In his novel "Head On," author John Scalzi reflects on the challenges he faced during the writing process, particularly citing how the tumultuous events of 2017 impacted his creativity. He describes that year as a "raging trash fire," characterized by negative actions from various individuals and groups, making it difficult to focus on productive writing.

Scalzi's experience highlights how external circumstances can profoundly affect an artist's ability to create. The weight of societal issues and the overwhelming nature of current events can hinder the creative flow, leading to longer periods of development for literary works.