All of the author interviews Margie Lawson has in her lectures so far say they force themselves to write every day because they can’t wait for their muse to strike. Makes sense. Murphy’s Law #2,042 dictates that the muse will never strike when convenient, or when you want her to. It’s the corollary to the whole “watched pot” scenario, I believe.
I must have several muses because I have many good ideas pop into my head while driving, in the middle of making stirfry, while visiting with family and friends, in the shower with soapy hair and before my legs are shaved, or the all time favorite, at 3-4am when I’m supposed to be in deep sleep. I collectively call my muses “the girls in the basement.” I used to keep notebooks and mini-cassette recorders beside the bed and in the car. Murphy’s Law #516 came into play at that point: should you be ready, he/she/they will never show.
My question to you all is, when stuck at a critical point, why oh why can’t the muse(s) pop up with an idea when you desperately need it? Am I too much of a romantic to WANT the muse to ride in to save the day like some ethereal knight in shining armor and save me from the dragon? A figurative Deus Machina (sp), with/without the finger of God and hordes of avenging angels? A miracle? Or just a sudden insight like a light bulb turning on above your head? Or better yet, the trap door from Acme that suddenly appears in the wall behind you after you’ve painted yourself into a corner?
I’d beg for better timing if I thought it would do any good, but I will take the girls tossing ideas up the stairs at all hours and all situations, to them silent always.
*NOTE* Murphy’s Law numbers may vary according to website or family tradition.
- Mood:whimsical
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stefwithnf- stefwithnf
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There are times when I'm driven to write by strong emotion, and times when I can't seem to write a word because I feel like there's nothing worthwhile to say, or nothing that hasn't already been said.
Try doing something new, going somewhere you wouldn't ordinarily go, listening to music you hate, view some ancient or modern art.
The girls in the basement need to be either pissed off or turned on.
Hi Stefanie,
The "Girls in the Basement," what an excellent term. However, if very quick and tricky, it might be only one Girl...or maybe not. There's safety in numbers.
If you want your Muse to speak up, why not start a conversation? A friendly one. No demands. It could be a relaxed sit around and chat visit. Maybe your muse has some complaints or fears to resolve. Maybe she doesn't like the way you're driving that space ship. Play and experiment. Write it out. Type it out. Make sure you're all alone with absolutely no interruptions to break the spell. You'll be surprised how deep into the basement you can go. Which reminds me, sometimes it can be a little creepy, too.
With Margie's classes, you can eliminate a lot of the debris that's blocking your efforts. That is of first importance. The reason really productive writers don't wait for the Muse is because they're confident, they're enjoying themselves and engrossed in what they're doing. No guilt. No fooling. Before long, even without realizing it, the Muse always comes.
So, don't panic if your Girls in the Basement aren't on time. Just go ahead and dig in. As soon as you start having fun, they'll be there. That's the way they are (they love a good time). Besides, maybe they were just chewing it over, while Writer Girl was fuming and fretting and hollering down the stairs for them to get to work. All of them. Right now.
If you're really in a corner, back up to where you made that wrong turn and go forward from there (you'll know it when you see it).
Peggy