Well, that's what I always thought. Muse is female. But lately, I've read a few stories where authors referred to their muse as being male. Which is why I started this poll.
But The Muse is definitely not a joke when it comes to writing, I say. If the Muse isn't willing, then no matter how hard you try, there won't be a story. I understand that concept as The Muse being one's creativity. Correct me if I'm wrong. Heck, correct me if you think I'm wrong. I'm interested.
Yes, true. It happens to me as well that I actually know what I intend to write, but just don't find the right words. Apart from that I find it difficult to come up with a plot in the first place. I rarely have several plot bunnies hopping around in my head like some other writers seem to do.
I just don't like the expression "muse" very much because I interpret it as some influence from the outside. Instead, it's my own creativity that got stuck, and it has nothing to do with some 'deity'.
There are professional authors who say that you just have to sit down every day and write - even if it is crap. They claim that you just have to keep going. Perhaps they are right, but for me writing stories is a hobby, not a job so that I haven't tried it yet really.
I always pictured my muse as female, which, as a feminist with a smidgen of art knowledge, is somewhat problematic in terms of the "male gaze." Mythologically, muses are female. Of course, historically, artists are male, so by all rights, my muse should be male. I guess my muse is female because she's rawther like me only more often clad in flowy garments a'la Alphonse Mucha (http://www.midnight-muse.com/1amspri.htm). She's a flighty wench, but I love her all the same. The closest thing to a muse that I've ever named would be my bicycle. My college bike was Muriel, and my current bike is Mrs. Danvers (we have a love-hate relationship). I'll work on a name for my muse... thanks for the food for thought!
Ah! Maybe I should go back and click the ticky boxes then. I'm very proud of you for embracing your inner-Gryffindor!
I don't think I'm terribly comfortable labeling my creative intuition. I grew up around a number of artists (of varying media,) and grew to distrust the concept of a Muse. However, I've learned a great many things in my life which keep me from assuming my youthful pronouncements were etched in stone. If you have come to feel your Muse, then I, for one, am delighted for you.
I hope I didn't upset you. I certainly didn't mean to. I don't think there's any 'one' way to come into a creative moment. There are as many variations on the theme as there are of us.
My muse doesn't have a name. Although I've never asked her.
I agree with verdee, btw... I was always under the impression that Muses are always female.
Now, early on when I started my first story I thanked my beta and 'Meredith my Muse"... well, Meredith was a real person, and she helped me tremendously flesh out my stories. So, in this sense, she wasn't a muse... just a good friend.
One of the fanfic forums I frequent has a thread where people post conversations between themselves and their characters, when their characters have decided to rebel or otherwise take on a life of their own. However, for me it usually isn't a particular character that shows up in my head and starts talking to me - it's whole plots that show up and start asserting themselves in my brain. That's why I decided to name my muse, so I could start having a few little dialogs with her.
I wanted to name her Scriveness, but she insisted on changing it to Scrivena because she thought that sounded better. I added the “Malevolent Muse” part, which of course she immediately wanted to change to "Magnificent", but I refused to give in to that change. We've been fighting ever since. :P She has a fondness for bad puns and dreaming up grandiose epics that I have no time to write. *siiiigh*
Right now, I don't even write for fun--just for work...but I've got a muse...and she is very particular about when I write and where I write. It really sucks having a night owl muse when you are on a daytime schedule...She doesn't have a name although, on occasion, she gets referred to as G*# D@#$ B@#$& when she won't cooperate with a deadline and keeps me up all night. But that hasn't happened now in just over a year..(She just stuck her tongue out at me and asked if I ever wanted to finish the paper... cheeky wench she is.)
Heehee. I know the feeling about uncooperative Muse. Thankfully, mine has realised the occasional necessity to type into the computer directly or else I'd never finish anything in time...
SHE will only give hints if I'm not at a computer--bit of info here, a minor detail there...She doesn't care much for pen/paper, now that she has discovered the ease of writing on a computer... Occasionally I can get a page or 2 hand written, but then when it goes into the computer, she adds detail... I'd just prefer for her to allow me to work in the mornings as well as late night. I could get more work finished that way...*growl*
She must be friends with mine, no doubt. I simply do not do mornings and nor does my Muse. No matter how much I try to convince myself/Muse how incredibly productive that could be, seeing that the ONLY quiet time is the first couple of hours of the day. But no, instead I waste away fangirling. *sigh*
I think they must be related...preferring nights, fangirling during the day...mine just prefers scholarly work while yours indulges in creative writing...
Yes, they probably are related. Fangirling during the day, definitely! Mine isn't really the scholarly type, except when it comes to potions... And science in that field is a truly tough cookie in this day and age...
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lady_karelia
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-20 09:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-20 10:04 pm (UTC)But The Muse is definitely not a joke when it comes to writing, I say. If the Muse isn't willing, then no matter how hard you try, there won't be a story. I understand that concept as The Muse being one's creativity. Correct me if I'm wrong. Heck, correct me if you think I'm wrong. I'm interested.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-20 10:43 pm (UTC)Yes, true. It happens to me as well that I actually know what I intend to write, but just don't find the right words. Apart from that I find it difficult to come up with a plot in the first place. I rarely have several plot bunnies hopping around in my head like some other writers seem to do.
I just don't like the expression "muse" very much because I interpret it as some influence from the outside. Instead, it's my own creativity that got stuck, and it has nothing to do with some 'deity'.
There are professional authors who say that you just have to sit down every day and write - even if it is crap. They claim that you just have to keep going. Perhaps they are right, but for me writing stories is a hobby, not a job so that I haven't tried it yet really.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 02:58 pm (UTC)I do find, though, that the more often I write the easier the writing becomes, including getting tickled with plot bonnies.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 12:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:01 pm (UTC)Teehee, a bike named Muriel, eh *giggles*. We used to call our car Bond, but only because the last three digits were 007...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 01:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 01:41 am (UTC)Ticky boxes are meant to be clicked, Bambu. (Says the gal who DID click on the ticky boxes.)
You don't have a muse? I used to think that I didn't, but lately I'm convinced that she's around. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:43 am (UTC)I don't think I'm terribly comfortable labeling my creative intuition. I grew up around a number of artists (of varying media,) and grew to distrust the concept of a Muse. However, I've learned a great many things in my life which keep me from assuming my youthful pronouncements were etched in stone. If you have come to feel your Muse, then I, for one, am delighted for you.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:56 am (UTC)Looking back, I sincerely hope that you didn't take offense to my comment. I truly meant nothing negative. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 04:11 am (UTC)I hope I didn't upset you. I certainly didn't mean to. I don't think there's any 'one' way to come into a creative moment. There are as many variations on the theme as there are of us.
::smiles at you::
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:33 pm (UTC)::smiles at you::
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 01:44 am (UTC)I agree with
Now, early on when I started my first story I thanked my beta and 'Meredith my Muse"... well, Meredith was a real person, and she helped me tremendously flesh out my stories. So, in this sense, she wasn't a muse... just a good friend.
But now, I want my muse to have a name, dangit!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:04 pm (UTC)Go on then, name it, LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 01:49 am (UTC)I wanted to name her Scriveness, but she insisted on changing it to Scrivena because she thought that sounded better. I added the “Malevolent Muse” part, which of course she immediately wanted to change to "Magnificent", but I refused to give in to that change. We've been fighting ever since. :P She has a fondness for bad puns and dreaming up grandiose epics that I have no time to write. *siiiigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:07 pm (UTC)Oh yes, Scrivena must have been plotting with Edwina because for some reason, I cannot manage to write anything short. *sigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 05:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-21 03:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-22 07:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-22 08:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-22 08:53 pm (UTC)Mine isn't really the scholarly type, except when it comes to potions... And science in that field is a truly tough cookie in this day and age...