My Muse Can Kick Your Muse's A**
A lot is made of we authors and our "muses."
The whole thing traces back to Greek mythology, poetry and literature. The "muses" are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature,science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths.
Of course the "best" muses in recent representational history are in the Disney movie "Hercules." Damn me if I couldn't get those gals to hang around and sing me to inspiration.
Amidst all the author blabbering and yammering about "my craft" this and "my process" that, we bring up "the muse" a lot. Sometimes as an excuse to sit and stare at a blank screen or yell at a couple of recalcitrant characters. Other times we force ourselves to get the hell off social networks with a "Muse is Calling," tra-lah load of nonsensical crap.
Because honestly, the "muse" is nothing more than that little voice deep in our own imaginations that bring out the stories we spew into the maw of the already overtaxed, oversexed, overstimulated, over-book-boyfriended reading public.
But, it does help sometimes to give The Muse physical form. Since we do use him/her/it an awful lot to force ourselves into either real or imagined bouts of creativity.
As I lurched into my life as "published author" my own little voice of imagination took form....as a tall, handsome, bossy, moody, at times insufferable ... hot...guy. As I live most of life working to further the cause of craft beer (and my own brewery's in particular) his name developed quite naturally into "Hans." And he seemed most obviously to appear wearing....lederhosen and bearing quality German beer.
Well...you know....it is MY imagination after all.
Hans...bless his soul....he has become pretty pushy with his "ideas," and his "story lines," and his annoying "plot concepts." He is especially fond of pushing these things down my throat when I'm TRYING to MARKET and PROMOTE books he's already yanked out of my subconscious. Like right now. If you are a Liz follower you know that I'm working on the upcoming release promotional tsunami for Good Faith. And God help me if Hans (bless him) has poured no less than 3 story lines into my skull before standing back and tapping his toe, impatiently, unhappily, with his lovely full lips pressed into a thin, annoyed line.
Hans...pondering how he will torture me with "new stories" as I attempt to promote "existing ones."
And recently, as I develop (or better yet try to control) my "craft" it is pretty clear to me that Hans is but one half of the Liz Muse. He's the male side (duh). The loud, aggressive, story-pusher, who gets tempered by the inner, hidden English Lit major, the teacher my parents always thought I would be. SHE is something else altogether, I've found. And together, they make me stop in the middle of a busy grocery store aisle, abandon a cartful of badly needed groceries and jump into my car to speed home at ten p.m. to unknot that plot tangle I've been noodling for the last forty eight hours.
Hans likes to play football...and ponder story lines.....
For those of you who've read it, that is exactly how I figured out how to end Paradise Hops.
I'm lucky, of course, that Hans and His Female Counterpart have taken actual physical shape for me as I head into my Giant, In-Your-Face Release Weekend Party and Whatnot for Good Faith Here in Ann Arbor.
Hans gearing up for a long day in his suit trying to get my attention....
I have been informed that They will grace us with Their presences at my party in the Gulo Room of the Wolverine State Brewing Company on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.-ish.
Hans is pretty handy when he's not forcing plots down my throat.
I can't make any promises about Their collective attitudes. I have warned you about how They get...when I'm in full promotion mode vs. full Pay-Attention To Us NOW Liz mode.
But one thing is guaranteed. They are MY Muses, so they will have a great time!
Does your muse take shape? If so, what does he/she look like? I'd love to hear about him/her. But don't try and convince me that Hans is not The Total Shit, 'cause he is.
When Hans is not being annoyed with me over my inability to keep up with his plot bunnies, he models in his underwear. It keeps him busy...
I am pretty fond of this guy...and I'll show you HERself soon as well.
Happy Writing.
Liz
in case you are in the area, I would LOVE to see you at the Tap Room on Friday 11/15 or at Barnes & Noble on 11/16 (4 p.m.) With KUDOS to my very fav cover model, Scott Nova....
The whole thing traces back to Greek mythology, poetry and literature. The "muses" are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature,science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths.
Of course the "best" muses in recent representational history are in the Disney movie "Hercules." Damn me if I couldn't get those gals to hang around and sing me to inspiration.
Amidst all the author blabbering and yammering about "my craft" this and "my process" that, we bring up "the muse" a lot. Sometimes as an excuse to sit and stare at a blank screen or yell at a couple of recalcitrant characters. Other times we force ourselves to get the hell off social networks with a "Muse is Calling," tra-lah load of nonsensical crap.
Because honestly, the "muse" is nothing more than that little voice deep in our own imaginations that bring out the stories we spew into the maw of the already overtaxed, oversexed, overstimulated, over-book-boyfriended reading public.
But, it does help sometimes to give The Muse physical form. Since we do use him/her/it an awful lot to force ourselves into either real or imagined bouts of creativity.
As I lurched into my life as "published author" my own little voice of imagination took form....as a tall, handsome, bossy, moody, at times insufferable ... hot...guy. As I live most of life working to further the cause of craft beer (and my own brewery's in particular) his name developed quite naturally into "Hans." And he seemed most obviously to appear wearing....lederhosen and bearing quality German beer.
Well...you know....it is MY imagination after all.
Hans...bless his soul....he has become pretty pushy with his "ideas," and his "story lines," and his annoying "plot concepts." He is especially fond of pushing these things down my throat when I'm TRYING to MARKET and PROMOTE books he's already yanked out of my subconscious. Like right now. If you are a Liz follower you know that I'm working on the upcoming release promotional tsunami for Good Faith. And God help me if Hans (bless him) has poured no less than 3 story lines into my skull before standing back and tapping his toe, impatiently, unhappily, with his lovely full lips pressed into a thin, annoyed line.
Hans...pondering how he will torture me with "new stories" as I attempt to promote "existing ones."And recently, as I develop (or better yet try to control) my "craft" it is pretty clear to me that Hans is but one half of the Liz Muse. He's the male side (duh). The loud, aggressive, story-pusher, who gets tempered by the inner, hidden English Lit major, the teacher my parents always thought I would be. SHE is something else altogether, I've found. And together, they make me stop in the middle of a busy grocery store aisle, abandon a cartful of badly needed groceries and jump into my car to speed home at ten p.m. to unknot that plot tangle I've been noodling for the last forty eight hours.
Hans likes to play football...and ponder story lines.....For those of you who've read it, that is exactly how I figured out how to end Paradise Hops.
I'm lucky, of course, that Hans and His Female Counterpart have taken actual physical shape for me as I head into my Giant, In-Your-Face Release Weekend Party and Whatnot for Good Faith Here in Ann Arbor.
Hans gearing up for a long day in his suit trying to get my attention....I have been informed that They will grace us with Their presences at my party in the Gulo Room of the Wolverine State Brewing Company on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.-ish.
Hans is pretty handy when he's not forcing plots down my throat.I can't make any promises about Their collective attitudes. I have warned you about how They get...when I'm in full promotion mode vs. full Pay-Attention To Us NOW Liz mode.
But one thing is guaranteed. They are MY Muses, so they will have a great time!
Does your muse take shape? If so, what does he/she look like? I'd love to hear about him/her. But don't try and convince me that Hans is not The Total Shit, 'cause he is.
When Hans is not being annoyed with me over my inability to keep up with his plot bunnies, he models in his underwear. It keeps him busy...I am pretty fond of this guy...and I'll show you HERself soon as well.
Happy Writing.
Liz
in case you are in the area, I would LOVE to see you at the Tap Room on Friday 11/15 or at Barnes & Noble on 11/16 (4 p.m.) With KUDOS to my very fav cover model, Scott Nova....
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