When I first began writing, I never really thought of creativity in terms of muses. Nope, back then, it was just me with the writing pad, the typewriter, the word processor, and eventually, the keyboard, hammering away at an idea that wouldn't leave me alone, and struggling to get down on paper what was in my mind. Just me . . . and the {insert writing instrument of the day here}.
Come to think of it, that does sound kind of lonely, doesn't it? Maybe that's why my muse finally swatted me over the head with her fairy dust wand and opened my eyes to her beneficent presence.
I have but one . . . but she has many faces.
I'm not sure quite how to describe her, but I know she's there. At times she is a fluttering, shimmering, sparkling deva that brings humor and wit to my stories, darting here and there about my shoulders as though wanting to be sure I get it all just right. At other times, she is a terrible taskmaster, her wand turning into a staff of power, heavy and gnarled, lending darkness to my writing where needed, and driving me to press on at even the most difficult moments.
When she's with me, the words flow, the ideas are effortless from brain to fingers, and I "drop into the page" as I'm writing, swallowed up by the story that is as much a part of me as my everyday life. When she's sulking because I'm not listening closely enough, every sentence is a battle, an entire paragraph a major accomplishment. She's feisty, opinionated, at times even snarky, and she knows just what I need at any given moment to turn me on, story-alistically speaking. She even knows when to back off, to give me time to recoup my energies. And when it's time to get back to work, she oft-times comes softly in dreams, whispering snippets of story, of people, of lost hopes and secrets and lies, and musing over what might be.
Her name is Leda, by the way. I don't know why. It just is.
How about you? Do you have a muse, or even gang of them? What gets you going, creatively?
Mad {madly}, not crazy, just muse-ically blessed :)
3 comments:
Found you through Laura Stamps. Just wanted to say hello, from another Hoosier! A Wicca one at that!
Hi, Madeyln!
What a wonderful surprise to find your comment on my blog today! And I'm so glad you like the name change. I'm always a busy woman, but this summer blazed in with a bunch of changes, all good, including the revamping of this blog. So I'm thriled you enjoyed my postings on the new theme!
Hmmm. My Muse. Well, my answer may be different than most because I am a Wiccan Faery Witch, who is also an Empath and psychic. So rather than turning to what is thought of as a traditional "muse," I tend to turn to the Spirits who are always with me (3 Rune Spirits, Alfred, the Faeries, and Bast (my Patron Goddess). Together I credit them for all the writing I do, whether that might be my novels, poetry books, or nonfiction. I take no credit for this myself. It is all psychically inspired. I'm just happy to be the vessel they use to type it into the computer (grin).
Other than that, I love nothing more than painting with words and arranging them in fun patterns.
Great question...thanks for asking! Now that I know you have a solo blog, I'll stop by more often to see what you've been posting here. Have a great holiday weekend, and I send much love and many faery xoxoxo to you today!
Hi Kim, and welcome to the blog! :)
And... {Mad waves hello to Laura}
Laura, so nice to see you here, too! I would agree with you that "The Muse" is probably various incarnations of Spirit. Nice of them to drop in on us when we most need it. :)
Mad {madly!}
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