How to tune into your muse so you can make great art
On finding creativity daily
The other week when I was doing research for my next WIP, I stumbled across something that lit me up. You know that feeling where something sparks? An idea you need to explore, or write down before it disappears? Yeah, it was one of those. The stuff that writers’ dreams are made of. I was wandering down the internet rabbit hole, as one does when they’re researching, and I came across something fascinating about the Muses.
In today’s society, most people associate the word “muse” with something or someone that inspires the creation of beautiful art. Like a beautiful woman that an artist wants to paint or sculpt or photograph.
In ancient Greek mythology, they were the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were related orally for centuries in ancient Greek culture. People invoked the muses when they sat down to create.
Either way, the word “muse” is deeply tied to art and inspiration.
I, along with perhaps many other writers and artists, like to think of the muse as the unseen force of creativity and art and inspiration that lives inside of us. Or perhaps that higher power that we connect to when we are in the zone. When we create in flow, our muse alight and guiding us.
This idea is what I was thinking of when I stumbled upon my interesting tidbit: One theory about the Muses’ patronage claimed they were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the Titan goddess of memory.
This spoke to me because it served as another reminder of a major source of where our art and stories comes from: our memories. If you remember, a few weeks ago I wrote about the writing process and memory, and how writers can use it to enrich their work. But the idea of the Muse coupled with the question of how we maintain a flourishing writing life nudged me to dig a little deeper.
How can we set our Muse, or our souls, on fire so that we’re constantly in that place of heightened creativity? So we feel inspired to write, to put pen to paper, to spin stories?
The four things I came up with were: Endless curiosity, openness, presence, and, of course, memory.
Endless curiosity
Writers are, by nature, a curious group. This bodes well for the muse. The muse loves questions: “What if…” “What would happen if…” “How would someone handle…” “How does [thing/relationship/human trait] work?” It’s these questions, when we are seeking meaning in life, that will serve as the springboard to some of our best story ideas. Curiosity—allowing yourself to ask questions about the world, and especially humanity—instantly sets the muse alight. As humans, we seek to understand the way things work, especially the way other people work, so that we can learn from their mistakes and replicate their successes. So that we can feel not alone. And connected to others.
Be curious. Like a child exploring the world. Like a cat. Like our favorite literary monkey, Curious George. And let it get you into mischief. Break the rules, play, explore.
Openness
Being open to a visit from the muse means that inspiration can come from anywhere if you’re looking for it. It might sneak up on you through a dream, or through a news headline, or an overheard coffee shop conversation. It might even come from another book or a movie or piece of art that strikes you.
The trick is allowing yourself to not reject every pinch of inspiration outright. It’s allowing yourself to be open to the influx of ideas, no matter how strange—or even banal—the source may be. The muse likes to visit us in the small moments of our days, often when we least expect it, so if we are closed off to her, the ideas, the inspiration may never manifest.
How do you open yourself up? Well that leads me to my next point: being present.
Presence
I think it’s a well-known fact that one of our society’s scarcest resources is focus: we have a million things competing for our attention and we regularly find ourselves maxed out—on time and energy—and spread ultra-thin. We have endless chores, meal planning, child rearing, exercise, jobs, relationships, and trauma playing on a loop in our minds every day. It’s safe to guess that most of us are in a state of worry or stress, which makes it hard to stop the thoughts and focus on the present moment. But it’s in this presence—when we are mindful and living in the moment before us—that the muse decides to pay us a visit. Or rather, it’s when the openness to her visits can find us most easily.
I know that for some people it’s easier said than done to turn off their mind—their ego—and focus on the present moment, but I think it’s worth trying. Meditate, go for a walk, work on a puzzle or, hey, even just sitting down to write or journal can help release some of the chatter that clogs our waking brains.
It is, after all, these present moments that allow us the most clarity, joy, and connection to the divine. To the source of creativity.
Memory
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, visiting our memories—or mining them—to pull forth the good and the bad, the small and the large, can be a fabulous way to set the muse on fire. She is, according to one theory, the daughter of the goddess of memory. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that she’s deeply connected to our memories? I think so. You can read more about writing and memory here, if you’re interested in my thoughts on the subject, but for now, just keep in mind that mining your memories will inspire your writing, will allow the muse to come forward and spring into action.
The thing about living a creative life—the writer’s life—is that there are mindset skills and tools that must be honed. It requires a little bit of magical thinking. I believe that tuning into the muse is one skill takes practice. But I also believe that if you can learn how to commune with her daily, it will get easier. That’s not to say that I think one must work on their book every single day (do the butt-in-chair method), in order to have a successful writing practice or to strengthen their craft.
Instead, I think of it as turning on your radio and tuning it to the right channel where the reception is good. Where you’re not getting any static. Being curious, cultivating openness, living in the present moment, and mining your memories will—if you practice—help get you on the right channel.
So—finding it hard to sit down and write? Do you have trouble focusing or worry that your creative well will run dry? If so, consider how to harness your muse, how to get her to come chat with you, to bestow her gifts upon you. Why don’t you give these strategies a try? Or if you have already, which one works best for you? Drop me a note and let me know!
Want More?
Save the date for the next Story & Prose Book Club meeting--Friday, November 3 at 9am PT. We will be finishing up our discussion of Fourth Wing, looking at the story structure and ending, and what makes the book so addictive. If you want to learn craft through the lens of popular fiction, join us. Sign up here!
I have a few 1:1 slots opening up this month! If you want help with crafting lovable characters--or any part of writing a book that people will actually want to read, consider scheduling a free 30-min story strategy call to determine whether we'd be a good fit for each other and how I could best serve you. Grab a slot here.
Happy Writing!
Karyn