Muse-ical Chairs...

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I guess a lot of  people were interested in the new Section VII mug that jantojones was showing off because the post reached the top 25 on LJ.  That's pretty cool.
One of the things being discussed is the muse power of the mug, something that would be very nice indeed.  If more muse help is needed, perhaps we need a session of some sort, a little muse meditation or helpful hints from those who have overcome the loss of enough words to make a story.
Feel free to comment from any and all perspectives on this topic, it seems to be a concern for several of us.  I'm just finding it difficult to have time and the will to write at the same time.  Right now I think I need a nap.
So, let us know if you have a complaint or a solution. In the meantime...

Artwork Source

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I have plenty of story ideas, but like jantojones I'm suddenly having problems finding the words. There are times I feel like I'm getting a bit repetitive in my stories, and/or the Illya angst I've created in my backstories for him.

I have a Once upon a time story in progress (among a bunch of other longer stories) but it feels like it's plodding along and I just can't find any twists to create excitement or drama for that matter. The story has a decent introspective beginning with some research, getting NS & IK from point A to point B, but getting them to point C which would be the middle of the story has become problematic as it just seems dull to me. I have what I want to happen in the story mapped out in my head but filling in the bits and connecting them just isn't happening.

Unless I have a sudden revelation, I don't think I'll have this story ready by the 8/11 deadline. I've already missed one Short Affair, and looks like I don't have anything for tomorrow either. Where oh where has my muse gone, oh where oh where can she be? Probably off on a beach somewhere soaking up the sun and surf without me, I'm sure. Question is which beach in the world is she visiting. Is she with Illya and or Napoleon? If she is, I'm jealous. lol!

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

My muse has dried up, too, and I'm putting it down to the heatwave that's frying my study - that and the constant stream of distractingly-depressing news about Brexit and Trump. Anger and depression (and heat) are serious killers of creativity.
In search of inspiration for the current Short Affair challenge, I've looked at hundreds of photos, read reams of promising Wikipedia articles - and found out some very interesting facts on the way (though nothing to the purpose) - and ended up deleting pages of writing that was just boring. If I'm bored by what I've written, everyone else will be.
I don't think a mug would help me at this point - what I need just now is a phrase to turn a story on. Sometimes I find one in a book of quotations, or in a thesaurus or a website. I won't necessarily use it, but it sometimes causes a spark of inspiration.
It's a hot night but if it's cooler in the morning and I get up early, who knows, something may happen.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I had another plot idea yesterday, which I've dutifully noted and plotted out. The idea excites me, but so have others which are still waiting for me to get back to them. Whether I actually manage to write this one is anyone's guess.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Interesting how we each create our stories. I can't do plots in advance, or not often. I need a hook to hang it on and then my stories build and invent themselves as I write. I often then have to rearrange it all to give it a plot line.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I have different ways of writing (when I'm able to that is). I plotted this new idea out because I really like it and don't want to forget any of the plot points I've come up with for it. That said, I've plotted out stories before and they've ended up going in an entirely different direction. I blame Napoleon and Illya. They take hold of my story and take it where they need it to go. This happens more than you'd expect :-)

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

They do. I find the same thing. It's part of their attraction as characters, of course.

[hypatia-66.livejournal.com]

Well, it was a bit cooler this morning but I had guests, so I had to finish the story this afternoon (when it was much hotter again). I've posted it on AO3 - with a link from Section VII, of course.