Quote:
Originally Posted by chicki
I'm with Nora Roberts on this one. She said:
"If you need to believe in the muse, let's say, fine and dandy. Whatever works for you. But don't tell me you can't work today because the muse has left you. Go track down that fickle slut, drag her back, chain her to your keyboard and get to work!"
and
"I don't believe in waiting for inspiration. It's my job to sit down and figure out what to write. I think if you wait for "the muse" you may wait a very long time."
(As of Feb. 2010, Nora has published 190 full-length novels.)
Source: http://www.noraroberts.com/aboutnora/funfacts.html
Chicki |
chicki -
Interesting perspective.
I don't believe I've ever read Nora Roberts, but she's hugely successful and I wouldn't DARE argue with success! Not to mention that she has a legion of enthusiastic fans. She's doing something right.
Since I do have a muse, know I have a muse, and regularly have the muse connect with me, I can't agree entirely. However - perhaps surprisingly - I am in total agreement with the need to just sit down and write! No matter what!
In writing a novel, I do really try to sit down every single day whether I feel the muse is there or not. I'm often left without her, having to fill in the gaps. Like with The Horns of September for instance. Okay, so the muse gives me the opening chapter - I run and type it down verbatim. Then she gives me the ending. Again, I sit and type that - the good court reporter that I am. LOL Then, she gives me the MIDDLE chapter! I run, type that down. Love all three, but then ... nothing! I'm left with three chapters wondering what the heck goes in-between them! What happens? What's the action? How do the characters meet? How does the protagonist end up like he does? What happens between him and the character he interacts with in the middle? I pleaded with my muse to tell me ...
I listen and .... crickets in the background.
So I just sat down and wrote - every single day. Sometimes the muse would join me and tell me what happened next, but only just. I never knew what was happening beyond the chapter I was writing, but you know? It all came together beautifully and I really loved the story! Of course, this is my opinion and very subjective. Someone else may read it and have a very different take on it, but I believe Nora is correct. The story would have never been finished if I hadn't pushed myself and done the work.
Point taken, but I do need the muse to give me my characters and story. Until I hear my muse ... no work begins. After it? I'm on my own!