Visited by a Muse

Isn’t a muse a fickle thing? Today, while sitting at work, my muse snuck up behind me and whispered a thought between my ears.

She lit a fuse is what she did.

It was a good idea – the kind that knocks you back in your chair for a minute and you’re left gasping because you’ve suddenly forgotten to breath. It was the idea. One of the things I’d been missing to bring about a proper conclusion to my story.

It was one of those things that your subconscious had been working on while you didn’t even notice. Then you feel taken aback that your brain could have come up with something like that without you being present.

When this type of thing happens to you, a range of emotions may run through you. You may feel exuberant that this missing puzzle piece has – FINALLY! – showed up and fits perfectly into place. And after a while, you may be disappointed when you realize that you have no idea how your brain came to that conclusion, thus, being unable to replicate the process anytime soon.

So there I was, at work, clicking away, Muse shows up, whispers in my ear and suddenly – BAM! The idea exploded in my head.

For those of you who have been following me on social networks lately, you’ll know that I’m on a quest to finish my current Work in Progress within fourteen days, something that requires me to practically meditate on the story and write at every spare second. I’ve taken on a now or never attitude.

Some may argue that my subconscious was able to draw the conclusion it did because I’ve been spending so much time with my story lately. And that is probably more true than not because daily writing does free up the creativity.

But in fact, I think I knew exactly where my brain was when I wasn’t paying attention. It was chewing on a bone I’d fed it earlier. I had read this article by The Red Pen of Doom that talks about the importance of curiosity and surprise in our writing. In fact, Guy says that those two things are the most important thing in any writing.

All day long, this little article had been nagging at the back of my head, but I think I’d just forced myself to forget it so I could concentrate on my job.

It was the surprise factor that was missing in the conclusion of my story. And I’ve since seen several ways I can generate more curiosity.

How fitting that the missing puzzle piece, a gift from my muse, was a surprise to even me? Curious, huh?

I know that if I just keep writing, keep showing the willingness to work and have faith in my craft, my muse will reward me by showing where another puzzle piece fits in the grand scheme of things.

How does it happen that your muse visits you?