Saturday 18 February 2012

Inspiration from Mary Muse!

I – Inspiration
What a lovely word inspiration is!
My dictionary tells me inspiration can be ‘a good idea, creative influence or stimulus’. In terms of writing, that definitely fits the bill! But my idea of inspiration is not a flash of insight or a good idea but moments when my dear friend, Mary Muse is sitting on my shoulder.
My friend Mary calls at some odd times and sometimes when I desperately need her, she doesn’t visit at all! But all is not lost, as almost always when I need inspiration, Mary comes calling eventually.
I believe inspiration is actually the end product of lots of subconscious thinking. And although inspiration can suddenly arrive – almost a ‘eureka moment’ – I often realise belatedly, that my brain was working on the problem all the time – albeit in the background. It is moments like these that make me persevere when I have a problem with my plot or the mechanics of writing seem to be going nowhere. It is what makes me come alive and sparkle with enthusiasm at some new idea that has abruptly come to me. It restores my faith that I knew what I was doing all the time (even when, in my heart of hearts, I knew that was not the case).
A frequent quote I have come across a few times in the blogosphere is “all who wander are not lost” and whilst I cannot recall where this comes from, I do know it is certainly true of my own writing. Sometimes I do seem to wander all over the place and even get totally off course with my story but there is always a way to salvage things and that is when my muse is most often helpful as it may even suggest a new direction or a new story line which makes the tale much better and enables me to feel inspired and filled with renewed passion for my writing.
Does your muse visit you at crucial times? Does inspiration come easily to you?

9 comments:

  1. Hi,
    I am writing a manuscript about an event that happen to me and I need all the inspiration as I am a first time writer. I have completed 10 chapters that have been edited by my, yes editor and I am drafting chapter 11 as I write this ( having a break ) so yes, inspiration is required.

    Anyway, I have followed you and will continue to check out your blog. Follow me also if you wish at http://thewrongplaceatthewrongtime.blogspot.com/

    I will also check out your book....

    My best....

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  2. I had a eureka moment yesterday and it seemed so obvious I wondered why it hadn't occurred to me earlier. My muse tends to appear when I'm driving, ironing or in the bath!

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  3. Inspiration doesn't come easily to me. I tend to be the wanderer and eventually after my brain has wandered in to a bunch of odd places, it lets me in to the right room.

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  4. Inspiration is the easy bit, writing it down with other commitments hovering is the hard bit. :0)

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  5. I love that you've named your muse! I'm with Carole - inspiration is easy; following through is hard.

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  6. It's amazing what brains can do, isn't it?

    If I've spent a lot of time thinking through things, inspiration does tend to come more easily than when I'm not doing my part. :)

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  7. I think it was Tolkien who said it...

    Inspiration comes to me when I'm out walking, or relaxing in the bath tub. I call it back brain thinking. Although I'm away from my desk, the brain hasn't quite switched off, its still working in the background.

    I agree with the comments above though - actually doing the writing bit is a challenge.

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  8. Oh yes = writing those inspiring thoughts is definitley the challenge!

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