid into any of my stories. Eventually, if the virus doesn’t go away and it recurs each year like the flu, I think we’ll have enough therapeutics and possibly a vaccine, and it won’t be any more troublesome than the flu. During flu season and when I’m in large gatherings, I’m always conscious of keeping my hands clean and disinfecting surfaces. I don’t touch elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my elbows. I wasn’t much of a handshaker or hugger before this all happened. So no masks or covid for me.
I really don’t think that masks should be in fiction books, unless there was a pandemic in the story. I just think that books can take us away from it all if only for a while.
I enjoyed this post and the comments! I’m just starting a novella, and I decided to include Covid-19 because it’s the reason one main character is actually at home during the time frame – she’s a college student doing virtual learning! The story is based in my home county that has had about 20 cases, total (and the one death attributed was actually a cancer patient), so masks are part of our lives, but at church, we’re set up in the gym to be socially-distanced by family units, and we can take our masks off as long as we stay socially distant from others. It’s annoying, but part of life these days. I really will have to focus more on the eyes and body-language for my characters! I’m not going to make a big deal out of it, just like I don’t make a big deal about my characters’ spiritual lives. It’s just part their lives – an important part, but like breathing, I want to write what’s natural, even in “these uncertain times!” lol!
Oh, yes, the fogging glasses!!! Not to mention, I’m at the stage of life where I get hot flashes, and that mask is horrid for those, too!!! Right now, its 94, but feels like 118. Too hot to wear a mask, but we have to if we go to the “essential” stores!
I’m with you Heather I would avoid a book entirely if it had face masks. I feel they are blowing this way out of proportion to accomplish their political agenda. California Governor Newsome has gone to the extreme of closing down churches, and before that he banned worship. Our church is not only meeting, worshipping but most of us do not wear masks.
Ah yes. I didn’t think about commercials. I was thinking of TV programs that stopped production. Good point!
I would prefer not to have masks in stories, I read to escape and get enough about COVID in the news.
That’s a tough one. I’m not sure I really want to read stories that involve COVID-19, but it is a part of our reality too. I guess it depends on how you incorporate it. I think this is something we will just have to learn to live with, so maybe approach it similar to how people approached writing their books during the Spanish flu and other epidemics? Its a part of our world and it affects all of us, but at the same time we can’t let it keep us from living and let it take over our world completely. I think the eyes can be used very expressively to make up for not being able to see a person’s face. Or you could use the mask to add another layer of mystery to whether the characters really like each other. I know when I’m wearing one out and about I often wonder if people are smiling behind the mask or if they’re frowning or what.
We could always leave the masks off and call it historical fiction :). I wear a semi-disposable mask (reusable but not washable) and I have drawn a big smile on the front. Very few people have commented on it, so, not as effective as a real smile. I’m tempted to try buck teeth (a la Bugs Bunny) or a tongue hanging out to one side like a dog. No point in not making it fun. However, that kind of fun is usually tangential, like having a secondary character who always wears wacky masks. Masks take away subtlety which is a hallmark of clean romantic fiction, and a desirable one, at that. I’d just as soon do without them unless they could serve a central purpose in the story. On the flip side, you could imagine the level of intimacy that could be added to a first kiss if it also included the extra vulnerability of taking off masks, either for themselves or for each other.
P.S. I have had some success with foggy glasses by using a mask that has the soft metal bar that allows you to shape the top of the mask to the curve of your nose. That blocks off enough of your humid breath from going out through the top of the mask to keep the fog to a minimum.
I agree with the majority. I’m not ready to read about everyone in masks yet. Just set contemporary stories (I read romance almost exclusively these days) in the recent past before face masks. Or in the imagined new world after Coronavirus, hopefully.
❤️ Here come more eye crinkles! 😷 I mean … “Joy” lines!!! 😁
No,I absolutely do not want to read about characters wearing masks (unless their surgeons or in the medical field doing their job or some-such) or anything about this pandemic. I read to escape the real world and all it’s problems :-)
That’s the thing I detest the most about wearing a mask in public places, people can’t see my expressions and I can’t see theirs. A smile goes a long way and when you can’t see that, you don’t always know the intentions of the other person. I’ve had to say to people “I’m smiling/laughing/smirking behind this mask” or that I was teasing when I said whatever it was I did. I can’t tell what the other person is feeling just from their eyes. I really like it when someone is wearing a clear face shield because then I can see their whole face! :-)
Ooops….I put “their surgeons” instead of “they’re surgeons”….this is why I’m not a writer…haha!! I’d definitely make my editor earn their wages :-)
I’m in the camp of keep the pandemic out of fiction for the moment.
I had to use an elevator yesterday and today – for the first time since covid started – and I was so happy to see hand sanitizer available in a motion-detection dispenser. ^_^
Thanks for visiting the blog, Alicia! That seems to be the popular opinion, so you’re in good company. ^_^
I think that’s a great plan – keeping covid in the story but not the main part of the story. Especially if it’s a romance. The pandemic can be a plot device just like any other – and it might even give people a little hope that good can come out of the unfortunate situation that we’re all dealing with right now. Best of luck to you!
The funny thing is that I generally limit the amount of news that I watch. This might not be politically correct, but I find it depressing. I can generally know what’s going on by checking headlines online, getting the gist of things, and then moving on. Since covid started, though, I’ve been watching news on TV more…and I’m right – it’s really depressing. I need to go back to just scanning the headlines. I was a happier person then. ^_^
Whether it’s covid-19 or something else, I think it’s okay to include a health crisis in the book when it’s built into the world just like you said. It’s probably not that difference than writing a book that has an anthrax attack in it or something like that – it’s part of what’s happening to move the characters closer together, but the story itself doesn’t have to be about the health crisis. I think it could be well-done – but I also understand people’s desire to escape covid when they step into a book, too.
I have a friend whose mask says “I’m smiling,” on the front. I wore a mask for a little while that a friend had sewn, and the material she’d used had some glittery sparkle to it. I didn’t realize how noticeable it was until people started commenting on it. The guy at the check-in counter at my gym said it matched my personality – totally made my day. ^_^
Those metal bar ones do reduce the fog a little. I’m spoiled, though. (A lifetime without masks will apparently do that.) And I want no fog. ^_^ A friend told me about some spray you can get to clean your classes that will prevent them from fogging. Since everyone in my house wears glasses, I might invest. I have a bathroom mirror that’s treated so it doesn’t fog – so the same should be possible for glasses…I think? #fingerscrossed
I’m glad you could stop by the blog, Linda – thank you! :-)
In general, I think fiction authors try to write a story that’s not tied to a specific time because we want our stories to age well. If I talk about the 2016 presidential election in a book, then by 2018, nobody’s going to want to read that book because it will feel “old” to them. If, however, I write a story that has an unidentified presidential election in it (where my candidates are fictional and where I don’t name a specific year), then in 4-5 years, it can still be read and should still feel relevant. Knowing that, I think many authors will choose not to incorporate the pandemic – because they will want their stories to age well. Those are just some of my random thoughts on the subject. :-)
In a way, wearing a face mask is sort of like communicating via text, email, or social media. Our tone of voice doesn’t always come across when we say something short and to the point. What we intend to be funny the other person can take as insulting. Or what we intend to be serious, they can take as sarcastic. Communicating with face masks is a bit like that. I’m a big believer that a person’s attitude is communicated by their eyes, so I can usually tell when people are being pleasant or not – but I do miss some of the subtle jokes by not being able to see someone’s mouth.
Your camp is very well populated, Denise! ^_^ Thanks for stopping by the blog and sharing your thoughts!
Thank you for asking. I’d prefer not to read a book with the masks being part of the story. The whole mask debate has just made it a sore subject.
Heather,
Hi! I am already seeing fiction popping up with COVID titles. I read fiction to escape & decompress. Everyone is different, but the last thing I want to read is something that drags me back to the world of reality. I find I am reading A LOT more (simple romance), light fantasy and sci-fi romance these days and I believe it’s because it takes my mind waaay out of this world – truly away from all of its worries.
So if/when those books get published with masks and settings during/after COVID days – including the pandemic & it’s repercussions in the plot – I will be escaping to other material much lighter. My job places me inside of reality daily; that is more than enough for me. But then, I never read any novels about 911, the Boston Marathon bombing, etc. either.
I’m late to comment but I’m not adding nothing new to the discussion. I just find this interesting because I also want to escape when I read and the angst from being thrown back into covid19 days is definitely not something to look forward to. I often think I get too involved in the books I read which is why I avoid reading about topics that makes me feel bad. I usually want to feel good. Maybe several years from now when covid19 feelings are not as strong, reading about it won’t hurt.
Yesterday I was teaching to a class of nursing students. Some of them work as nursing technicians to pay for their college degree and honestly their stories are just sad. I have at least one of them working specifically with covid19 patients, but all of them shared stories about fellow healthcare workers who got really sick and died.
If you think of authors such as Charles Dickens, he wrote fiction about the tough issues in his day and time. The books still touch us now. Having said that, I live in Sweden and we rarely see people wearing masks. What I react to is if they are standing too close. How can you write romance without closeness? How can you know the is a desire for a kiss if the character lowers their eyes and look at the mask? Maybe you have a printed mask and they just appreciate the pattern. I feel that once you disappear into the story, you forget about our reality now. And that is a great motivator to reading, escapism.
Masks are becoming a part of the “new normal”, which I hate that term . I’ve often wondered myself if I will keep wearing my masks efen after all this is over. I’m also not sure I want to read about the characters wearing masks, unless it’s at a masquerade ball or something.
I like to read to escape, but it is hard to imagine that the pandemic won’t affect storylines at some point. Personally, I wouldn’t want to see it in a storyline right now, but would after there’s a bit more distance and understanding of how it will end up playing out. Partly because it’s too much for me personally to read about right now, but also because it’s so hard to predict life from week to week during this, so I think there could be a lot of trouble writing it into a story not knowing where things will go next.
PLEASE let us escape away from this crazy masksed society we are in. And we need to pray for God’s will be done in our country. I could really get on my soapbox in regards to the whole political way the virus has been handled. I will stop. BUT PLEASE Do Not put masks on your people, especially the main characters.
I think that since we/I read to escape, relax, unwind, from our daily lives, adding face masks to the characters we are reading about, would then be bringing one of the things we are trying to “get away from” right back to us. I think that our fictional characters don’t need to be set in a pandemic would. I am more inclined to look for a story that will take me away, rather than put me me back into that which I would rather not think about.
I do not think it would be necessary to write masks into fiction. Even though I do wear a mask during this pandemic. I also smile a lot but I think it is seen in my eyes and is picked up in my speaking that I am smiling.