Muse - by Tracy Krauss

 Muse. 

In its verb form "muse" means: to think or meditate on; to comment thoughtfully or ruminate upon...

However, writers tend to use it as a noun. "The muse" has come to mean that sometimes elusive, sometimes erratic, often overrated inspiration we need to create. There is a sense that we have little control over it; that it has a mind and will of its own and we'd better take advantage of it when it's activated. 

It's also a wonderful excuse for procrastination. "I'm not inspired right now," or, "I'll wait until the muse strikes."

I've got news. You can take control of your muse!

The first time I heard this declaration was at an InScribe conference about ten years ago. Murray Pura was the keynote. Since then I've heard many other "experts" say the same thing. As creative people, we control our muse, not the other way around.

If writing is important, don't wait for inspiration to strike like lightning. In fact, most of the time, it simply takes some sort of action on our part for it to come to life.  

Practically speaking, this means making a conscious decision to sit down and write, even when I don't feel like it. I give myself a time limit so the task doesn't feel as onerous. Ninety-nine times out of 100, I "feel" inspired before the ten minutes are up. If not, I give myself permission to stop and do something else. I don't know how many times I've done this when I have a post to write (like this one) or some other writing task that requires commitment. (Like NaNoWriMo) It works! 

While inspiration is a wonderful thing, make sure you're not using it as an excuse to procrastinate. Take charge! Take action! YOU are in control of your MUSE!

Tracy Krauss writes - and pursues all of her creative interests - from her home in northern BC. Visit her website for more including her more than thirty titles: tracykrauss.com

- fiction on the edge without crossing the line - 

Summer Musings by Connie Inglis

Summer writing. Do I do anything different than other seasons of the year? Yes, I would say I do. I would probably admit that I do less writing. But that doesn't mean I do less brainstorming. In fact, I have found that it is in the summer that I get more fodder for writing than any other season. Why is that you ask? Well, it is my favourite season but more importantly, it's because I have more time to enjoy my favourite muse, my summer muse I call her, my granddaughter.

Nothing inspires me more than this precious little girl--to view the world through her eyes, to hear her play-by-play perspective on people, places, things, to soak in her love for life. She fills my little notebook with ideas for future writing and hilarious quotes like the following: "Grandma, you're not an adult, you're an old teen."

Which brings me to my next point. Time with her allows me to be a kid again. If my neighbours saw me running through the sprinkler or filling water balloons or drawing with chalk in my driveway by myself, they might question my sanity. But I can get away with it when I'm doing it with my granddaughter. And in all honesty, I enjoy all those activities--they take me back to the joy of my childhood. And as I bask in the summer heat, they draw me into God's time, into kairos time, where again I feel His pleasure in the simple things of life, surrounded by His creation.

I think I can best say it in a poem--though even a short poem can't express my love, my attachment to this muse. She sings Jesus to me.

My Summer Muse

(to my granddaughter Sydrah)

Sweet summer

muse, you

"sing in me," as 

Calliope to Homer,

ideations of

inspiration.

Like July

fireworks, you

explode with 

carefree creativity,

then beckon me to

join you in your joy.

Touching your world,

hearing your voice,

viewing your perceptions,

breathing in your spice,

savoring your zest--

it is sacred ground.

I take off my shoes;

for the miracle of

you 

moves me to 

worship the Creator,

the Giver of

     my Summer Muse. 

Photo by Katherine Dumas