So of course, after deciding on Monday that I would officially take a break from Book Two, my muse stopped by on Tuesday to tap me on the shoulder.
Me: No. I’m not listening to you.
Muse: Don’t be mean and nasty.
Me: You abandoned me!
Muse: And you’re oppressive. But let’s not get bogged down in the details.
Me: That’s just it, though, isn’t it? You never give me details! It’s all so dry and boring.
Muse: …Oh no you didn’t.
So despite my best efforts, Tuesday was spent writing between fits of reading other books, and guess what? I banged out 2,500 words. Exactly 2,500 words.
Figuring that this was a sign, I tried to do the same thing yesterday, but that didn’t quite work either.
Me: Oh Muse! Where are you?
Muse: I’m dry, remember? And boring.
Me: But I have chocolate!
Muse: You always forget that I’m allergic, dimwit.
So I’ve decided to just let it be. (The Beatles still give the best advice.) If the words come, they come. If they don’t, so be it. I don’t have the time to wheedle.
I started editing Book One, however, and this is exactly how I feel. Where did my genius go?! I am very upset about this. I’m pretty sure that it’s been kidnapped (probably by one of the short stories on my hard drive that I’ve been neglecting). If you happen to see said genius anywhere, please let me know. I will give you chocolate.
It’s not as if my muse wants any.
So give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses–tell me about your starts and stops for the week, and your horror stories of writing gone wonky over night. We shall commiserate together.
Hannah said,
August 6, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Your genius is in Stillwater with me.
Mariah said,
August 12, 2009 at 11:29 am
I’m not really sure where your genius went, but I’d be happy to take some chocolate anyways!
Helen said,
August 13, 2009 at 4:45 am
Bloody Muse. You just have to be a slave to it, even if it means waking up in the middle of the night to scribble a few sentences or writing down a description while walking through a busy street, one eye on the road and one on the notebook.
I don’t know how it’s possible, but I seem to stop more than I start, especially this week, because I’m editing. It’s much easier to keep the flow going when I am creating new stories.