I'll indulge you, but I'm afraid you won't like my answer very much.
The reason authors and artists aren't working their asses off MORE is because this is a pandemic, not a vacation.
It's not 'extra free time' for everyone.
For many it's 'my grandfather just died of COVID' time.
For many, it's 'I got laid off and am desperately trying to look for a way not to get evicted' time.
For many, it's 'I'm isolated from my friends, family and other sources of inspiration, I'm at home alone trying to deal with the world at large collapsing' time.
It's time to go out and protest for their rights. It's time to fall into a depression because they can't pay for medicine, because they're worried about a loved one with an immunodeficiency, because they have to decide whether to pay full tuition for taking classes online, which isn't as easy to learn from and feels like a rip-off.
I feel like this needs to be reiterated - fanfiction and fanart USUALLY doesn't pay. It's a hobby. Most fanfic authors aren't armcandy to a wealthy millionaire, and they can't just ignore other important life necessities in order to keep updating their 50k coffeeshop AU. It's not a viable career, and it will not keep you afloat. And while yes, many use it as an escape, many also can't write when they aren't safe, secure and know where their next paycheck is coming from.
So I'm not very surprised many creators are taking time away. They have lives, loved ones, other responsibilities, and at least one of those three is very likely a clusterfuck right now. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Be kind. Always assume everyone is doing their best. You never know what someone else might be going through.
