
The Enchanted Shore by Rowland Wheelwright
Still looking for that kiss from the muse? Here are some of my favourite ways to awaken the inner spirit of creativity.
Ritual Routine means showing up to write. When we do so, we send a message to the Muse saying, I’m here. I’m ready. I’m listening. Do you have rituals around your writing? Mine are green tea, Spanish guitar and a date with my computer every morning, 7 am sharp. Novelist Sean Stewart reinforces the point. “Do whatever it takes. If it means getting up at four in the morning, get up at four in the morning.”
Most authors agree that ritualizing the practice of writing keeps creative juices flowing. Jonathan Kellerman, who spends 2-6 months planning his novels before he starts writing says, I treat writing as a job. I go to work five days a week. I don’t sit around drinking espresso, waiting for inspiration.
Dreams come from the wellspring of imagination. Listen to them! Image is the language of the unconscious and keeping a dream journal can be a way to communicate with the deeper layers of the mind, opening up the realm of the Muse.
Law of Attraction says that what we think about comes about. If you are thinking like the fisherman on shore after the mermaid has fled, longing desperately for her return, you are shouting out to the universe ‘blank page’ and that is what you attract! When the Muse is gone, imagine her there with thoughts of allowing, joy, vitality, creative abundance and gratitude. The trick is, if she’s there, enjoy her presence; if she’s not there, enjoy her presence! Once you start thinking your Muse is with you, she will be.
Self-talk is closely related to the above and has a powerful effect on the Muse. Are you saying I’m blocked? I’m stuck? When friends ring do you tell them the well is dry? What you say to yourself and others is what you are reinforcing. To bring up the muse, think more along the lines of I’m full of ideas today, thank you!
Clear a Space for the Muse to Dance. To have anything in your life, you need to ‘make room for it’. One of the most crucial ingredients in honoring the Muse is clearing a space for her. Stephen King talks about this in his article on the The Writing Life.
Some writers in the throes of writer’s block think their muses have died, but I don’t think that happens often; I think what happens is that the writers themselves sow the edges of their clearing with poison bait to keep their muses away, often without knowing they are doing it.
Allow her presence by eliminating anything that might be misconstrued as poison or disrespect of her mystery. Welcome your creative spirit in. As Traci Harding says, The Muse is everywhere and can be encountered in the most unexpected places. How do you call up your Muse? I’d like to hear your favorite technique. Comments welcome.
See Part I: A Kiss from the Muse
See Part II: A Kiss from the Muse: How to get it!
Kim Falconer is the author of The Spell of Rosette, which was published in January this year. She runs Falcon Astrology as well as a website for the Quantum Enchantment series.
Filed under: Author guest blog, Kim Falconer, on writing | Tagged: Jonathan Kellerman, Kim Falconer, kissing the muse, Law of Attraction, Quantum Enchantment, Sean Stewart, Stephen King, the muse, The Spell of Rosette, The Writing Life, traci harding | Leave a comment »