I’m not a-MUSE-ed
I have another confession. And I’m fully prepared to get tomatoes thrown at me, or have people arguing from every neck of the woods. Which is fine, I love a good argument. Okay. That’s a lie, I hate confrontation. But back to my subject.
The Muse.
n.
- Greek Mythology Any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.
- muse
- A guiding spirit.
- A source of inspiration.
- muse A poet.
What is a Muse to Shelli? The biggest excuse to procrastinate that I’ve ever heard. That’s right. I’m here to say that I don’t buy it. Not at all, not one bit.
If I did believe in the Muse, I would have fired her ass and sent her packing to the back of the unemployment line. How many times have I sat around thinking, ‘I’m just not inspired.’ or ‘I just don’t know where to take this scene.’ If I relied on a Muse, I’d probably sit around eating doughnuts and playing PacMan while I waited for my Muse to bless me with a vision. I would have, count’m, zero books completed. Cause we’ve all been there, when we’re just stuck.
Forgive me, but I’m just completely skeptical when I hear an author say, “I’m in between books. My Muse is uninspired right now.” Or something along those lines. Because this is usually the same author who might have one or two books written–if any–over a few year period.
My theory is, the book isn’t going to write itself. The ‘Muse’ may or may not decide to give you inspiration. Are you really going to sit around and wait for her lazy ass to bless you with the next Gone With the Wind?
My advice is screw the muse, set a daily word count goal, and write. Because even if it’s crap, it’s something to work with. And a blank page is still a blank page. I think you’d be surprised to find how much creativity and vision for your book is already stuck up your head, just waiting for the chance for you to force it out.
June 25th, 2007 at 1:23 am
I don’t believe in the muse either. I never really have. It’s not like I have some little pixie sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear, telling me what to do for the next scene. I bet she’d be a real picky bitch, always telling me what I’m doing wrong and then I’d never get any writing done!
So yeah, I don’t believe in the muse. But if others do, if that works for them, then fine. Whatev.
I’m still trying to believe in the SECRET!!!
June 25th, 2007 at 1:25 am
I freaking LOVE The Secret. Okay. I’m only twenty pages in. But still, it’s made that evil negative voice in my head shut up!
I agree. If I did have a Muse. She’d probably just nag at me to not go to McDonalds instead of what to write.
But I do say if you have a Muse, and you get lots of work done, then so be it. It’s the people with a Muse who never write… sigh.
June 25th, 2007 at 1:42 am
I have a muse- she’s a six foot platinum blond with a fondness for trailer parks and Vegas (dime slots) - she’s only assigned to me because she’s a shitty muse - and God figured he might as well stick her with someone who’ll tell her to shut the fuck up.
June 25th, 2007 at 1:48 am
I agree for the most part, but then I think that there’s always that little something that causes great ideas to hit you in the middle of the night or while your in the shower.
June 25th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Deanna! LOL. That’s totally how I’d envision your Muse.
Aimee, I do agree with that. Sometimes you get these out of left field inspirations. I write it off to real life coming back to haunt you, but if that’s also what people consider a Muse, then that’s great too. It’s just when someone relies on it. Then I have to go
June 25th, 2007 at 4:45 am
June 25th, 2007 at 7:14 am
My biggest problem isn’t lack of a muse, it’s giving a damn.
I like to write, and I’m pretty good at it. But far too often I really couldn’t care if I write or not.
It’s tough for me to care. Caring has usually ended up being a source of a lot of pain. I’m more than a than a bit gun-shy.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:36 am
What is a Muse to Shelli? The biggest excuse to procrastinate that I’ve ever heard.
AMEN!! I so need to get my arse in gear and write.
(But I swear every dang time I have the gumption to put words on a page a kid starts screaming–I need to learn to ignore!)
June 25th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Emma, I know. I have those moments too. WHere the book pours out of my like literary vomit. And others where it’s like I’m going in for an extraction to get out a few pages.
Rob, I understand. Sometimes it’s easier when you don’t have to commit to something. For me the fear would be rejection. From readers, editors, other authors. What if they don’t like it? But I write because it makes me happy, so I’ve silence that voice
that tells me not to care.
Dennie, hey girl! LOL I had a slow down in writing the last few days (I think I made this unconcious decision to take weekends off or something!
) But it’s Monday. Time to get on the ball again.
June 25th, 2007 at 11:38 am
LOL@Litarary Vomit and STFU!
I love it. Emma I call that being in the zone.
Oh and here’s another tip, turn off the TV (yes I SO need to take my own advice).
June 25th, 2007 at 11:57 am
I believe in the Muse for creative inspiration but I don’t rely on her for the follow through. The way I see it, that’s my job. If I didn’t look at it like that, I think I wouldn’t get anything done and the muse would be
. I agree with you on one thing though. It’s about sitting the ass in the chair, setting a daily word count goal and writing! 
June 25th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
However, I understand what people mean when they say they’re inspired. I’ve had moments like that too. I guess the way I see it, the muse can only whisper in my ear if I’m open to her, and that means having my butt in the chair typing away!
Minx
June 25th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Amie, yes the tv is the devil.
Aura, creative inspiration is the Muse’s job, and yours is too write. That makes sense!
Minx, “find her lazy butt and strap her down”
No kidding. If I’m going to have a Muse, she’d better work overtime for me!
June 25th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I agree and I don’t. And I’ve been pondering this for a long assed blog post myself.
I just went through some family drama-and still ongoing-in the last few weeks that would make a mother’s hair fry. Seriously. And I had a deadline. Let me tell you–I couldn’t not think to write. I was so upset and distraught I mentally froze. Like the “this is a test-this is only a test?” noise? That nails on the blackboard sound?- is all that my brain was capable of. The Muse? She left the building. I asked myself that if I had any other job-an accountant? Nurse? What have you? Where I knew what I knew and my skill had nothing to do with my creativity (no vegetable throwing-I know there is a measure of creativity to all things) I would have been able to move forward. Matter of fact, I probably would have thrown myself into work hoping to get lost in it. But I couldn’t with the writing.
Now, I eventually got the last few thousand words out, but I was numb to them, and I had to trust my crit partners that all was well. I can’t honestly say that I am confident in this story. (And I’m not uber confident with every story-but I am-there’s a difference and I have no idea what it is.)
So, anyhow, those are my thoughts about the Muse.
June 25th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Very cool post, Shelli!
Well, I’m a muse fan.
I believe I do have a muse, and she’s the one that helps me tap into that magic I call storytelling. But I’ve never used her as an excuse not to write. That’s just a cop out!
If anything, I complain about the amount of ideas she throws my way.
June 25th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Oh, my muse is a busy bee. She’s always around, just never when I’m at my computer or any writing implement. Like when I’m driving or feeding my screaming child, there she is all, “Now you should go write this amazing scene!” And, hours later, when when I sit down the bitch is gone. You know what I say to my muse?
June 25th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
My “muse” is just an idea thrower. She shows up, usually when I’m in the shower, and outlines about 3 books I need to write.
Truthfully, I don’t believe in her. . . but I feed her chocolate anyway, just to be safe.
June 25th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
i don’t have a muse. and i’m glad. i got enough people in my head without some creative writer-zilla trying to control me.
;O)
June 25th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Muse? What’s a muse? I wish I had one, seems like it’d be a nice accoutrement. But no, every word I write symbolizes a major struggle to get my ass out of the recliner and into the desk chair. But I’m cool with that.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:19 am
A muse? You mean people have those? Mine must have run off, because… Well, let’s just say, I can find plenty of reasons to procrastinate without that one. Prime example - blogs.
Blogs are to me what TV is to Aimee. That’s what I have Tivo for 
June 26th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Yolanda, you are massively productive! The Muse works for you. Cheers!
Eva, sorry you’ve been going through a lot. I’ve been there, where getting out one word is a challenge.
Feisty, yes. You know it, sister. Big old yes.
Ericka, yeah. You don’t really believe, but part of you wants to. The Muse is like Santa. It’s much more fun to say the gift (ideas) came from Santa (the Muse).
Shiloh, LOL! Writer zilla!
Julie, exactly! Like I’m really going to give a fictional Muse credit for those words I sweated over.
Lynn, I know! I used to be a compulsive blog hopper. I’ve calmed down a bit.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I think I want tivo. MY dvr doesn’t hold enough stuff