The Muse is an elusive creature, unpredictable at every turn. My own spirited sprite is testament to this fact. She’s been MIA all during the holidays, and her absence has extended throughout this entire month. I would expect nothing less from her. I’m convinced her adventures have encompassed all her time, too much so to indulge me. As we reach the end of the first month of this year, she has, however, decided to grace us with a short visit. Miracle of miracles.
Here’s what she has to say:
Well, well. Here we are again. Another year has come and gone. A new one has just begun, so I thought I’d pop in for a short to touch base. Fill you in on some of my marvelous adventures. Show off a few of the sparkly baubles and bangles I’ve acquired. You like? My favorite is this monster of a diamond bestowed upon me by the king of some tiny little country I can’t pronounce. Oh, he’s so handsome. And rich. He treats me like royalty. But enough about me.
Are you excited for the new year? Who knows what’s in store? Let’s hope it’s filled with fun and excitement, adventure and romance, and all that other good stuff. At least that’s what I have planned. I really can’t say it’s the case for most of you writers though. You’re much too busy trying to steer the course of events on your own. I think it’s your way of making up for all the unproductive time and energy you spent the previous year.
And then, there’s the list you create. The one that comes with all the promises you make to yourself. The ones you aren’t going to keep. You know what I’m talking about. Right?
You got it. It’s that nasty ‘R’ word. What were some of those things you listed? Oh yeah. You’re going to join a fitness center, exercise every day, eat only healthy foods, give up chocolate and caffeine (heaven forbid), get organized, clear the clutter, stop procrastinating, write a thousand words a day, pull out that old manuscript, get down to serious business, and do some real editing.
Well, you get the picture. Talk about a totally useless waste of time. Who needs goals anyway? As far as I’m concerned, that terrible ‘R’ word, which shall remain unspoken, should be erased from the human language. How many of you actually created a note of those worthless things? Come on now. You know who you are. Let’s see a show of hands. No judgement here.
In any case, I don’t understand why you’d bother. Not me. Go with the flow, I say. Embrace spontaneity. Let life carry you off to exotic, faraway lands. What? Oh, yeah. You rely on me for that because you’re the writer, and I’m The Muse. I’m the one you hold accountable for your lack of writing inspiration, your prolonged writer’s block. That’s okay. Blame it on the poor fickle, unreliable Muse. Isn’t that what you do?
No matter. I’m so misunderstood, and so unappreciated. But I have broad shoulders. Whoa! Where’d you get that mirror? The funhouse? My shoulders aren’t really that broad, are they? You do realize I was only speaking figuratively. That king I mentioned happens to like my shoulders, and my hips, and . . . heheheh. Well, I’ll just leave that to your vivid imagination.
Oh, my! Where has the time gone? It does fly by, doesn’t it? I really must be off. There’s an uber-rich oil baron waiting for me on his yacht in the Mediterranean. He’s even richer than the king. And more handsome. I think he has something special planned for me. How lucky can a Muse get?
Well, TTFN. Places to go. People to see. Parties to attend.
I’ll leave you with your unfinished writing projects. Boooooring. But I’ll be back. And when I do, maybe you’ll have some little accomplishment to share. I certainly will have tons of enthralling tales to tell. Until then, here’s wishing you an a-Musing writing year!
And off she goes.
Although I never expect her to stay too long, I stay hopeful that she will return sooner than later. I don’t hold my breath. But until she decides to make another entrance, I will remain committed to the craft of writing. I certainly can’t let her have more stories to tell than I do.
