Locked Away and Trying to Write

I thank my dear colleagues for covering for me last week. Fridays are my day to blog. Well, last Friday I was without any Internet connection and depended on my stalwart comrades to cover my butt.

So, today I’d like to share (and have you all voice in) on the process of being isolated with only your words circling in your head.

I’m in Italy. Yes, don’t throw spit-balls at me. My books take place in Italy- it’s research, right? Well, in Tuscany it rarely snows. A small dusting, sure. This is March, remember. I was snowed-in in December when I was here, okay that’s understandable. March?? Eighteen inches, my friends. No power, no water, no heat, no snow plows, ran out of food, and NO INTERNET.

The power finally came back on (no Internet- see a theme here?), and I was finally able to see all the yellow stickies that are the scenes for my current book assembled on a table next to my desk. It was difficult to read my handwriting by candle light.

Okay. All this should be a good thing. After all, I came here to write. Can’t go anywhere in the car. No one can stop by. Great time to really tackle my new book. Don't you agree?

ERR. Well, I discovered that the total preoccupation with not being able to get the car out, not being able to check my email, not being able to research some factoid on-line, not being able to use the house phone became a strange distraction. Rather than hunkering down (Yeah! I get to write!), I began to fuss.

Interesting, I thought. I have the best possible of worlds. No one can reach me. I had to preserve the battery on my cell phone. I won’t be distracted by my email bings. I can only work on my story. Did I mention that I was also alone with my husband not due to arrive for four days? Yup, it’s as perfect as it gets. Right?

Nope. I found every reason possible to not work. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it was the sense of being out of sinc?

The power is now back on. I have more food in the house than I could ever eat. I still have the fireplace going, but that’s only because I love it. My Internet is just fine. And, I am back to writing full-time with gusto. What is this about?

Tell me. What has happened to you that has made you stumble in your writing? I thought the isolation would create the best weeks ever to burn through the pages. Not. I am, though, rapidly catching up.

And, by the way, the snow is gone and early spring has returned. The deer seem relieved they can graze in the front lawn and a giant hare (this is not a rabbit- rather a huge guy about the size of a dog) shows up frequently and sits by the back door patiently waiting for some scrap. I need to name him. Ideas?

But do tell me, what derails you? We love to write, but some days under the best of circumstances, it just doesn't work.