Listen to Your Muse

No, Really, Listen to Your Muse

Early Saturday afternoon I thought of an opening line. After that, some dialog came to me. Then I sat down to write notes about the new story in my head, so I wouldn’t forget.

can you hear it?

I was interrupted four hours later when my boyfriend showed up so we could go to dinner.

None of my plans for that afternoon were accomplished: going to the store, returning a pillow, buying some Christmas presents.

But I did accomplish a short story.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is listen to your muse. Keep thinking about that plot line or exploring that character’s backstory. Keep writing – those other things can often be taken care of once you’ve gotten the words out of your head and into a more permanent form.

I’ve been editing for the past few months and I had forgotten how immersive writing can be. The only activity I can compare it to is reading – getting lost in a book for hours with no awareness of the passage of time. When I finally close the book or stop typing, I need a moment to come back to my reality.

When your Muse is with you, the words flow. And the only way to experience that feeling again is to keep writing.

Kate Beckett: Yeah, well, your inspiration might strike you sooner than you think.
- Castle, “Nanny McDead”, 1.2

Dec 15, 2009

Tags: muse

Categories: writing