On the Muse
There has been some talk this week on other blogs about the idea of a muse, if it exists, what it is, if it matters vs. the importance of sitting with pen or laptop and making the writing happen. Lisa Schroeder's post from yesterday highlights the recent blogs that have touched on it. And Sarah Darer Littman, seemingly unaware of all this posted a similar topic on her Facebook note. Because this issue is near and dear to my heart, I'm going to skip the Friday Five and share my thoughts on the subject.
First, I think everyone is different and there are different kinds of writers. Some are very organized or creative or both. They can sit down and hammer out a detailed outline for their story and make it happen. Others sit down with no plan and wait for the words to come. Both are valid methods. Writers talk a lot about butt-in-chair time. In other words, don't wait for inspiration to strike, sit down and write.
For me, it's a little of both. I write when my kids are in school. My time is limited. If I just waited around during those hours for inspiration to strike, I wouldn't get a whole lot of writing done. I usually spend the first half hour to an hour dealing with email and online stuff. Then I shut that down and either take out pen and paper or my laptop and the rest of my hours are spent with them. But I don't just make words. Or at least that's not where my best writing comes from. I listen. And I wait. Until I'm moved to jot down the words that are flowing in my brain. And if none come, then I might dive in a little more forcefully in the hopes of coaxing them out. I might stir them up with a character sketch or a drawing of the MC's bedroom or I might light candles and incense and spend some time settling my thoughts so there's room for the words to come.
There is plenty of hard work in writing, plenty of time spent coaxing the words and ideas to flow. But I know my best work comes when I let the words come through me, not when I make them up. As I said, this is no more or less valid than the writer who makes up every word in their book. It's just my way. And what I've learned recently, is that if I try to do it someone else's way, I kind of suck at it. I'm no more a thinker-upper type of writer than I am a businessperson. It's just not my gift. So what I need to do is appreciate the gift that I do have, which is listening for the words and taking them down. That's what I think of as the muse -- the place where those words come from all on their own. And if I'm lucky, once the words start flowing, the ideas come on their heels, so even when I'm not writing, ideas about what will happen in the story start popping into my head at random times, so I get a sense of where we're going. But usually, I'm surprised many times at the twists and turns and reveals in the story.
I spend a lot of time going back through, tweaking and revising and revisioning. It's not like the words come and then everything is perfect. There's always plenty of work to do. But for me, butt-in-chair time isn't enough in and of itself. I have to reach into that other place where the magic happens. That's what works for me -- no better or worse than anyone else's way. What works for you?
I have to say it's both for me as well, but if I can't get into that other place no amount of butt time is going to produce anything worthwhile. However, I have found that on those drought days, if I "play" and just plunk down anything semi coherent, there might be a few gems when I go back the next day.
You're so right about the work in all of this. Amazing that so many love to do it.
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