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The Write Process: Finding Your Muse by Kim Briggs

Every Writer follows an unspoken set of rules, at least if they are serious about writing. By serious, I mean they write EVERY day or nearly. Very rarely does a Writer take a day off. Even when they aren't writing, Writers play with their muse.


Huh, what's a MUSE? A Person's Creative inspiration
Futurama-cast
A Writer's brain is a crowded place. See what I mean when I talk about the voices in my head--I'm not joking.

Logic dictates that when a Writer finishes her story, her characters pack up and leave. Well, that's a novel idea and WRONG. Your Lovies move to Penthouse and throw huge soirees with dozens of rowdy guests! At the end of the evening, these uninvited visitors pass out on your Persian rug and leave their empty cups and half eaten sandwiches all over the place. You kick them out, threatening them with life and limb, until you realize they lead pretty interesting lives. You weave a few threads together, and Voila, you've got yourself a new WIP (work in progress).  

And when you finish your story, guess what?!?! Your unique and wonderful characters throw a Rager and the cycle starts all over again. 



Writers hunt for story lines like a chocoholic raids the candy aisle. (That reminds me, I need to buy chocolate.) And even when you select that favorite chocolate bar, a dozen other potential Muses claw and scratch and tear their way into your subconscious. (I am well aware of the graphic content of my description, but I am not joking.)

Writers find story ideas everywhere, even when they don't plan on working on a new project anytime soon. Movies, TV shows, a magazine article, a Yahoo headline, daily interactions with real or imaginary people, music, soccer games, baseball practice, a run around the block, the shower...

Muse strikes whenever and wherever it wants too. A Writer recognizes the Muse the moment it comes into being and grabs it by the throat and shoves it in a journal before the Muse escapes.

That's why it's IMPORTANT, CRUCIAL, and VITAL for a Writer to WRITE EVERYDAY.

Where do you find your Muse? How do you keep your Muse happy?

Write on,


Kim


*Grammarians: I am well aware I broke a few grammar rules, but for the sake of brevity and plain old flow, I ignored the rules.

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