Tall Drink of Nerd: The Sweet Spot
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a blogumn by Amy Robinson
Where do you find your muse? My muse is waiting in the car. She rides shotgun and spritzes magical fairy dust at me every few miles. If I could write and drive at the same time, I would have been as prolific as Stephen King by now. I think my muse likes the car because I’m not distracted in there by work, TV or chores (just by that whole driving thing). It’s either that, or my muse has a cruel sense of humor and takes pleasure in filling my head with ideas that I can’t write down while my hands rest at 10 and 2. Most likely the latter. Did I mention that the muse doesn’t visit the car when I am the passenger? Nope, that would be too easy.
When, and if, she decides to come into the house, she steers clear of my home office. Do you have a space set aside just for being creative? Just for being crafty? Just to clear your head? I am lucky enough to have a room just for creating. Does your creative space welcome the muse? I think mine does, it’s painted a light lilac, has candles and soft music (and a litter box, which has been an occasional source of odd inspiration.) But when I sit at my new desk, all the brilliant ideas I’d had only two minutes earlier, have left me. Somehow, those clever ideas have thrown a rope ladder out of my ear and have scrambled down to freedom, leaving my skull good only for widening hats and holding down my neck.
My muse is finicky, but I, too, can be sneaky. I know of the sweet spot in the house and if I jump at just the right opportunity, she sits with me awhile. If I put in a load of laundry, bring a glass of water, turn my iTunes to Peter Gabriel’s Passion, and manage to get all the cats gathered onto the guest room bed with me, then she’ll turn up for a visit. She’s not as energetic as when she’s barreling down the freeway, but she does whisper a little.
So help me out, where do you hear your muse? Does she pop into the shower with you or take over your imagination during a 4-hour PowerPoint presentation about next year’s projections? How can I get my muse out of the car without driving through the wall of my home office?
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I used to ride a motorcycle and any time I was on it for more than fifteen minutes I would be overwhelmed with ideas. I think it's the slight hypnotic state that driving puts you in.
I used to ride a motorcycle and any time I was on it for more than fifteen minutes I would be overwhelmed with ideas. I think it's the slight hypnotic state that driving puts you in.
showers and cars are great places for me, and I'm surprised i don't exercise more, b/c i always get great ideas on the treadmill and elliptical — to the point that i would recommend exercise as a great unblocker. on other related notes, i know i picked the pic, but i can't decide if the muse statue is awesome or terrifying…
showers and cars are great places for me, and I'm surprised i don't exercise more, b/c i always get great ideas on the treadmill and elliptical — to the point that i would recommend exercise as a great unblocker. on other related notes, i know i picked the pic, but i can't decide if the muse statue is awesome or terrifying…
also, i have a digital tape recorder in my car. i never actually play back what i say into it, but for whatever reason, i always remember the idea as long as i say it aloud intom my recorder. go figure.
also, i have a digital tape recorder in my car. i never actually play back what i say into it, but for whatever reason, i always remember the idea as long as i say it aloud intom my recorder. go figure.
That muse looks like she's got a delicious little secret and she's not sharing it.
That muse looks like she's got a delicious little secret and she's not sharing it.
Good read, thanks for the info
Good read, thanks for the info