Welcome Guest Blogger: Abbey MacInnis

Muse Versus Inspiration: What’s Your Motivation To Write?

Okay, I know, not a very inspiring title for this post. *g* But honestly, to me, there is a difference between finding inspiration to write, and waiting for your Muse to come along and inspire you. I personally love finding inspiration. It’s everywhere. You just have to look and listen to your environment.

The Muses originated in Greek mythology. There were nine water nymphs in all, fathered by the king of the Gods, Zeus. They served as a way to inspire those with artistic tendencies. Today, artists who believe in the idea of the Muse, use an object or person to inspire them. I’ve never had a Muse before – something coming along and saying “Hi Abbey, let me be your source for inspiration.” Lol Maybe it’s not like that, but I’m curious. What’s your Muse if you have one? Share it with me.

I’ve had some writers ask me if I believe in the idea of the Muse. My answer has always been, and will always be...no. This is not a criticism of those who do believe in their Muse inspiring them. If you’re writing and happy with what you’re doing, that’s awesome! From my experience, however, some writers I’ve known in the past rely on their Muse to inspire them, rather than finding the inspiration and the drive to write on their own. They use the excuse of not having their Muse around as a method for procrastination for not writing. They keep waiting for their Muse to show up. They’re disappointed when she doesn’t come around. Hence more time passes without getting words on the page, and losing out on all the opportunities for finding new ideas.

Most writers I know don’t rely on a Muse. They’ve found she’s unreliable. They’ve learned to only rely on themselves to go and search for inspiration, rather than waiting for their Muse to hand it to them. I have to write. It isn’t I think I have to. I need to. I cant’ wait around for my Muse. There are dozens of stories, slivers of scenes, and character profiles stashed away in my head. I get new ones all the time. I couldn’t imagine using one object or person as my main track for inspiration.

Instead, I prefer to seek out inspiration in the world around me. There’s a plethora of it to be found. You just have to be open enough to recognizing it. There are endless opportunities for ideas. From hearing something on the news, a song on the radio, to overhearing a conversation you’re not supposed to. From reading an article in the newspaper that might trigger an idea, surfing the internet, to smelling fresh-cut grass on a warm autumn day. Hearing a child’s playful laughter, watching the seasons change, and eating your favorite snack that invokes memories of happy or sad times. Snapshots of scenes, characters, or stories can hit you when you least expect it.

For instance, for my latest release, Delighting Miss Daisy a Wayback Texas story, I had the idea that my heroine, Daisy could own her own bakery after grabbing a chocolate chip cookie. Lol... I don’t know if there’s something in chocolate, but I felt much better after eating the cookie – and I thought that my heroine was the kind of woman who loves making people feel good inside. She loves bringing people together and her baking does just that. She’s gone through some hard times, but expressing herself through cooking makes her feel completed. I don’t actually say that, but you hopefully get the idea from how I tell her story. *g*

Weird, huh? *g* There’s a lot more to Daisy and her hero, Sam, which I won’t go into. You’ll have to read the book to see how things turn out for them. *g*

So, tell me, where do you get your ideas? If you have a Muse, what or who is it? To me, inspiration and motivation are closely linked. What motivates you to write? How do you get through those days when it seems to take you eons to just write a single page? Are you a glutton for punishment like me, insisting on just plowing through the tough times until you’re writing full speed ahead again? Do you have those moments where it’s your characters who inspire you? Does the light bulb flash in your mind showing you a piece of their past that you knew was the missing element in your story?

Whatever you do, I hope it keeps you writing, happy and fulfilled.

Bio: Abbey has always been a sucker for a good love story. She’s been a reader for nearly all of her life. When she first decided to make an attempt at writing down the stories and characters vying for her attention, she had no idea how quickly she would fall in love with the writing process. It’s been a while since then, but since that day, she’s discovered what she’s meant to do – creating heartwarming and passionate romance, and characters to fall in love with. She lives in south east Michigan with her family and black Lab, who, along with friends, give her all the love and support in the world, and sometimes, inspiration with their adventures.

Visit her at: www.abbeymacinnis.com

Friend her at My Space

Bebo

Join her announcement-only Yahoo group

Check out her Manic Readers page

Or her Polka Dot banner page

Delighting Miss Daisy, a Wayback Texas story now available from The Wild Rose Press

Blurb

When Sam Howard, CEO of Sam’s Smooth Sliding Ale, arrives in Wayback to advertise his product for the rodeo, bakery entrepreneur Daisy Porter goes on a crusade to tear down every poster in town. Can Daisy look past the businessman to the compassionate man underneath, or has the lock to her heart finally rusted shut? Sam is a patient man, who doesn’t force his way through the walls she’s placed up to guard her heart. With the threat of someone from her past shadowing her, can Daisy reclaim her self-confidence and strength to find happiness with Sam?


Click here to purchase the book

Delighting Miss Daisy trailer