Vikk Simmons, on his excellent site, Down The Writer's Path, recently wrote an article, "What is Your Relationship With Your Muse?"
Far too many writers are content to play the romantic courtier languishing on the sidelines while waiting for even the briefest glimpse of their Muse, the supposed supplier of their creativity. They love being caught up in the moment, dancing among the glorious stream of words only to fall exhausted at their Muse's feet. When they wake, their Muse has vanished. Distraught, they sit and pine.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy explains the muses as "Nine goddesses of classical mythology who presided over learning and the arts. They were especially associated with poetry. Ancient Greek or Roman writers would often begin their poems by asking for the aid of the Muses in their composition. Writers and artists to this day speak of their 'muse,' meaning their source of inspiration."
It's time to kill the muse, an over-used, rhetorical device that gives writers an excuse to avoid doing what we should be doing - writing. There are no goddesses who bestow some magical power that allows words to flow from our fingers. We know that, yet we continue to use the word, and words have power - in this case, I would argue negative power.
I responded to his post by suggesting a third path I laughingly call my rhetoric machine... others would call it the unconscious. Scientists have determined that over 90% of our mental processes occur at the unconscious level, and these are sophisticated machinations. The unconscious is where we form judgments, values, opinions, evaluate our world, decide what is dangerous or safe, and even form behaviors. The bizarre thing is that we rarely have awareness of what's going on there.
All of us have had the experience of watching words appear on the page as if by magic having no idea where they came from. Well, they come from the unconscious lying outside our awareness.
Whether I'm writing fiction or non-fiction, I've developed a deep trust in my unconscious to lead me into surprising and wondrous realms that are as much as surprise to me as the reader. I may have a conscious idea about the theme of a book, characters, and plot lines, but almost never does it work out the way I intended. New themes and characters emerge unbidden, plot lines get twisted and sent along mazes I only can hope my unconscious is smart enough to get through.
Article comments
1 - Staci Schoff
What a writer needs more than a muse is the fundamental understanding that writing begets writing. Period. You don't need to be "inspired," you just need to sit down and write. It's an act of discipline more than anything else. Not very romantic, of course, but there it is.
2 - duane
I'm not a "writer," although I am published, but isn't this all summed up by the old adage, "A writer writes"?
When it comes to actual creative writing, I'm what's known as a "starter."
3 - Vern Halen
In all seriousness, I've always believed in "Quality THROUGH Quantity."
4 - Mark Schannon
You're all right...that is, I agree with all of you. Inspiration is wonderful, but the act of writing can create that even when you force yourself to start writing.
5 - Roberta Rosenberg
I've been a direct response copywriter for 20+ years and wouldn't make a living if I had to wait for inspiration to strike. What I tell my copywriting students is this: There's no such thing as writer's block for us. Feeling stymied? Write a piece of the project. Write the PS of the letter first. Mindmap headlines. Even if they're all crap, you're still writing. Tomorrow will be better, and it almost always is.
My muse? The client calls, gives me the project and a deadline, and we settle on the fees. Inspiration enough.
6 - John Spivey
All writing is certainly not the same. As I've said before, one of my martial arts teachers said, "Anything you chose to study and master can be a Way. But, if it doesn't lead you to find out who you really are, then it's just clever behavior."
Writing at the first level is simply a mechanical process just like throwing someone around on the mat. Practice it long enough and with enough due diligence and something else may begin to emerge. It depends on what one wants from the writing. Is the writing meant to first enlighten oneself and then others, or is it meant to be clever mechanics primarily for profit and self-congratulation.
I think the Greeks probably knew the gods, godesses and muses resided primarily inside. They are merely internal gateways. We are the ones who externalize everything.
js
7 - Mark Schannon
Roberta, as a PR writer, I completely understand and agree.
John, I don't think we're in disagreement about writing serving different purposes. There are lots of wealth romance novelists out there whose Grail is probably empty.
But there is a tendency among writers--particularly those not under deadline--to wait for the muse to speak, and if you talk as if it were some external force with a divine touch, you'll have a tendency to act that way.
That's the issue I was trying to get out.
Your comment about the Greeks is interesting. The Greek gods were very real to them--much closer to the old Testament Jewish God. I don't know it for a fact, but I'd guess they really did believe in muse/goddesses as external entities.
When either of us gets three free minutes, we can look it up, LOL.
In Jameson Veritas
8 - Mohjho
Let me give you another term from the ancient Greeks: Hubris
Be careful what you wish for Mark.
9 - Mark Schannon
Mohjho, ???? How is it a sin of pride to say that inspiration comes from inside of ourselves rather than from some mythical creatures...unless you really believe they exist.
...and if they do, please extend to them my apologies...
In Jameson Veritas
10 - Mohjho
Mark, no apologies needed. I thought your article was well written and insightful.
My comment was just my knee jerk reaction from reading a ton of ancient Greek epics and plays.