“I believe that inspiration will always try its best to work with you–but if you are not ready or available, it may indeed choose to leave you and to search for a different human collaborator…This is how it comes to pass that one morning you open up the newspaper and discover that somebody else has written your book [or blog post!]…or in any way whatsoever manifested some spark of inspiration that you’d had…but had never entirely cultivated…Therefore, the idea went hunting for a new partner.”
–Elizabeth Gilbert , Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Oh, how much I do believe the truth of this. I posted absolutely nothing between late November and early February. NOTHING.
It’s not that I did not have any ideas. I had plenty. But they all just came at odd times.
- Hurrying down the stairs to catch a train.
- Hands deep into slicing up meat to make a stew.
- In the midst of teaching a class.
- In a meeting with my boss.
- and so on and so on…
Each time I said to myself things like “I’ll remember”, “I’ll work on it as soon as I finish_____”
Each time it was gone by the time I procured pen and paper. By God do you understand the frustration of knowing you had a great thought, an excellent lyric at the tip of your tongue, but now it’s gone can’t spit it out? I did this one time too many and the dearth of posts between November and February was my muse punishing me.
I have not seen my thoughts ideas elsewhere, at least not any can remember/recognize lol, so at least I felt Muse has not totally given up on me, I just had to bide me time in the purgatory known as writers block. I am happy to say, Muse has decided to give me another chance and I’ve been a busy little these past couple of weeks.
I’m not messing with her again.
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Let’s see how others are slicing up their Day Two….
Raivenne-lations 
My thing is , “I’ll remember that and write about it next Tuesday.” As you can imagine, Tuesday comes and I have totally forgotten what it was I was going to write about. In my case, I just chalk it up to old age.
I’m making a list as I read so she’ll stay! I loved the picture of an idea just out of reach as you sit to write.
Hi- I resonate with your claim. My muse shows up after my own kids do something funny or outrageous. I say, “I’ve got to write that down!” or “I’ll remember.” I loved the Gilbert quote. I need to open my journal and keep the memories alive.
I understand and feel your frustration. I love to write. I want to write. But I resist. I find other activities to fill the space. So I committed to writing daily for 31 days, maybe my muse will return.