tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post6570135044211585974..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: Working Around Absent MusesTerry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-2374875043766217672010-07-14T14:11:59.502-06:002010-07-14T14:11:59.502-06:00These are some terrific ideas. Thank you for shari...These are some terrific ideas. Thank you for sharing. Now I know I don't have to hog-tie my Muse and get her to cooperate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-4351600586763013392010-07-14T05:56:29.409-06:002010-07-14T05:56:29.409-06:00Helen--That's a very good idea. It's easy ...Helen--That's a very good idea. It's easy to get stale when we're always writing in the same place. :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-39388252815808267462010-07-13T20:13:07.867-06:002010-07-13T20:13:07.867-06:00I live on the computer. All day. If I need to chan...I live on the computer. All day. If I need to change things up, one way is to leave the computer, leave my office. Take a pad and pen and go elsewhere. Outside. The coffee shop. Somewhere new.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-51416817282599202752010-07-13T18:27:30.099-06:002010-07-13T18:27:30.099-06:00Chary--And the nice thing is that there's noth...Chary--And the nice thing is that there's nothing 'official' about that new Word doc--it's just pretend. And then, if the ideas happen to work out, then they can copy/paste in very easily. :)<br /><br />Hart--These are great ideas! I have to admit that as much as I hate exercising, when I'm on a treadmill and bored to tears, I *do* come up with solid ideas for my plot. Thanks for reminding me...I need to work that into my routine!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-80876428337151413772010-07-13T16:33:54.433-06:002010-07-13T16:33:54.433-06:00Great list, Elizabeth! I love the permission to t...Great list, Elizabeth! I love the permission to take a tangent! Excellent! <br /><br />I do two additional things--If a scene is really hard, I just give it a rough description... a sentence or two, and come back to it later... Skipping ahead, if you will,<br /><br />And then my old fallback... MOVE (not location... I mean power walk (or swim)--when my body is busy and my mind doesn't have much to do, I often stir up exactly what I was missing (no music though--that interferes as often as not)Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-32316896296573014842010-07-13T15:54:57.514-06:002010-07-13T15:54:57.514-06:00I found this to be a really helpful post. I often...I found this to be a really helpful post. I often feel frustrated when I can't get the scene right in my head nor on paper. However, your idea of moving onto the next scene or opening up another word document to explore other angles was really inspirational. Great post!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05994415353101258592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-26127694317263302502010-07-13T13:55:46.264-06:002010-07-13T13:55:46.264-06:00Terry--It's hard for the writing perfectionist...Terry--It's hard for the writing perfectionists, but we know we can revise bad text into something great later on.<br /><br />And thanks so much for popping by my blog! :)<br /><br />Diane--Thanks!<br /><br />Dorte--I'd say that 4 days out of 5, I'm writing stuff that needs to be *heavily* edited!<br /><br />Michele--I think mine likes sour apple Jolly Ranchers. :) She and I aren't on speaking terms, or else I'd ask her!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-5210276185376339052010-07-13T13:41:49.753-06:002010-07-13T13:41:49.753-06:00Ahhh...the Muse. The elusive, hungry muse. Seems...Ahhh...the Muse. The elusive, hungry muse. Seems a bit like those Buddha statues in Thailand stores owners have to feed--and know what they like!<br /><br />Mine likes...haven't figured it totally out yet--but she seems fickle!<br /><br />Great post, Elizabeth. Thanks for having such a great guest blogger, Terry!<br /><br />Michele<br /><a href="http://southerncitymysteries.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">SouthernCityMysteries</a>JournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-18461497366630877692010-07-13T13:00:47.891-06:002010-07-13T13:00:47.891-06:00Thank you for reminding us about this, Elizabeth. ...Thank you for reminding us about this, Elizabeth. I must remember to visit your blog the next time I am stuck; you can always make me see the possibilities instead of the obstacles. So instead of staring at the computer screen when my prose is less than brilliant, I just go on writing stubbornly - and sometimes my fingers suddenly write sentences that make me snigger. And if not, I can always delete it again ;)Dorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-31537468325653629562010-07-13T12:34:04.525-06:002010-07-13T12:34:04.525-06:00Great advice, Elizabeth!Great advice, Elizabeth!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-1034073414637479642010-07-13T11:40:29.489-06:002010-07-13T11:40:29.489-06:00Great tips! Permission to fail is important. Thank...Great tips! Permission to fail is important. Thank you.<br /><br />I just checked out your blog. Looks excellent.<br /><br />Thanks, Terry, for hosting another great guest.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-57279945225129484232010-07-13T08:30:28.347-06:002010-07-13T08:30:28.347-06:00Mason-- I think you're right--pressure makes m...Mason-- I think you're right--pressure makes me blank out and get panicky. Relaxing can really help me get the creative juices flowing again! <br /><br />Heather--It's true--we're not *always* uninspired. Usually it's in spurts--and then sometimes the ideas come fast and furious!<br /><br />Malcolm--Great idea! And, actually, telling myself that if I *don't* write that next page then I'll have to do yard work or clean the house, makes me feel especially inspired! :)<br /><br /> <br />Mary--I think *any*thing on the page helps. Even if you write doodles or make lists for upcoming scenes. That blank page is the worst!<br /><br />Smoky--When I speak to schools, that's *exactly* what I tell them! And when kids are playing with toys, they're inventing dialogue for both action figures, creating plot, etc. Really, they're screenwriting. We could do the same thing. <br /><br />Jane--Those muses of ours should be fired. :)<br /><br />Margot--Blogging is the ultimate writing exercise! And it's for an audience of readers--with instant feedback. What could be better?<br /><br />Karen--I wait for that special energy and magic, too...but I write in the meantime! It's rare for me to really have flowing inspiration.<br /><br />Terry--Thanks so much for having me here! I love visiting your blog. :)<br /><br />Carol--Thanks so much for dropping by!Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-18747989652480144462010-07-13T08:24:06.186-06:002010-07-13T08:24:06.186-06:00Yes, ma'am. That's how it works. Great pos...Yes, ma'am. That's how it works. Great post. Thanks for hosting, Terry.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-31904792907932739842010-07-13T08:18:41.555-06:002010-07-13T08:18:41.555-06:00It's always a pleasure to have Elizabeth here ...It's always a pleasure to have Elizabeth here at Terry's Place. I'm so glad she's my guest today. Thanks for dropping by, everyone.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-48751731431347336682010-07-13T08:10:12.663-06:002010-07-13T08:10:12.663-06:00Elizabeth - These are such good ideas for working ...Elizabeth - These are such good ideas for working around the muse! I think the one that I like best is your advice to keep writing. That daily discipline keeps us "in shape" and you never know when something you write will turn on the proverbial switch. That's one of the things I like about keeping a blog; it's good daily writing practice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-82863257795678414902010-07-13T08:08:09.013-06:002010-07-13T08:08:09.013-06:00My muse must be hanging out with yours! As always ...My muse must be hanging out with yours! As always you’ve shared some great tips. I haven’t tried the list idea, but now I'm looking forward to testing it.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-29326016921060799762010-07-13T07:51:06.734-06:002010-07-13T07:51:06.734-06:00My favorite tip: Play with toys! Think about it: w...My favorite tip: Play with toys! Think about it: who are the most creative people on earth? Kids, of course--before the responsibilities of adulthood drum that creativity out of them. By allowing ourselves to play with toys, we tap into that latent creativity of our childhood, and miracles can happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-2122025688715161532010-07-13T07:42:22.234-06:002010-07-13T07:42:22.234-06:00I like it that you tell us to write, anything, and...I like it that you tell us to write, anything, and that will lead to better writing, might even open the doors to something inspirational. The best line, "There's no way to edit a blank page."Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-48476521634070803532010-07-13T07:38:48.050-06:002010-07-13T07:38:48.050-06:00Great advice. Here's an idea that helps me. Wh...Great advice. Here's an idea that helps me. When I feel totally stuck, I do something that takes my mind off the manuscript. Then, while I'm occupied with the yard project or reading an exciting novel, the muse starts whispering hints. This gets me out of neutral and into DRIVE again.<br /><br />MalcolmMalcolm R. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07840134761199335243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-40566359755548598612010-07-13T07:37:09.477-06:002010-07-13T07:37:09.477-06:00My muse has been missing in action for ages. Your ...My muse has been missing in action for ages. Your tips to get back on the writing track are just what I need to read as I grind out a first draft. Another tip that I might add is to know that the "mushy parts" and the "uninspiring days" don't last forever. That thought keeps me going on the blah days.Heather Wrighthttp://wrightwriter.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-25524845888876375072010-07-13T07:17:26.173-06:002010-07-13T07:17:26.173-06:00Elizabeth, great tips for any type of writing. Som...Elizabeth, great tips for any type of writing. Sometimes putting too much pressure on yourself to write that certain line or paragraph can cause nothing to come to mind. Taking a step back and trying some of these tips will give inspiration to your work.<br /><br />Terry, thanks for hosting Elizabeth.<br /><br />Mason<br /><a href="http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Thoughts in Progress</a>Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.com