Your Muse

Your Muse
Most of the time, she—the Muse (often referred to as feminine) and I are in tune. Most of the time, I have no problem tapping into new ideas for my nonfiction articles, columns, and books. Like this column’s idea, they tend to arrive prior to need. Not always, but usually. So, I’m luckier than a lot of my writer friends.
However, fiction and poetry are different for me. I can get stuck on how to make a chapter play out or a conversation or even descriptions. Those times pale in comparison to the times when I’ve just finished a book…really finished it enough that I know I can now “move on” to the next project.
A month ago, I completed the Sacrifice series into a single book, Sacrifice: Complete. For a day or two, I felt “complete,” swelled up with self-satisfaction. I’d already been jotting down lots of notes for the next book, Secrets, including research into Ancient Egyptian artifacts and culture that go along with my plan for the new book.
 
Then began the agony of wanting to force myself to write. Nope, not today. The excitement I’d felt doing some of the research and seeing some potential events that might occur in Secrets wouldn’t come back to fuel writing. Instead, doubts crowded my mind. Maybe one book is enough for this story, I teased myself. (Despite the fact that the heroine is pregnant, without a spouse, and with all kinds of unresolved issues.) Maybe I just don’t want to write again. What? No part of me could buy that, but it demonstrates my mental struggle of that moment.
Fortunately, I’ve been to this rodeo and know the answer to those questions. But still—agony.
What happened this time is not unlike other times. I suddenly realized that I wasn’t writing because the way I’d decided to start the book was just not “doing it for me.” As soon as I gave up on the plan, I could go to my feelings and find where they were energized. A spat with a difficult neighbor immediately gave me my first line: The neighbors are talking. I knew as soon as I saw it that it was perfect and would lead me directly where I wanted to go. Which does not mean I won’t be waiting for the Muse to feel right about each chapter, about each new scene or conversation. I’ve learned that my Muse needs to be turned on in order for me to have the energy to create and the ability to make it good.
Some hints for calling the Muse:

• Brainstorm
• Dream Journal
• Meditate
• Daydream
• Research topics that excite you
• Focus on current strong emotions and USE the POWER of those
• For large projects like a book, this is not a great time to open the topic to discussions with others. Your book can have plenty of help from other people later, but only you can find the potent fuel that will be adequate to carry you through a long venture.

I’m looking for a few of the “right people” to join my ZOOM class, doing work on fiction or nonfiction projects:
Through the GREENWOOD Senior Center
Call: 360-637-8002  
ZOOM Writing Group 
Thursdays 2/03/22 to 3/03/22  
3 to 4:30 PM
$15 for those 5 sessions
ZOOM Link to be used each week:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353013587?pwd=ekNMdDY5d3p5ZkhZZ2FibnZnUE00QT09 

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.

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