A-muse-ing

[katiefoolery]

I used to think that muses belonged to other people.

Indeed I did.

Of course, I often wondered where they got them from or how they knew they actually had a muse and not a figment of their imagination, but I still thought it wasn’t for me.  I knew where my ideas came from and it was called ‘my imagination’.  Or ‘real life’.  Or ‘silly things school kids say on the train’.

Sometimes (I’m happy to admit this), I was jealous.  Why did these people have muses when I was left to rely on my imagination and eavesdropping skills?  Why did some people have six muses when I had none?  It didn’t seem fair.

Of course, these short trips into self-pitying muse-envy were few and far between.  The rest of the time, I just got down to some serious procrastinating, with a bit of writing thrown in there to keep up appearances.

And then...

Monday night.  Oh, Monday night.  I was just lying in bed, musing (oh, the wit!) over a story I’d had in mind for a while, when someone slipped the opening line into my head.  Unasked, unrequested, unexplained; it was just there.  More than that, there was a certain feel about it, especially the way in which it had been delivered.  It was as though someone had snuck in with exaggerated care and dropped off a note before running out of the room and laughing... shortly before being distracted by a rather nicely turned hat-stand.

It was Jane.

Jane, who wakes me up in the middle of the night and takes advantage of every weakness I have.  Jane, who forces me to stumble around in the darkness to my study before she’ll shut up.  Jane, who only ever gives up if I fall asleep out of frustration in the middle of her speeches.

Jane, a character I created, has decided she has a mind of her own and – moreover – that she’s going to be my muse.

I really don’t know how to feel about it all, to be honest.  Of late, I’ve noticed that my characters seem to be very pushy and opinionated.  I’ve been spending the last few weeks wondering what the characters from my yet-to-be-written fey story are up to.  I knew they were in my head somewhere, but where?  Then I found one of them sitting around looking soulful and hoping people would notice him.  It’s ridiculously out of character for him and I suspect he’s doing it just to get my attention.

And then Jane does this.

Sometimes, I wonder who’s actually in charge of my imagination.

Comments

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, I wonder who’s actually in charge of my imagination. That would be your muse ^_~. You've always had him/her, possibly even more then one. He/she just never presented themselves properly to you up until now. And it seems as if Jane is happy to play the part ^_~. You have now been officially initiated into the world of muses. Or rather, the world of those who are run over by their muses from time to time ^_~ *giggles*

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I sometimes think that most muses are amalgations of our characters, but Jane's personality is such that I don't think she'll share.

Now, Jane, you wicked girl, write a letter to Lizzie so that she'll quit pining. And poking me. Any moment now, Lizzie and Cassandra will enter the never-ending-slapfight stage, and I don't think I can take it right now.

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

Haha - you terrible punner you!

Perhaps you have been hiding my muse in that voluminous imagination of yours?

*peers into Bunne's mind*

[the-kaytinator.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope you weren't under the impression that you are in charge of your own imagination. That's just silly!

I don't have a muse. I have the Plot Fairies. They live in my shower, and somewhere in my bedroom (I think either my top drawer, or behind the stereo). They also tend to stalk me on the bus. Anyway, they like the damp. And they, every now and again, they deliver fully-formed ideas into my mind.

I suppose you could say the Plot Fairies are my muse.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

LOL.

I have the exact same problem! Sometimes characters of your own creation just pop out and whap you with something, whether you like it or not. Especially when they go off on insane tangents that you never intended...

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

In charge of your own imagination? you have some mighty strange ideas there, oh Bunlikins! :P

You know what, after talking to someone today whose imagination was limited to business and marketing, and other more analytical areas, i was quite happy about my midnight visitors, even if they do make me fall asleep in lecturers (even the interesting ones)

[lexicalcrow]

Been there, done that, several times over. It's even weirder when they're not characters of your own creation. Either way, they turn up, give me ideas and sit back and watch me puzzle over exactly why this story is going in this direction and not the way I had planned.

One character in particular has taken it upon himself to edit my work and comment on my third person narrative. He's driving me crazy. Opinionated little shit. Insists he's not being a whiny little diva though we both know that's not true. >.

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, I wonder who’s actually in charge of my imagination.

Certainly not you, my dear! *grins* Oh, they'll let you think they're in charge, and then happily remind you it's not so. Pesky little critters aren't they? (Trifmara: Oy! You! I am NOT a critter, I'm just short. *sticks out tongue*) Can't say I'd have it any other way, though.

Every time you mention this Jane, I get more and more intrigued. The moment I actually have some free time, I think I will have to read the Jane of Letters story.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

LOL.

Yeah I have one who took over the whole damn story!

He was meant to be peripheral the bastard, and now he's demanding a novel to himself. Selfish little brat! Honestly!

[lexicalcrow]

*sighs* Who'd be a writer hey? XD

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Oh, the puns! I'm afraid I just couldn't stop myself there. It'd be nice if I could blame Jane but it was all me.

I have no idea what's lurking in my imagination, so just be careful in there. :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It certainly is a strange new world.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Now I am most terribly tempted not to provide this letter, just for the amusement of Lizzie and Cassandra having a slap-fight. Hehe!

Er, what I mean is: 'tis on its way!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

So many people I know seem to get their ideas in the shower. Or the loo. Or somewhere around water. This has never happened to me. My ideas just like to attack at random. Perhaps this makes sure I'm unprepared.

Are you sure I'm not in charge of my imagination?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

But... but... I thought...

Ah well. At least I know now.




Are you still on this Bunlikins thing?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Do feel free to have a read of Jane. Well, Jane and Lizzie. I've been terribly slack of late but there should be a new letter soon.

"Pesky little critters" certainly sounds right.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

But Jane does it for other stories now. It's as though she thinks she has a right to dictate how they go, or how they start. I'm just... flabbergasted by the whole thing. Who does she think she is?

Oh yeah - the muse thing.

Characters are nothing but trouble.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

They're so troublesome, these characters of ours! Ah well - at least they're enthustiastic.

[sarsalot.livejournal.com]

But sucessful characters have to be pushy and opinionated, otherwise their procrastinating slave writer would never sit down and put their adventures on paper.

[lexicalcrow]

Characters are more trouble than they're worth. Of the two who've taken on the most muse-like roles, one I completely love, the other one can go to hell. And quit editting my work! I've managed to confine him to one fic, but I'm not sure how long that will last. He made me claim him and his mate for the smut_69 challenge! >.< Not fair. Like I needed more things to write.

Also, characters who have dark sides and want to switch fandoms to explore said dark side on other more willing characters. This is very frustrating and should be discouraged. Especially when characters from the original fandom turn up in the other fandom as well and things get... angsty. And complicated. *shakes head* Interfandom relationships. Why can't they stay in their own fandom?

[lexicalcrow]

I've long ago given up believing I'm writing my own stories. I'm just the medium by which my characters tell their own stories.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Who, me? Procrastinating?

*looks shocked*

You're probably right about that necessary pushiness. I can be very lazy when I want. Which is most of the time, I'm afraid.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That's probably the most accurate way of looking at it. :)

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

It may sound amusing, but imagine them doing it in your head. It gives me a headache. Luckily, Lizzie seems content to pine for the moment, while Cassandra is busily pouring her story into my ear at last.

I still look forward to Jane's letter and envy you your writing time. It also occurs to me that, if I cultivated the necessary discipline, I could also have more writing time. That bears thought.

*returns to reading Jane Austen*

Oh! If you haven't already, please please please go and read Chapter 1, Part 1 of Cassandra's Codex and tell me what you think!

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

I like "Bunlikins."

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes it is ^_^. Much like life *points up to icon and winks*