I had thought I knew what a muse was, but mine has been instructing me lately. I had believed that a certain young woman I know was my muse. She convinced me to start writing again when I'd given up, and encouraged me when I slumped.
But that's not what she really is. She is my inspiration. My muse is something else.
I found I need inspiration in order to hear my muse. Once I can hear her, it's a whole 'nother ball game.
I've been a member of SOL for seven years now, and I'm just getting brave enough to post. And it's been a hoot! But I find now that my muse isn't just helping me write, sometimes she makes me write.
There have been three scenes (so far) that I wrote out in advance of the rest of the story. I know they will be a part of the story, I just don't know where. Well, that's not true. One of them has found a home in an unposted chapter, but the others are waiting for me to make a place for them. And my muse made me write them, making me stop in the middle of a chapter to get them down.
She drives me, sometimes letting me think I'm at the wheel, but sometimes...
The whole writing process is fascinating. I wrote down an idea, then I outlined out where that idea would lead, and then I fleshed out the journey. And it has an end, but for some reason, that end keeps hiding over the horizon. Just when I get a glimpse, one of my characters pops up and does something to keep it going.
My reward is that you read it. And then come back for more.
Thank you.