Amusements

[larryhammer]

In general, I don't believe in external Muses. "In general," because because my pagan tendencies vary with the wind's direction -- or perhaps it's by bathetometric pressure. I do profess to worry the Muses will someday wreck retribution for my ribald account of their contest with the Pierides (a poem still unsold, darn it -- anyone want to publish 150 lines of Ovid as acted out by cheerleaders?) but this is mostly joking.

But their internal existence, oh yes indeed. Muse is the perfect label for a mental state: when a prepared creative mind, seeded with knowledge and sown with craft, creates something from nothing -- as if what comes out is breathed through one by some other entity. Not all creativity comes that way -- sometimes it's mechanical crafting, or slogging through sloughs of apathy. But the white-hot inspiration -- when it flows, when you're in the zone, when it's you and your creation and oh yeah somewhere around here there may be a real life but never mind that -- there's no feeling like it, and no easy description except by metaphor, so why not symbol it already?

Until recently, my Muse went unnamed. Not that I know her name now, but following beth_bernobich and ogre_san, I've started calling her Fred. It's more concrete, if nothing else. Fred, like most Muses, is a capricious elf, but she's fun company when she drops in.

All this longwindedness, by way of preface to a poll. O ye who create, be ye writers, artists, musicians, or flower arrangers manqué -- what is your existential take on Muses?

---L.

Comments

[ogre-san.livejournal.com]

Actually, "Fred" can be blamed on Damon Knight.

[azang.livejournal.com]

Maybe people name a external muse in order to thwart their inner critic?

[azang.livejournal.com]

And...Comic was put into the mail today :)

[azang.livejournal.com]

One more thing...I'm not a frustrated floral designer, I'm an actual, honest-to-goodness professional floral designer. Or, floral artist, as we sometimes prefer to be called. Although, I think I prefer "designer".

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I think of it as more Zen -- when you're very lucky and the stars are just right, the work writes itself through you.

The rest of the time you have to set fingers to keyboard and struggle.

[larryhammer]

Regardless, I still got her name from you.

---L.

[larryhammer]

Yes, but are you be-Mused when you design?

---L.

[larryhammer]

Except, the more prepared I am, the more often the luck is there. Which come to think of it, is much like Zen -- like all spritual disciplines, the more you prepare yourself in the little things, the more you can touch the spirit.

---L.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's been my experience, too.

[azang.livejournal.com]

Nope...more a-mused!

But, I know the muse. I just don't call it a "muse".

May the muse be with you.

[junoxxiv.livejournal.com]

My muse is more like a prissy, sadistic Santa Claus, dropping in every so often, expecting milk and cookies, leaving the crumbs and a few driblets in the glass for me to clean up. If I've been good, she might leave a prezzie. More likely, a lump of coal.
In Ancient Rome (oh gawd, there she goes again!) one's "creative spirit" was known as the genius for males or iuno for females. I am not sure if the Romans would agree with "iuno" pulling double duty as a muse, as all nine were accounted for with names of their own, and Juno was already pretty booked as well, but seeing as the Classical Romans are all dead, perhaps I shall call my muse Eugenia (ay-oo-gay-nee-ah), very loosely "true spirit of creation." "Well-bred" to those with less imagination. A lovely name in concept, but kind of stuffy sounding. I think it suits her as I find her to be a bit of a tight wad with the inspiration, and somewhat of a sourpuss. (Gosh, I hope she doesn't read this!) I don't know where she is tonight, but it's not here with me, that's for sure.

[lilrivkah.livejournal.com]

I have several muses, all with names. :) But I have several Devils of the Resistance Task Force, too. I haven't named them because they're kinda scary . . . except the little one with the huge mouth lined with teeth. Creepy in a cute sort of way. :D

I can't give my Muses names, though. Something tells me if I did, they'd leave.

[lilrivkah.livejournal.com]

Btw . . . I'm dead serious. Imagination provides it's own muse.

[janni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's always seemed a bit presumptuous to name my muse--or to admit I see her standing there, watching me, at all.

It's not that she's shy, exactly--but she does like to imagine she's not been seen.

[dbborroughs.livejournal.com]

does your wife know you're two timing her with a muse named fred?

Is this considered an alternate creative life style?

[larryhammer]

My wife does know about Fred, and approves of all but the name.

---L.

[larryhammer]

I was more like that until I wrote the cheerleader thing, and I realized mine at least is a little more relaxed about such things. I don't admit to seeing her, though.

---L.

[larryhammer]

I can't give my Muses names, though. Something tells me if I did, they'd leave.

I can respect that.

---L.

[larryhammer]

Eugenia is a good name for a Muse, or even a muse. Even a demanding one.

---L.

[dbborroughs.livejournal.com]

think fred is talking to the missus?

even non-writers have muses or muse friendly qualities

[palomapus.livejournal.com]

I have the good or bad fortune to experience a carnival of muses, many of which leave the muse droppings on my head as part of a fly-by. It works well for me since I seem to be a diletante.

[larryhammer]

BTW, package arrived. Thanks!

---L.

Unfair!

[larryhammer]

Now see, people look at me oddly for what I say, and then people mention things like "muse droppings" and no one bats an eye.

How does one recognize muse spoor anyway? And what's the technical name, anyway?

---L.

[azang.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks for letting me know.
That was the comic you wanted, right?

[janni.livejournal.com]

"Fred" is what one renames "My Computer," not what one names a muse.

[larryhammer]

Yup!

[larryhammer]

Yes, but are you talking to your computer?

---L.

[janni.livejournal.com]

Sometimes.

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

a prepared creative mind, seeded with knowledge and sown with craft

I like that phrasing. I haven't named my Muse or Goddess although I definitely have felt her presence. As you may have read in a recent post of mine, I've also lived through a time when she was smothered under psychoactive chemicals, and I hope *never* to experience that kind of "bereftness" again! On the whole, she and I are partners: I'm her hands, she's my heart, and I'm grateful for the relationship.

[larryhammer]

I'm not sure I feel partnership with Fred. She's a bit capricious.

---L.

Re: Unfair!

[palomapus.livejournal.com]

because you are so charming and bright that odd phrases seem out of place on your lips. In my case, the absence of odd phrases makes people look at me oddly.

integrated muses....

[desertmorn.livejournal.com]

...Just one more name I can throw at my multiple personalities. If I'm nice -- they let me stay out for more than a day or two!

Re: integrated muses....

[larryhammer]

I thought all writers lived with voices in their heads? And they don't automatically locked away just because of it -- heck, some get paid for it.

---L.