Monday, November 1, 2010

That Silly Muse

Why does inspiration strike the way it does?

I was in the shower Saturday, trying to get ready as fast as possible because I was due to work the Princess Both at our school's annual Fall Festival, and voila! I had this amazing idea for how to work a requested revision into BNN...

And then when I made that change, naturally, I would have to return to an earlier scene (which page was that on?) to work in how the change would be foreshadowed.

Oh, yes, and then there's this later scene that won't make sense now if I don't make this note...

And oh my goodness! This change is so cool, it could actually become something of a "lesson" the MC learns by novel's end! Must make note to think about whether or not that will work...

Thirty minutes later I'm almost late for the princesses!

Not only that, we almost missed the entire festival. JRM is annoyed--will you ever get away from that laptop? Babies are cranky--Mommy! It's time to go!!!

sigh.

I'm thinking of my NaNo bleeps today (link). I'm not participating because for me it's ReviseMo, but I would so be there otherwise. The idea of writing every day with goals and partners sounds so motivating.

And that silly muse. Am I the only one who gets inspiration at the darndest time? (Am I the only one who feels guilty for having her head in a cloud the entire time I'm working on a MS or a revision?)

Good luck, Nanners! Til Thursday~

29 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I'm so happy you had a breakthrough! I told you. Keep going with it. It will be amazing, I'm sure. <3

PK HREZO said...

LOL! I've actually pulled the minivan over to write out new scenes, letting time slip away from me when I should've been somewhere else... but heck! We're writers! We got to get the gettin' while the gettin's good!

Bet you made lovely princess!

Old Kitty said...

When inspiration strikes you just gotta act on it or else you'll lose it!! So so so true!! But the timing is never right!!

Awwww, I hpe your beautiful princesses understood eventually!

Take care
x

Stina said...

I have sticky notes all over the place from my moments of inspiration while writing or editing.

I'm not doing NaNoWriMo, but I am participating in NaNoWraMo (finish project or add another 50,000 words). :D

I also saw on for NaNoRevMo. (plus one for querying and one for cleaning the house).

nick said...

That's some impressive writing credits. Nice.
Thanks for your comments, too :)

Matthew MacNish said...

Sounds like a great idea! I won't be doing NaNo either, it's ReviseMo for me too.

Holly Hill said...

The muse always strikes at the most inconvenient time. I use my voice recorder on my cell phone liberally.

I'm having ReviseMo too! Good luck to you!

DEZMOND said...

ah, you must obey your muse even if she's naughty sometimes, otherwise she might leave you and find a more cooperative slave for her :)))

Unknown said...

I carry a big fatty notebook in my purse for my ideas. Hooray for breakthroughs!

Natasha said...

All the best for your version of NaNoWriMo.

And you are not the only one who has the muse strike at strange times- she is a demanding lady, who comes only when she is not expected/ wanted.

Vicki Rocho said...

The further away I am from computer or pen and paper, the greater the idea!

I think Muses are sadistic wenches, I really do.

Morgan said...

I find that the shower is the BEST place for ideas, not just about writing, but even about life and relationships. I always have a clear head when I get out. Perhaps we should market a waterproof shower computer? Good luck with revisions!

Lydia Kang said...

Hooray on figuring out a problem with your revision! Isn't that the best feeling?

RosieC said...

How are the revisions going? I love when inspiration strikes at the darndest times (and, no, when inspiration strikes I can't have a coherent conversation with anyone beyond my new characters/revised characters for days). I'm sure the princesses were plenty princessy. Besides, it's not that you missed anything. You were fashionably late as a good princess should be :)

Good luck!

Dawn Ius said...

Typically my muse strikes at the most inopportune time, almost always when I am caught (tsk tsk) without my pen and paper. I have many scribbled-on napkins in my ideas files...

Angie said...

I love when that sort of thing happens, and I get all excited to start making changes. It can be inconvenient at times though. Life. Sigh.

LTM said...

@Sher-Thanks, honey! I hope so. This is INCREDIBLY painstaking... CPs on speed-dial~ :D

@PK--you are very safe. Me = whoops! There went another pedestrian! :D I was the Royal Manicurist... ;p

@OK--it's true. And also true. :D yes, the princesses were happy once the nail painting began. xoxo

@Stina--sticky notes. Brill! Lydia has NaNoRevMo. I need to add a linkey there... Good luck! :o)

@Matt--you + me = revision city! :D

@Holly-hmm... must learn to use cell phone better... :D

@Dez--I've been a very obedient slave. Just look at my house. It's a wreck! :D lol~

@Anne--I thought that was a little fatty! :D lol--that doesn't read right. yay!

@Rayna--thank you, twinsie. yes, she is VERY demanding. But I guess it's better than being silent, yes? :o) I feel like I'm talking to myself... ;p

@MissV--It's like one of those formulas or something... :D

@Morgan-It's true! I actually think I read somewhere it's the relaxation thing or something. Must get Hart on the waterproof computer since she writes in the tub~ ;p

@Lydia-YES! And must linkey to your ReviseMo post. We have our own little gang~

@Rosie--Thanks, and not sure, but I hope they're going well! I was VERY fashionable... :D

@Dawn--Whatever works, yes? A friend wrote me a letter once on a barf bag... :D

@Angie--TOO TRUE! But it is exciting. And a little nerve-wracking... ;p

Unknown said...

Why does inspiration so often hit us in the shower?? It's exciting to hear your project revisions are going so well. Write on, sistah!!

Carolyn Abiad said...

Great news! One should always have some demanding princesses around to prompt the muse!

Mine? In the shower, JUST before I fall asleep, anytime I can't find a pen...yes, my muse is always popping up at inopportune moments too. I think she's more of a wood nymph, actually. ;)

Melissa said...

Ideas snowball like crazy things... it makes revising more stressful than writing! Have fun revising!

Mason Canyon said...

Usually when I have a moment of inspiration, I have no way to write the thought down and then it's gone. Good with with your work.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

My friend Adam has a funny Muse post today as well.

And I know when you get on a roll and the children complain...yeah, that's kinda my life. :)

Unknown said...

I love to be inspired and find others and their inspiration. I have inspiration several times each day, it's when I have time to actually use it that I am happy :)

Unknown said...

I know what it's like to get these creative moments and to have distractions are so annoying. I'm doing NaNo because I want to write a story that's been lurking in my mind but I really should be doing edits.

CD

Creepy Query Girl said...

congrats on your breakgthrough! I totally hear you with NaNo. I might attempt it someday. But this is def. not the time:)

Hart Johnson said...

Well if there was a shower involved, you KNOW my opinion on what opened the floodgates! Great to have a strand work though though--I love that! And yes, it's a pain, but it all makes for a better book, yes?

My inconvenient ideas come when I'm power walking and have no notebook or pen... I try my best to keep working through the idea so I won't forget... sometimes it even works...

Talli Roland said...

I love it when the muse strikes, no matter where it is! For me, it's usually right before sleeping. Then, I stay up all night worrying I won't remember.

Patti Struble said...

Showering, vacuuming & sitting in the car. Then, towel, cord, or wheel in the way, I dash for the pen & paper before I lose the moment.
Glad to hear you're breaking the barriers.
Patti

RaShelle Workman said...

Leigh - I always get my BEST ideas in the shower! LOL It's the only place I'm safe. The SAFE ZONE. =D