I Really Don't Believe It

Muses come and muses go, but I really don’t believe that when I am writing under the influence of one of these godly creatures.

My muse dominates every tiny nuance of my life. Upon awakening, my first thoughts turn inward, reach down and ruffle its lovely hair, bring it up to the surface and allow it to fill me with all sorts of thoughts.

Its sweet face, beautiful eyes, speech patterns, even its manner of walking or sleeping bring life to a two dimensional character. Soon I am so attached to that character that I cannot wait to get back to the story.

I start out writing consciously and if I am on a roll, slip into the semi conscious and enjoy the ride. There is always time later to edit and clean up details and inconsistencies. The trick is to keep at it, not let it slide when my interest cools, because it will.

I cannot live on the edge of ecstatic forever. Eventually, I must come back to the work a day world for periods of time and if I quit writing then, the story gets lost, so I strive to keep my muse present in whatever ways I can. Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes I need to be fed like a newborn baby, every few hours. Whatever it takes….

And, like a friend says, “It is in the sacred ashes of the muse that is found the fertile ground upon which all creation and creativity arise.”