Juicing the Muse

Not I, actually, because I’m at Mom’s, but Mom is home. But breaking away from my routine has opened me up to creativity, much to my surprise. I’ve been working on my short story for the FORCE OF HABIT promotion, stockpiling Hot Flashes for 2011, and am back into jewelry-making, at least insofar as I’m lining up beads and fillers to make Mom a watchband.

You never know what is going to stop your writing in its tracks and what is going to give it the juice. It’s kind of exciting, really.

Maybe part of it was all the new people I saw and talked to, or all the new procedures I observed. Maybe part of it was all the familiar faces that reminded me of other times and other people–nurses who cared for my Grandfather when he was in the hospital, friends from social or community service groups we’re in who volunteer at the hospital, doctors we know from other illnesses or procedures.

I find connections very creatively stimulating. The stories I most enjoy writing start out when two or more ideas rub up against one another and connections form. Network, web, cluster, bubble diagram, whatever you call that thing where you start out with random things and connect them in various ways–that thing always makes me want to flap my hands and do a muppet dance.

But, anyway, Mom is home and I’m revved up. Stand back, children, and don’t try this at home!

WRITING PROMPT: Go somewhere you don’t usually go and make a connection with it. Think about a familiar place it reminds you of and why. Think of someone you know who has been there or would love to be there. Talk to someone and find a connection with him/her (like the same sport team, loved the same subject, have the same hobby). Use that connection to start a story outline or germ or idea cluster.

MA

About

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but now live in the woods in southern Indiana. Though I only write fiction, I love to read non-fiction. The more I learn about this world, the more fantastic I see it is.

You may also like...

One thought on “Juicing the Muse

  1. Leslie R. Lee

    October 16, 2010 at 12:13am

    Sounds like you’re buzzed. Good news about your mom. Hoping your creativity takes you to wild places.

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply
  2. Enid Wilson

    October 16, 2010 at 3:24am

    I read a good book about ageing today and I feel quite inspired, to write.

    My Darcy Mutates

    Permalink  ⋅ Reply

Leave a Reply, If You Ple-az

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.