By Michele Spector
Chaos dares courage,
Through intense struggle,
Passionately tames,
Receives its oracle,
Risks madness itself,
Honor bound it seems,
For love of the gift,
To carry these dreams.
It takes courage to dare to be creative. We, who have the gift, will live with anxiety, not knowing, just to have it. But I always remember what my mentor told me, “There’s no such thing as genius, only hard work!” Sometimes it comes easily, willingly, sometimes only after struggle. I have to put my feet on the road to coax it other times.
How do you coax your muse?
.
Art is My Religion 
Moving words.
For me:
Being observant and critical of all that the senses reveal.
Staying up late and alone seems to open doors (strangely the TV doesn’t have to be turned off).
Comment by Jan Freeman — March 7, 2010 @ 11:09 am |
Thank you for your comments! Yes, we have to train ourselves how to notice when it happens.
Comment by Michele Spector — March 7, 2010 @ 4:38 pm |
OK, try this for oddball. turn on the tv with the sound off. turn on music. whatever kind you like, I usually go for instrumentals so i don’t end up with someone else’s lyrics in my stream. Steve Vai is kickass for that, so is Bruce Cockburn’s “Speechless” but whatever gets you off will do. I turn all the lights off, and will sometimes drag another tv in back of me to run a video game with the sound off. the flashing colors from both sets plus the glow of the comp stream which makes for some cool lighting. I like the images from the tv (doesn’t matter what station, they are all the same with the sound off) combined with the instrumental music and various colors of lighting that will randomly change in color and intensity. if you want to increase the effect, put mirrors around the room so you can catch light out of hte corner of your eye. It all combines to produce some cool effects if you can still write with all that stimulus. There’s other tricks I have found as well but most aren’t really fit for public consumption. At the end of the day, whatever works works, who are we to question it? Cool poem, and I dig how you leave more info in the prose below the poem. great idea.
Comment by caribbeanfool — March 7, 2010 @ 1:34 pm |
Thanks for your comments! I can see you’ve got your mode of operation down to a science. Great. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Comment by Michele Spector — March 7, 2010 @ 4:40 pm |
For poetry–I like to go outside, walk the dogs, open my senses.
For fiction–reread what I’ve written the previous day and just keep on going.
Ideas come to me in dreams sometimes. I awakened with the basic story line for the novel I’m working on now, dragged myself out of bed (3 AM) and jotted it down.
Enjoy the process. Victoria
Comment by liv2write2day — March 8, 2010 @ 9:40 pm |
Thank you for sharing your ideas! Yes, sometimes I wake up with an answer to what I was trying to figure out
I am also writing fiction. I have to try to breathe new life into my characters. I have been living with them for the past 3 years. I will have to revisit your site and see how you do it. Thanks!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 8, 2010 @ 11:05 pm |
think and write whenever it is ready…
Happy Tuesday!
Comment by Jingle — March 9, 2010 @ 12:11 am |
Thanks Jingle!!!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 9, 2010 @ 1:05 am |
a golden cup award.
Comment by Jingle — March 9, 2010 @ 12:11 am |
Thank you for visiting my blog, creativity is a process that one will take to get to know what is hidden bwhind the veils. It is out attempts to touch our soul and brings her beauty to life. I did enjoy my walk in your blog and will come back later when I have more time. Blessing Serena
Comment by Serena Devi — March 9, 2010 @ 1:41 pm |
Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 9, 2010 @ 2:35 pm |
Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 9, 2010 @ 2:35 pm |
Love this poem and its message. Thanks, adam
Comment by dustus — March 9, 2010 @ 2:32 pm |
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 9, 2010 @ 2:38 pm |
some times is have to hunt for her…usually a good walk in the woods does wonder for me…also i jot down little things along the way to tease her with…
Comment by brian miller — March 10, 2010 @ 11:39 pm |
Yes, a walk works wonders to joggle it. And it’s spring, a little bit warmers, so what’s my excuse! lol Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Comment by Michele Spector — March 11, 2010 @ 3:57 am |
my muse has a speech impediment.
it never shuts up. lol
Comment by kseverny — March 11, 2010 @ 12:26 am |
Love it! Thanks for your comments.
Comment by Michele Spector — March 11, 2010 @ 3:58 am |
kserverny, you are too funny!! i wish i had that problem, i have to slowly coax mine out. i often have to sit hrs before i start to feel in the zone with my writing or my painting. so lucky lucky you!
Comment by dreamalittledesigns — March 11, 2010 @ 1:49 pm |
Yes, too funny! Thanks for your comments Sherry!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 11, 2010 @ 3:16 pm |
i use this blog as a way to get my words out. the luv & friendships i’ve gained here, help me with each entry. to this day i do not read my words aloud. i can’t stand to hear them by anyone else either. i’m learning and i’m growing each day. by reading your works and others here, helps me get it all out!
~IS
Comment by I.S. — March 11, 2010 @ 10:14 pm |
Funny that you should say that because I really like what you say on your blog. I guess as we read each other’s blogs we find out more about ourselves really. It’s a daily thing this journey we’re all on!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 13, 2010 @ 6:18 am |
Happy Friday!
pick one of those,
enjoy!
Comment by Ji — March 12, 2010 @ 3:20 pm |
Happy Sunday!
how is school going?
good luck on your studies!
Comment by Ji — March 14, 2010 @ 2:28 am |
how do I coax my muse? Lots of bribery, sweets and coffee.
But its never easy heheheh
http://e6n1.blogspot.com/
Comment by e6n1 — March 14, 2010 @ 9:23 pm |
Whatever it takes! lol Thanks for your comments!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 14, 2010 @ 11:30 pm |
I just write down what I feel at the moment it hits me.. I usually write when I’m gloomy 😦
Comment by nanno1982 — March 16, 2010 @ 11:41 am |
It’s funny how many people do this. Sometimes that’s the best time to right! Thanks for your comments.
Comment by Michele Spector — March 19, 2010 @ 3:20 am |
By reading a lot and forcing myself to write. no matter what.
Comment by She Writes — March 17, 2010 @ 4:01 am |
Great idea! I do that too. By reading something by a favorite author, it gives the creative process a little kick start. Then walah! Soon I am writing something. Thanks for commenting!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 19, 2010 @ 3:22 am |
“… for love of the gift” I think many writers have some version of this within, I have to write. It is compelling, something I can only ignore by denying part of what (and who) I am. As for coaxing my Muse, I honestly think sometimes it is simply getting out of my own way and letting whatever is trying to be heard … be heard and I am lucky enough to sometimes pay attention and get something down on paper before the mist is burnt away in the warming sun of reality. But, I also fully believe in actively participating too — write, read, and write some more! Love the interaction on this post, wish more like this would take place among poets/writers online!
Comment by purple — March 25, 2010 @ 12:00 am |
Thank you for visiting. Yes, I agree, you have to read besides writing. Somethings I read spur me on to write. I can also identify with getting in your own way. I have to pretend I’m not there and let the mood take over for the words to flow. Thanks for your comments!
Comment by Michele Spector — March 25, 2010 @ 2:31 am |
Hi Michele, thanks for your kind comment and your interesting poem. As someone else already said above, I like the way you use the poem as a jumping off point for discussion on its theme. As for my muse? She’s a disciplinarian for sure. She wears a gown and mortar board and frequently whacks me on the knuckles with a ruler – “Not good enough, edit again!”
Comment by mudwords — April 29, 2010 @ 11:58 am |
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s amazing all the different muses everyone has. Some are kinder than others. LOL But once we have the creative bug, there is no letting up. Nor would we have it any other way. Thanks for visiting!
Comment by Michele Spector — April 29, 2010 @ 3:29 pm |