When the Muse Calls

On my early morning flight, barely awake and bleary-eyed, I watch “Andor"—a friend raved about the set design for this particular Star Wars property, and they weren’t wrong. Through the sliver between seats in front of me, I catch a glimpse of another person’s open laptop. She’s working on croquis, her screen illuminating new ideas for a major Canadian fashion label. One I’ve worn for the past twenty years, back when just Vancouverites had access to the comfy technical athletic wear that took North America by storm.

I wanted to be a Copywriter for them once upon a time. Use my Other Writing Life skills—and that post-bachelor’s degree side diploma in Fashion Marketing—because back then, I was inspired to go into fashion: Vogue was the target. I made it as far as Canada’s FASHION Magazine, intern level. Eventually the Fashion Muse … left me. I drifted back into the world of screenwriting; the one I’d spent four years in during University. Why? Because I was inspired by my Greek and Roman Art & Architecture course to write an epic fantasy featuring Greek Gods. A little X-Men, a little “Vampire Diaries”…

The Muse that whispered that particular story into my soul has, thankfully, never left me. But other such whispers? I’ve noted them down, filed them away, expanded on some, written others to completion, but have any of them “gone anywhere”? Have I achieved success with them?

I suppose that means we need to define success: Sold in a six figure deal to Netflix? Hells no. Published—self or traditional—yet? Getting closer. Copywriting—every damn day. It even pays some bills. Sometimes I see that as success; those little whispers of inspiration sparkle when writing for my clients. Other times, I fixate on the those unfinished stories calling my name. So I guess that puts me somewhere in the middle of a little bit of everything; somewhere on the way to success, in a tenuous on-off relationship with my muses, depending on the day. Depending on if I feel…inspired.

And I attribute that to sometimes answering the Muse. And definitely not following through as often as I should. Sitting on an idea just a little too long. Maybe never going beyond filing the concept away for another day for when I have that elusive concept of “more time."

Meantime, that Muse has moved on to someone else—someone willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices to write it today.

Why we should listen to the Muse’s siren song.

The ancient Greeks believed in the importance of inspiration so dearly, they personified the concept of a Muse as nine inspirational goddesses who presided over the arts, literature, and even science. Sisters and daughters of Zeus and Mnemosine, they are credited with being the source of all knowledge for the humans who brought stories, music, paintings, scientific theories, and more to light. They are the O.G. embodiment of inspiration.

Those ancient peoples understood the value in listening to inspiration. How it frees our creativity through the simple act of doing (on repeat) which in turn boosts productivity and thus? Happiness! Imagine: All those endorphins released which in turn inspire confidence, engagement in the present, and the motivational ripple effect—simply by doing what we love to do, based on one little spark of inspiration.

Feel free to even get a little science-y about it.

There are schools of thought out there which state that inspiration is actually the result of our minds computing new information through the context of what we already know into a brand-new picture.

One could argue that all works of art are just a form of fan fic. The artist inspired by a piece of art, song, film or book that came before; their imagination weaving together threads into a new tapestry that includes a unique perspective on old themes. Ergo, it could follow that we can inspire our own inspiration.

Stay with me, here—by engaging with the world around us, we assimilate all the pieces for our own work of art yet to be created. That last show we binged, art we saw, conversation about current events we had. It all mixes together into something new we shape through our unique point of view. Miraculous. Only if—and this is the absolute vital part—we keep our minds open. We stay curious. We keep being willing to learn.

So, if we can all have those mind-body benefits by listening to our personal Muse, what happens when we don’t act on her siren song and follow the inspiration to conclusion? Does it, in fact, leave us to whisper in the next Creative’s ear to harness and bring to fruition because we didn’t act? Elizabeth Gilbert explores this concept well in Big Magic.

And maybe that’s the point of it all for Creatives. The act of doing. In the doing is the joy.

They say you should write even when you don’t feel it. I read somewhere recently it’s like turning on a faucet: the more you do it, the more the words will flow. Even if it’s just a little drip at first, that whole sink will be full eventually. So, yes, to make it a business, in particular, one must also look beyond those sparks of inspiration to pure, sheer willpower to sit down and do the damn thing.

Write, paint, whatever calls you to create. Do it, and do it often.

So next time Netflix suggests that show I might like—so similar to my WIP—and know that someone out there wrote and pitched the right person, and that right person said yes, and now I’m enjoying their hard work … though just a little, tiny bit more jaded on the inside. Like every time I don’t act on the inspiration that strikes and DO, another part of my heart atrophies until one day it’s just completely grey and dead. Like some sort of bad Sci-Fi flick.

Unless I act.

Unless I write and complete and then make a choice for myself whether to pitch, publish, or make it myself. At the very least, I finished a project and tried. Like, really tried. I accepted the gift of inspiration and did something with it, instead of tucking it away in the bottom drawer like a forgotten gift card.

Gifts are meant to be used, to be shared. The world deserves to see what you’ve got to share—what inspires you, may just inspire the good and beautiful in the next person.

Let’s see what you’ve got. What we can do in this beautiful life.

*Feature image by Cristina Conti (Adobe)