On a Writing Lockdown

As I near “The End” with each novel, I seem to find it necessary to go under a self-imposed “lockdown” and just “get ‘er done!” As you read this, I’ve been on lockdown for almost four days and here’s what that looks like:

First of all, I need solitude when I’m on lockdown. In the past, I’ve checked in to Airbnbs (even one in our own town!) so there were no interruptions, no distractions, and no responsibilities. Two years ago, I kicked my husband out of the house for two weeks. Ken went on a trip to places I had no interest in and even though we missed each other desperately by the end of that time, it was a win/win. I finished my book and he had a great time and met up with some friends at the Grand Canyon.

So we did that again this year. Friday morning, Ken headed to Wichita to pick up his brother for a two-week trek to Glacier National Park and all kinds of sites between here and there. I know they will have an absolute blast and I’m glad they’re together to keep an eye on each other (although, remembering some of the mischief the four Raney brothers got into as kids, I probably should be more concerned! ) But they’re off on an adventure, and meanwhile, our college-age grandson, who spent the summer in Florida, is back for another school year living in our basement apartment. He has his own life and won’t bother me while I write, but it’s also nice to know I have a big, strong, brave spider- and snake-killer on call here while Ken is away.

This might sound crazy, but I get more projects and activities done while I’m on a writing lockdown alone (key word!) than any other time. You see, when Ken is home, if I leave my desk and start a project, he thinks that means I’m not writing so he can interrupt me. Au contraire! My very best writing happens when I’m immersed in a project! While I clean or craft or bake, my mind is working overtime, solving problems in my story, figuring out the plot, etc. Home alone, I’m free to move from laptop to craft project to organizing a closet to playing the piano to baking bread without skipping a beat in my writing process.

Already since Ken drove off, I’ve decoupaged a little stool that had water-damage on top, I hung several paintings to wrap a gallery wall around a corner of our bedroom, I’m working out an arrangement of “Beauty and the Beast” on the piano, I’ve cleaned out my side of the closet and gotten rid of at least 20 items of clothing that I no longer need or wear, and I’ve baked bread that will last me the whole two weeks since I only have to share it one time (with a friend who’s coming for a 5:30 a.m. breakfast and coffee tomorrow.)

Next weekend my daughters are coming for a sleepover and I’m babysitting grandkids for a few hours one morning. Those will be nice breaks in my lockdown, but other than that, my only responsibility (besides putting out the trash and recycling and watering flowers if it doesn’t rain) is to finish my book!

It’s going really well and I’m actually having a blast! I know I’ll start being homesick for Ken long before he gets home, but I also know that, like last year, we’ll have a new appreciation for each other by the time he comes home. And hopefully, by then, I’ll have written a final THE END on Who Stirs Up the Sea.