The Muse is unpredictable. The main problem we Writers have with her is when she decides to take a protracted holiday. Although there are some who insist there is no such thing as Writer’s Block, that arrid space of time when no words flow, no ideas bubble up from the lower depths, as one who has gone through this, I assure you it exists. At least for me. The only thing to do is throw yourself into something completely different. For me it was founding the Bloody Words Mystery Conference. That might not be your thing. Just do whatever works! And eventually those batteries will recharge.

Another aspect of that fickle lady is rarely discussed, and that is the one I am experiencing now: the sudden appearance, unbidden, of a very noisy Muse. At night. As I was trying to fall asleep! First it was the sudden rush of ideas for a brand new novel, complete with main characters, plot points, details of backstory and even a few set pieces. Great, you say? No! I am in the middle of another novel!  No time for any other creative activity. I can no longer multi-task!

But ideas are precious so I did make notes in a new jazzy notebook, as always with a new project, then put it away and went back to work. Done and dusted, as a friend says. Except I could not get anywhere. Couldn’t concentrate. I kept getting up and wandering around. And then I recognized it. The Muse was addressively back. I remembered that I often get this nervous unsettled feeling when a new project starts. My head fills with a sort of static and I can’t seem to accomplish anything.

But I will not give in! I have a book to finish! And it is not even half done!

How can I fend off that ferocious Muse for a month or so?

Maybe I will hide the notebook. Maybe I will work faster on the old project. Maybe… I will just wait and see what happens. There is no way to completely ignore the Muse!