My writing muse

Sometimes I think it would be rather nice to suffer from writer’s block; a period of nothingness where the brain ceases to be creative and I can be at one with the universe.
But the stark reality is that I continually pull my car over to the kerb, stop a conversation, pause a movie or leap out of bed at 2 a.m. just to jot an idea down.
My muse is altogether a restless genie, a conniving devil, a wanton mistress, even a fairy godmother. At times he’s Othello’s Iago, at others he’s Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life. But he/she is always in standby mode and never seems to switch off!
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Published on January 28, 2018 09:14 Tags: brainwaves, creativity, ideas, inspiration, muse, writer-s-block, writers, writing
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message 1: by Nat (new)

Nat K Creativity is a beautiful thing, don't fight it! Unleash the genie...


message 2: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Nat wrote: "Creativity is a beautiful thing, don't fight it! Unleash the genie..."

Aww, thank you, Nat!


message 3: by Kevin (last edited Jan 29, 2018 10:20PM) (new)

Kevin Ansbro Kimber wrote: "To have a restless muse and your amazing writing talent, what a gift indeed!

"...at others he’s Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life." I love this! Clarence would be a fantastic muse! : )"


Aww, so kind of you to read and comment, Kimber!
I know that you have a current WIP, and I have no doubt that you must know what it's like to jump out of bed lest a brilliant idea escapes your mind!
Yes, Clarence would be a wonderful muse! : )


message 4: by Anthea (new)

Anthea Syrokou I can relate, Kevin. I think it shows an inner passion and appreciation for the world around you - everything has meaning, and a purpose. You articulated it so masterfully - as you always do. :)

Although, in your case for the restless genie muse, a genius may come out of the bottle instead - the way you interweave words in your writing is exceptional. :)


message 5: by Kevin (last edited Jan 30, 2018 03:32AM) (new)

Kevin Ansbro Anthea wrote: "I can relate, Kevin. I think it shows an inner passion and appreciation for the world around you - everything has meaning, and a purpose. You articulated it so masterfully - as you always do. :) ..."

Anthea! So-o kind!
I'm not surprised that you can relate. I should imagine all writers do that thing where they drop everything to scramble for a notepad, or a Post-it pad, even a till receipt, just to scribble a thought down! : )


message 6: by Kevin (last edited Feb 01, 2018 09:04AM) (new)

Kevin Ansbro Kimber wrote: "It's true, Kevin. I have on many occasions scrambled for paper of any kind to jot down a thought before it evaporates! : )
"


Yes! Evaporate, the perfect verb to express our fear of what might happen to this thought should we neglect to write it down.


message 7: by Cheri (new)

Cheri My grandfather used to keep a portable recorder with / near him at all times, Kevin, for thoughts he had for a poem, or some sort of prose since he knew he'd likely lose a scrap of paper. Loved your thoughts on this fear, and even more so on your muse.


message 8: by Kevin (last edited Feb 02, 2018 12:38AM) (new)

Kevin Ansbro Cheri wrote: "My grandfather used to keep a portable recorder with / near him at all times, Kevin, for thoughts he had for a poem, or some sort of prose since he knew he'd likely lose a scrap of paper. Loved you..."

Thanks, Cheri. Your grandad was more hi-tech back then than I am now! : )
Whenever I chat to fellow authors on this subject, they all admit to leaping out of bed in the middle of the night to put pen to paper after having a eureka moment!


message 9: by AJ (new)

AJ Cheri wrote: "My grandfather used to keep a portable recorder with / near him at all times, Kevin, for thoughts he had for a poem, or some sort of prose since he knew he'd likely lose a scrap of paper. Loved you..."

I still have my portable recorder, which reminds me I need to digitize those mini cassettes!


message 10: by Leila (new)

Leila Keep them coming Kevin. Once lost... In the days when I had a car I remember often pulling into a lay bye to jot down thoughts before I lost them.


message 11: by AJ (new)

AJ Kevin you have a smart phone don't you?


message 12: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Aaron wrote: "Cheri wrote: "My grandfather used to keep a portable recorder with / near him at all times, Kevin, for thoughts he had for a poem, or some sort of prose since he knew he'd likely lose a scrap of pa..."

Crikey you're taking me back to the days when I had a Walkman, Aaron!! : )


message 13: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Aaron wrote: "Kevin you have a smart phone don't you?"

Oh, I type my ideas into my 'notes' on my iPhone as well.
I have notes everywhere. Often can't remember where I've put them! : )


message 14: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Leila wrote: "Keep them coming Kevin. Once lost... In the days when I had a car I remember often pulling into a lay bye to jot down thoughts before I lost them."

Absolutely, Leila.
This seems to be a common theme!


message 15: by Fran (new)

Fran Kevin,
Some of the best songs and books started from a note jotted down on a napkin, tissue or toilet paper. Keep your creative juices flowing.....embrace the restlessness!


message 16: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Fran wrote: "Kevin,
Some of the best songs and books started from a note jotted down on a napkin, tissue or toilet paper. Keep your creative juices flowing.....embrace the restlessness!"


Aww, so kind of you to read one of my random musings. Thanks, Fran, I appreciate that!


message 17: by AJ (new)

AJ Kevin wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Kevin you have a smart phone don't you?"

Oh, I type my ideas into my 'notes' on my iPhone as well.
I have notes everywhere. Often can't remember where I've put them! : )"


Oh good, well there's a recorder there if you need it too :)


message 18: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia Hamilton I've become resigned to the fact that I can't hold all my "brilliant" thoughts in my head until I can get to the computer, but I keep at it in hopes of keeping my memory from rusting out altogether. But in the middle of the night, when I'm already in a dream-like state, those ideas don't stand a chance. ;-) What's really getting to me now is the elusive title to the WIP I just finished. Now I've started taking pen and paper to bed with me, lest I lose the idea while I search for them in the dark! Too bad none of these titles sound so wonderful in the light of day!


message 19: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia Hamilton Cynthia wrote: "I've become resigned to the fact that I can't hold all my "brilliant" thoughts in my head until I can get to the computer, but I keep at it in hopes of keeping my memory from rusting out altogether..."

What masterpiece are you working on now??


message 20: by Debbie (new)

Debbie Kevin wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Kevin you have a smart phone don't you?"

Oh, I type my ideas into my 'notes' on my iPhone as well.
I have notes everywhere. Often can't remember where I've put them! : )"


Oh don’t you love the Notes app?? I have something like 350! But like me, do you live in fear that you’ll accidentally delete one? I think there is a complicated way to get a deleted note back, but Jesus, I hope I never have to try it! Years ago, I lost a poem and it still bugs me. Could not be recreated.


message 21: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Cynthia wrote: "I've become resigned to the fact that I can't hold all my "brilliant" thoughts in my head until I can get to the computer, but I keep at it in hopes of keeping my memory from rusting out altogether..."

It's clear that every author faces the exact same problems, Cynthia! : )

Cynthia wrote: "What masterpiece are you working on now??"

An 85,000-word novel titled The Fish that Climbed a Tree (a metaphor for the Homeric odyssey within).
Very kind of you to ask. Thank you! : )


message 22: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Debbie wrote: "Oh don’t you love the Notes app?? ..."

I do, Debbie!
Trouble is, I then forget that I've typed a crucially important piece of prose, or dialogue, onto the phone! : (
I need notes to remind me that I have notes!!! : D


message 23: by AJ (new)

AJ The old string tied around the finger is a good reminder.


message 24: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Aaron wrote: "The old string tied around the finger is a good reminder."

Ha!
Aaron, my memory's so bad, I'd need to use the notes app on my phone to remind me that I've got a piece of string tied around one of my fingers! : D


message 25: by AJ (new)

AJ Kevin wrote: "Aaron wrote: "The old string tied around the finger is a good reminder."

Ha!
Aaron, my memory's so bad, I'd need to use the notes app on my phone to remind me that I've got a piece of string tied ..."


Well Kev, have you tried Saint Anthony? He hasn't failed me yet! :D


message 26: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Ansbro Aaron wrote: ".Well Kev, have you tried Saint Anthony? He hasn't failed me yet! :D.."

Ah, yes, the patron saint of lost things.
So let's see ... I need a scrap of paper and pen; I need my iPhone; I need to tie a piece of string around my finger, and fourthly, I need to call upon the kindness of a saint!
I shall never lose a creative thought again!
Thank you, Aaron. You are my saviour (or at least Saint Anthony might be).
: )


message 27: by AJ (new)

AJ Kevin wrote: "Thank you, Aaron. You are my savior (or at least Saint Anthony might be)"

Woah there! Don't go making me into an apostate now! But you're welcome Kev, and good luck while we're at it!


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