The clock on the wall in my writing office is ticking. Me, well, I’m waiting. I’ve got my “prize” from my weekend in Wisconsin to keep me company. I’ve started working on my editor’s notes, but right now I’ve got something else on my list, and I’m waiting for my quarry.
I don’t have to wait long before my Muse shows up. I adjust myself in one of the recliners in a corner of the office and take a long sip of my brew. “Nice of you to show up.”
He zeroes in on me. “I see you’re working hard, love. Or should I say, hardly working.”
I tip my bottle again and savor the slight citrus tones of the ale. “I have been working. Every night since I got back. Unlike someone else I know. Where the hell have you been?”
He leans back against my desk, hands braced on either side. He’s wearing a black thermal shirt advertising The Old Fashioned tavern, where my Writing Sisters and I had dinner after our panel. Great place to eat if you’re ever in the area. “You do know that writing conferences are also muse conferences, right?”
I manage to avoid rolling my eyes. “Uh-huh. What’s this I hear about you hanging out at The Old Fashioned?” He can’t deny it. All 6-foot 2-inches of masculine energy, with intense blue eyes and GQ-esque physique, makes him pretty easy to spot.
He looks down at his shirt. “You and your Writing Sisters were there.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t standing at the end of the bar handing out business cards. I’ve got a witness.”
A slow grin stretches across his face. “Your Writing Sister? The one who kept her Muse from having fun because she had edits to do? Yeah, I talked to her about that.”
“I heard. You shouldn’t have distracted her.” Though she didn’t exactly complain … Honestly, neither would I π
“Distracted? She–and her Muse–needed a break.” He crosses the office to stand in front of my recliner, hands on hips and a noticable lack of humor on his face. “You are accusing me of handing out business cards. Why would I want to start over with a new writer? For your information, love, those were drink tickets for the closing party. With the weather that weekend, we needed to get muses to stay.”
Why am I having a hard time believing him? “Likely story.”
“I heard about you and some new muses. Were you auditioning replacements?”
Oh crap. “No. They were part of one of the presentations I went to. They’re from a book by Jill Badonsky that helps writers with creativity.”
He leans over me. “Are you saying I’m slacking? I seem to remember my writer being stalled out for, gee, weeks. And nothing I did could knock you loose.”
“Exactly. So the presentation was about how to go after the creative process a little differently. Relax. I’m not planning to break in a new Muse.”
He straightens and chuckles, one of those “silly writer” chuckles. “As if you could if you tried.” He settles into the other recliner. “Let’s get to work.”
Whew. Sorry I’m still so far behind in reading blog posts, but I’m trying to catch up. I’m hitting the edits, but there’s a few adjustments I’ll have to make, and I’ve got to think on those for a bit. Today is earmarked for a college open house, then since it appears Spring is finally showing up for more than a day or two, I’m going to have to take a nice long walk before digging back in to my edits.
Enjoy your weekend, and WRITE!
April 21, 2018 at 7:33 am
Ah, yes, editing time. That can be enough to make anyone cross-eyed. I wish you well with it.
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April 21, 2018 at 9:48 pm
Thanks, Margot! Yes, cross-eyed indeed!
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April 21, 2018 at 7:38 am
This is great. Steve Pressfield would be proud. Thanks for sharing.
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April 21, 2018 at 10:08 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Joe!
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April 21, 2018 at 8:17 am
A Muse Conference. Interesting.
Love these posts. Sounds like you had a great time. Welcome back!
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April 21, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Thanks, Staci! Yeah, it’s kinda scary to think they have conferences, where they all get together and plot how to influence their writers…
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April 23, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Might make a good story in and of itself…
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April 21, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Breaking in a new muse does sound like it would be tough work. Although, I can’t help think that this one’s easiness on the eyes could be a distraction. π
P.S. Bought a kitty scratch mat yesterday. I might seriously have a problem. Like one of those women who fully believes she’s pregnant and acts accordingly even when the facts prove otherwise.
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April 21, 2018 at 9:56 pm
And time to break in a new muse? Yeah, not gonna happen, especially since I’ve got a deadline for my edits π
Oooo, a kitty scratch mat! LOL, I had to laugh at the image of Betsy the cat lady π π±
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April 21, 2018 at 9:57 pm
I may yet become the woman you thought I was before you got to know me better!
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April 21, 2018 at 10:03 pm
LOL!
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April 21, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Glad you and your muse got all of that sorted out π
Welcome back! You must be coming down off a writer’s high after the conference.
I’m celebrating my own tiny high–I just finished my WIP (a day ahead of schedule) and enjoying a well-deserved snoopy dances. Thos muses really know how to get the job done under pressure, LOL!
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April 21, 2018 at 10:00 pm
Woo-hoo! You finished your WIP! Congrats! I’ll happy-dance here for you. After a day of college open-housing and working with my daughter to convince her it’s okay to be undecided and reassure her she’ll find her path, I’m ready to dig back into edits!
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April 21, 2018 at 10:01 pm
I’m so glad you two made up. I think you’re stuck with each other and you make a good team. π I’m glad you’re on a roll and writing. Yes, finally it’s spring. Pretty soon the garden is going to be calling!
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April 21, 2018 at 10:06 pm
YES!! I think we may finally be seeing Spring that isn’t going to tease us with sun and nice weather then shoot us a blizzard. I hope. The muddy yard is finally drying out, though we have serious ruts in the driveway. Ugh.
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April 22, 2018 at 11:57 am
Yeah. We’re the land of pot holes. π
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April 22, 2018 at 5:35 am
You had me worried that you and your muse were breaking up, Julie. But it seems you are on solid footing. I love the idea of a βsilly writerβ chuckle. Iβm going to start practicing that every time I sit down to the keyboard. Glad your spring is taking hold – ours is too. Almost all the snow is gone – just a few patches. And the promise of a 60 degree day next week. Ahhhhh!
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April 22, 2018 at 6:38 am
Yep, my Muse and I have been working together for a long time, so I think we both figure we’ve got so much time invested, there’s no point in starting over π We saw 60 degrees for about 3 minutes yesterday, and we’re supposed to be about as warm today. I’m even considering going out for a run today now that the “squish” is gone from the yard and the driveway. Here’s hoping Winter won’t turn back one last time and toss us a couple more inches before the trees start to leaf out π
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April 22, 2018 at 6:43 am
Iβm never sure itβs over until we turn the calendar past April, Julie, so I understand your fear about more snow. It is very rare for us to get snow in May so I have more confidence when we reach that milestone. I just heard the weatherman say it might reach 70 next week. Hopefully your muse wonβt have to chase you down and drag you bag to your computer. π
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April 23, 2018 at 1:32 am
I love the idea of a Muse conference!! π Phew, you didnβt get in too much trouble with your Muse and youβre back to your usual team work. Yeah, glad the sun is shining and a walk sounds like a good great idea! How did the Open College event go? Weβre soon starting to go to Open Days for universities around the country for my son who will be starting September β19. Applications in the autumn…yikes!
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April 23, 2018 at 7:02 am
The Open House went okay. My daughter is anxious about not picking a major yet. We’ve tried to reassure her that she’s not alone. The Open House emphasized that a lot of students are undecided and that’s okay, which was nice. She’s already admitted to the school, and her brother is a sophomore at the same school, so there’s a little security there. The prospect of transitioning to being “on your own” is scary for her right now, I think.
We hit around 63F yesterday, so I went for a run outside for the first time this year. It was great! I was going to for a walk as well, but some in-house cleaning took precedence. And my edits. π
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April 23, 2018 at 9:45 am
Moving up to college/uni is a huge step and I’m not surprised your daughter is a bit apprehensive. I wish her well with this new step into independence. At least she knows where she will be studying – that must be reassuring. Here they apply to five universities and only know the month before starting whether they get in when A-level exam results are released… very nerve-wrecking!
Oh, those edits … a run must be good to clear the head! Enjoy Spring as it slowly makes it way to you! xx
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April 23, 2018 at 9:46 am
Glad you and your muse had a great time at the conference. Sounds like you both had fun and are both ready to work:)
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April 23, 2018 at 9:54 am
We had a great time! And now the work… Spring, it appears, may finally be here to stay, and it’s calling me, so I may have to go for a few walks in between editing stints. Have a great week, D!
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April 23, 2018 at 10:36 am
Enjoy the spring days..its been calling me also– making editing even harder:) Thanks, have a great week, too.
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May 20, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Lately my muse does nothing but complain because I’ve been ignoring him. Maybe some of your ale will help. I enjoyed the post.
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