Rebecca Graf's Blog - Posts Tagged "muse"
Write What Drives You
I don't know about you, but I try to have a structured life. Why? Because in high school and college I realized that I would forget things if I didn't list them out and plan on doing them. I got married to an ADD man and then had 3 ADD children. My need for structure increased dramatically.
Now that I'm writing my organized world is falling apart more than ever. I plan on writing another chapter of Dark Connections today. Yet, my heart isn't in it. Okay, I'll write a chapter of Leigh. Nope. My mind keeps going back to a story I haven't even written yet. It won't let it go.
What do I do? I write about the new story. I get a few chapters out. Only then will my creative side let it go and allow me to go back to other works.
The more I fight writing certain stories, the worse it gets. I'm slowly learning to write on what my muse says to write. Nothing else.
I once heard that you're not a true writer until you wake up only wanting to write. I'd like to add that you also have write whatever want's to flow from you and nothing else.
Now that I'm writing my organized world is falling apart more than ever. I plan on writing another chapter of Dark Connections today. Yet, my heart isn't in it. Okay, I'll write a chapter of Leigh. Nope. My mind keeps going back to a story I haven't even written yet. It won't let it go.
What do I do? I write about the new story. I get a few chapters out. Only then will my creative side let it go and allow me to go back to other works.
The more I fight writing certain stories, the worse it gets. I'm slowly learning to write on what my muse says to write. Nothing else.
I once heard that you're not a true writer until you wake up only wanting to write. I'd like to add that you also have write whatever want's to flow from you and nothing else.
Importance of the Muse
You don't realize you have a muse until it comes up missing. I hate that. Yet, it makes you appreciate your muses more often.
I have a couple of muses. One of them is a good friend, Courtney. I didn't realize how much of a muse she was until she went on a one week vacation. I did not have her around to encourage me and help me with plots. She wasn't there demanding the next chapter. I found myself struggling to write. Why? Because one of my cheerleaders was gone.
That muse is important. I really depend on Courtney, Sara, and Lisa. They keep me going.
I'll be starting another book draft soon and this time another muse will appear. This book will be for my daughter who asked that I write it for her. I never felt so honored.
When you discover your muse or muses, them it kindly. Appreciate it. Why? Because the muse helps your creative spirit.
The muse is your inspiration. It could be a location where you go and allow your creative spirit freedom. It could be a song that unleashes the writer in you. It could be a friend who won't let you quit and points out where you need to continue and where you need to stop.
The muse is important. It is the watering can of your creative garden.
I have a couple of muses. One of them is a good friend, Courtney. I didn't realize how much of a muse she was until she went on a one week vacation. I did not have her around to encourage me and help me with plots. She wasn't there demanding the next chapter. I found myself struggling to write. Why? Because one of my cheerleaders was gone.
That muse is important. I really depend on Courtney, Sara, and Lisa. They keep me going.
I'll be starting another book draft soon and this time another muse will appear. This book will be for my daughter who asked that I write it for her. I never felt so honored.
When you discover your muse or muses, them it kindly. Appreciate it. Why? Because the muse helps your creative spirit.
The muse is your inspiration. It could be a location where you go and allow your creative spirit freedom. It could be a song that unleashes the writer in you. It could be a friend who won't let you quit and points out where you need to continue and where you need to stop.
The muse is important. It is the watering can of your creative garden.
Dangerous Muses
I have a few dangerous muses. Their names are Sara and Courtney with a semi-dangerous one in Lisa. How are they dangerous?
1. Death by laughter - They can have you dying laughing in no time. When I finish writing a chapter, they begin demanding more and threatening me.
2. Honesty - They are honest with me in all manners. This means they will tell me things suck or if I'm going down the wrong path. This is dangerous because it might have me rewriting sections. Good, but....
3. Idea generators - These muses are notorious for helping me think of twists and turns in my stories. This is dangerous because I have to rewrite sections and these ideas spin out of control into even more chapters and even more books. I have an idea notebook with more book ideas than I can write in a lifetime!
In all honesty, I have to thank my muses. They pull me out of my writing funks and inspire me. Which is why today I'm finishing up Trust Me.
1. Death by laughter - They can have you dying laughing in no time. When I finish writing a chapter, they begin demanding more and threatening me.
2. Honesty - They are honest with me in all manners. This means they will tell me things suck or if I'm going down the wrong path. This is dangerous because it might have me rewriting sections. Good, but....
3. Idea generators - These muses are notorious for helping me think of twists and turns in my stories. This is dangerous because I have to rewrite sections and these ideas spin out of control into even more chapters and even more books. I have an idea notebook with more book ideas than I can write in a lifetime!
In all honesty, I have to thank my muses. They pull me out of my writing funks and inspire me. Which is why today I'm finishing up Trust Me.
A Blast From My Forgotten Past
A friend contacted me on Facebook. She said, "If you can tell me who wrote this, I'll send you more." It was a little poem. I read the first line and gasped. Oh, my! It was mine from high school!
I dappled a little with poetry back in high school. The ones she sent me mostly had to do with school and algebra. Why? Because she didn't like algebra. I wrote the poems for her.
Now, they aren't any good. They are feeble attempts of a 15 year old to be poetic, but they did teach me something.
I have wanted to write for a very long time.
I still see my writing as needing a lot of work as do these poems, but the desire is there. That is one of the most important things. You need to desire it. Without desire, you are just going through the motions and there is no soul in the piece.
With no soul in the writing, no one will enjoy it or connect to it. It will be lost in the void of forgotten writings.
One of the poems was about two lovers who follow different paths and yearn for more. My muse has ordered a novel out of it. Yes, ma'am. :)
What sources for stories do you have in your past? When did you last look through your old high school things? You might find a best selling novel in there.
I dappled a little with poetry back in high school. The ones she sent me mostly had to do with school and algebra. Why? Because she didn't like algebra. I wrote the poems for her.
Now, they aren't any good. They are feeble attempts of a 15 year old to be poetic, but they did teach me something.
I have wanted to write for a very long time.
I still see my writing as needing a lot of work as do these poems, but the desire is there. That is one of the most important things. You need to desire it. Without desire, you are just going through the motions and there is no soul in the piece.
With no soul in the writing, no one will enjoy it or connect to it. It will be lost in the void of forgotten writings.
One of the poems was about two lovers who follow different paths and yearn for more. My muse has ordered a novel out of it. Yes, ma'am. :)
What sources for stories do you have in your past? When did you last look through your old high school things? You might find a best selling novel in there.
