It's Sunday.
*twiddles thumbs*
8:30 PM.
*adjusts volume on music player*
And I spent today -- doing homework.
There's something wrong.
I have three or four story ideas bouncing in my head, yet none of them has leapt forward with that overzealous way stories do when it's their turn to be written. I've tried to encourage them. I've started outlines. Made song lists. Jotted notes. I've stared at a blank Word page, hoping the incessant blinking of the icon would spur some brilliant opening lines.
Nothing.
And while anyone else would see this as an opportunity to take a break, I am going crazy. Writing is what has kept me from going completely mad throughout these past few weeks. Sure, my classes royally suck and my future plans are wavering precariously on a cliff taller than the Eiffel Tower, but at least I had Stream Pirate to go back to at the end of the day. Now -- nothing? Not even a whisper of a story about to sprout into itself? So not cool. So, so not cool.
My question then is: how do you deal when your muse leaves you? Do you have any tricks for nudging that shy little story out from under its bed? Do you have a particular song that instantly brings everything into perfect clarity, or a movie that always inspires you?
Help?
I'm like you--when it's there, it's there with a vengeance. And when it's not, there's nothing I can do!
ReplyDeleteSo. Frustrating! Grr muses...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how it works. Usually when I stress too much, that's when it all bottles up. Try not to worry, do relaxing things. Read books.
ReplyDeleteI listen to NPR! That usually juggles things loose.
ReplyDeleteNatalie: I keep telling myself not to stress, it'll "just come to me" when it's ready. But alas, I rarely listen to myself.
ReplyDeleteJill: NPR! Around here that's a radio station. Or is it a band too?