Insta-muse: How to get a muse when you want it
The end result is a white-hot block out the world muse, when you want it.
Here’s what you need:
A currently grooving writing idea, something you’re bouncy about, excited to get to, can’t wait to write, etc. It doesn’t have to be good: it has to be museful.
A couple triggers (I like at least two, but not more than three). You want these to be things you will not come across by accident. AND you want them to be new to your life. Completely new.
I like to use music, specifically playlists, but if you do this, pick something that doesn’t come up on the radio or elesewhere.
Scents are great. I’ll be listing a bunch soon for trade/give away, so you can try this if you want, or just comment and ask. A strong, evocative scent is best. It doesn’t have to be BPAL by any means, but again, it needs to be something you can control, like an aromatherapy bottle, or a candle you keep in a drawer.
I’ve also used: a special piece of clothing (my luck Red Sox hat), boots, background screen colors and fonts for the WIP, a special sort of tea, a chair, lucky pencil, special notebook.
The important thing is: When you have that special something you do NOTHING but write like a cheerful maniac when you have it. So, when I listen to Ryan Adams, I write. I did this for about a month. Words and words and words. As soon as the muses stop, turn off the trigger. Wash off the BPAL, shut off the music, put away the tea, etc. When they start again, resume.
If Ryan Adams comes up accidently (because I’ve hit the wrong button on iTunes), I automatically begin getting plot ideas and Yoji muses.
If you expose yourself to the trigger outside the writing, you’ll weaken it. So don’t.
So let’s say you’ve been good and you’ve associated with your friendly trigger for a couple three weeks, but today you’re blue and in a funk and the words won’t come. Turn on the trigger, slap on the BPAL, and watch what happens. You may find that the shift is gradual, into a more muse-y place, or quite shockingly distinct tap-tap-tapping at the keys. It depends in part on how quickly you make associations, how pure your trigger was to start with (best if it is something completely and utterly new and unique), how your brain works, and if you’ve been doing this for a while.
I once got caught listening to some Emmylou in a Starbucks by accident and had started writing plot notes on a napkin before I realized what was happening.
I suspect most of my f-list has a few real-life triggers that will take them back to Dark Places. This is the same sort of mechanism, but it’s used for the power of good. Questions?
Here’s what you need:
A currently grooving writing idea, something you’re bouncy about, excited to get to, can’t wait to write, etc. It doesn’t have to be good: it has to be museful.
A couple triggers (I like at least two, but not more than three). You want these to be things you will not come across by accident. AND you want them to be new to your life. Completely new.
I like to use music, specifically playlists, but if you do this, pick something that doesn’t come up on the radio or elesewhere.
Scents are great. I’ll be listing a bunch soon for trade/give away, so you can try this if you want, or just comment and ask. A strong, evocative scent is best. It doesn’t have to be BPAL by any means, but again, it needs to be something you can control, like an aromatherapy bottle, or a candle you keep in a drawer.
I’ve also used: a special piece of clothing (my luck Red Sox hat), boots, background screen colors and fonts for the WIP, a special sort of tea, a chair, lucky pencil, special notebook.
The important thing is: When you have that special something you do NOTHING but write like a cheerful maniac when you have it. So, when I listen to Ryan Adams, I write. I did this for about a month. Words and words and words. As soon as the muses stop, turn off the trigger. Wash off the BPAL, shut off the music, put away the tea, etc. When they start again, resume.
If Ryan Adams comes up accidently (because I’ve hit the wrong button on iTunes), I automatically begin getting plot ideas and Yoji muses.
If you expose yourself to the trigger outside the writing, you’ll weaken it. So don’t.
So let’s say you’ve been good and you’ve associated with your friendly trigger for a couple three weeks, but today you’re blue and in a funk and the words won’t come. Turn on the trigger, slap on the BPAL, and watch what happens. You may find that the shift is gradual, into a more muse-y place, or quite shockingly distinct tap-tap-tapping at the keys. It depends in part on how quickly you make associations, how pure your trigger was to start with (best if it is something completely and utterly new and unique), how your brain works, and if you’ve been doing this for a while.
I once got caught listening to some Emmylou in a Starbucks by accident and had started writing plot notes on a napkin before I realized what was happening.
I suspect most of my f-list has a few real-life triggers that will take them back to Dark Places. This is the same sort of mechanism, but it’s used for the power of good. Questions?