"Writing in a Time of Dread" by Sayantani DasGupta

Sayantani DasGupta shares a creative work in progress that reflects on the difficulty of writing during uncertain times. The piece explores the fear, vulnerability, and responsibility that can accompany creative expression in moments of political and social instability.This reading is an excerpt from a longer piece that originally appeared on Literary Hub in February 2026 entitled "How Do We Keep Writing When They Are Killing Poets?" available here: https://lithub.com/how-do-we-keep-writing-when-they-are-killing-poets/Excerpted reading featured with permission from the author and Literary Hub.