What drives creative types like me? Greek mythology gave credit for the inspiration of mortals to the nine Muses. Of all of them, I would say the closest match to me and my writings would be Calliope, muse of eloquence and epic poetry. With Melusine’s Endgame currently sitting at sixteen books in my head, I am fairly comfortable calling that series ‘epic.’
As for real life Muses, I’ve got a few. Some are easily explained, others aren’t. Shattered had a combination Muse of baby Beren (who slept in my lap on the nights where I wrote that one) and whatever object in the house possessed me to write that book.
Caffeine and sumatriptan are the chemical Muses for most of the Melusine’s Endgame series. Thank heaven the new medication doesn’t trigger a new book in my brain every time I take it…that series would be sitting at thirty books if that were the case.
The Muse behind Worm Rising was a truly aggravating instructor for a graduate course I happened to be taking. Who knew avoidance behavior could be so productive?
Most of the other works I have stored in my brain came from some random inspiration or another, such as material I am teaching in one of my classes or a story that I re-read after forgetting it for the better part of a decade. Such is the creative process, I suppose. Stuff stays dormant in my head until something goes and triggers it.
Ultimately, though, I think my real Muse is joy. I get a ton of joy out of creating. It used to be jewelry, and now it’s translating a story that I can see in my mind and putting it onto a screen. One common thread I’ve found is that I get my best work done when I’m relaxed and happy. Oddly enough, I have a very difficult time writing at home unless it happens to be very late at night when the place is near silent. I also get a good groove going at coffee shops.
Stereotypical, I know. I think a big part of that was because that was how I trained myself to write in high school. I would go to the local Starbucks, get a crazy sugary coffee drink, and write for a few hours. I guess I created the whole ‘state-dependent-writing’ monster with that pattern, which I haven’t broken to this day. Yes, I know coffee shops tend to be noisy, but it’s the kind of ambient noise that my brain has an easy time filtering out. Two kids running about and clamoring for my attention…not so much.
Stillness, peace, steadfastness…all of those are anchors in my creative mind. If one can find a person in their life who can give them all three, they are truly blessed. In the stillness, the spring of creation flows freely. In silence, stories can take form, and not just the nebulous form of an idea or fragment, but a true, cohesive narrative. In the peace and joy of true connection, one can write about love not just from a place of imagination, but of experience and memory.
I am blessed beyond measure to have found that person.