Confused about a muse
According to the venerable Free Dictionary Online a muse is a guiding spirit or a source of inspiration, derived from any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science.
Huh?
I’ve read many a writers post about their muse and yet I’ve never truly been convinced. I believe you have one/them/it if you believe you do — but the idea of it actually confuses me. Is a muse a good luck charm? Like…you can’t write a word unless you have six bobble-heads and a gargoyle statue lined up next to your computer? Is it a certain pair of socks? Could it be a long lost friend or relative whose words encourage you? Is it a smell — lavender maybe? Coffee? Maybe some very religious folks are inspired by their high power?
My inspiration comes out of nowhere – but I’ll admit I’m often in the shower. Is the shower my muse? I like to sit at my desk, shoes off, feet up. Is my own comfort my muse? My inspiration is honestly less important than my drive. My ideas bounce around in my head like one of those metal balls inside a pinball machine. I usually believe that my hyped up sense of awareness allows me to see stories where others see a pot of flowers or a woman behind a counter pouring coffee. But the source of it all — a lucky charm? An inspiration in some form? I don’t know about that.
I do know that the quiet chaos that has enveloped my house since school has ended is NOT my muse.
OK, internets, you got some ‘splaining to do. Tell me what inspires your writing and what or who is your muse.
But first, take a look at these very scientific quiz results. Amazing what one can find perusing the internet looking for info on muses early in the morning.
WHICH GREEK MUSE AM I? SEE BELOW: (and here’s a link to the quiz, you know you want it.)
This is a unique and interesting post Amy. Muse? Needing money to pay the bills is a good muse.
Seriously, If something needs to be said, that is the muse. If nothing needs to be said, that mysterious muse hightails it outta town. I tried the quiz but infortunately it would calculate it for me so I’m left as an unknown entity. hugs
Welcome to muse musing this morning.
I think the whole idea of a “muse” (as in real/mythological person) is a great metaphor for whatever lights your fire or peels your creative banana. You obviously have several.
On the shower thing? I’ve read several studies on creativity that say if we engage the right side of our brains with some mundane activity or chore (showering, driving, vacuuming), then the left side is released to pursue creative things. It’s so true, and the reason I keep pens/pads all over the house and in the car.
Val,
If money is my muse then it’s not doing a very good job!
Angie,
I’ve tried paper and pen in the shower. It soooo doesn’t work. But I’m often just repeating my idea over and over until I get out and can write. But many ideas have simply gone down the drain, I’m sure.
Amy
I often get an inspiration in the shower as well! Is there something in the water???
Vodkamom,
I think Angie is probably right — makes me wonder why I don’t spend more time on housework hoping for inspiration!
Amy
I don’t think I have a muse. The book Writing the Breakout Novel inspires me whenever I flip through it, so it’s either that or the shower.
I think i too have a shower muse. is there a godess or water or rain or something? im too lazy to look.
I am finding that I am sure not as inspired since school is out! I’m too busy and life is too loud:)
I know I could never write as good or as fast as I have without some sort of divine intervention. So it isn’t really that I have a muse… it’s more like if I don’t write what decides to talk to me when it begins to talk to me… I never get any sleep. And um, that little divine thingy happens anywhere…shower, sleep, driving, listening to music…anywhere where I’m alone and it has my full attention. LOL!
PS I’m Urania too! LOL! (even though I scored the lowest as Urania 44% and the highest as Terpischore 100% it still figured that’s what I was… and I have to agree! LOL!)
I was an Urania as well.
Don’t really have a “muse” – but, I have “requirements” *laugh* – like no music, or music without words if there has to be music, and no loud talking and I have to be comfy – not too cold and etc etc etc etc!
PS – oh wait, yes – the shower is a muse *laugh* – as is washing dishes….or walking in the mountain cove…