Finding my muse
I spent over seven years writing, re-writing, editing, and then editing again my debut historical fiction, Whistling Women and Crowing Hens. My characters had taken up residence in my mind for about as long. However, in early November 2024, when I submitted my last edit to my publisher, they left. I didn’t realize it at first with the holidays and then all the political noise.
But when I sat in my home office, with my handmade live-edge desk, I felt empty. I had researched several new ideas but didn’t get lost down any historic rabbit holes. I had one spark on a weekend writer’s retreat in October but when I reread the page I had written, it seemed forced. Day after day, the cursor blinked at me from a blank page. I tried several times to get something written but nothing new came out. I started feeling hopeless. I had lost my muse.
looking for my muse
What is a muse anyways? I decided to look it up, since I was struggling to write anything. The Oxford English Dictionary has many definitions, from classic Greek mythology to one that came closest to what it means to me:
““Muse 2.c. A person (often a female lover) or thing regarded as the source of an artist’s inspiration; the presiding spirit or force behind any person or creative act.””
With my earlier novel I had been inspired when I discovered that my maternal grandmother was a professional whistler. What I needed was inspiration. I tried taking solo walks in my neighborhood figuring my muse would come from nearby nature. Nothing. I tried sitting on my porch watching the songbirds at my feeder. She never appeared.
One of my friends from my writer critique group went to the NC coast in January to celebrate her birthday and take a mini-retreat from all the political mayhem (she’s a federal employee, bless her heart). She admitted that she didn’t get much writing done but the ocean helped revive her soul. This idea stirred something in me that I couldn’t shake.
After several days of denial, I knew I had to somehow answer the siren’s call from the ocean. I decided I could squeeze in a spur-of-the-moment 48-hour trip to nearby Wrightsville Beach. I found a very affordable off-season condo on the beach. Another friend stepped in to house/cat sit for me. On the two-hour drive there, I listened to a couple of episodes of Writers on Writing, my favorite podcast. After checking into my cozy condo, I walked to the beach that was right outside my 4th story window. It was windy and cold but oh so invigorating! I strolled along the almost empty beach collecting shells and my thoughts.
That evening when I opened my laptop, an idea that had been way in the back of my mind presented itself. I started googling historic facts, which led to googling people. What-if’s began to form in my mind. I didn’t have anything concrete, but I could sense a story idea, and some unnamed characters. That night I opened the sliding glass door so I could hear the waves and piled on an extra blanket hoping to be inspired in my sleep.
solo writing retreat space
Sipping my morning coffee, I sat out on the chilly balcony, listening and watching the waves. I jotted down ideas for my characters names in my journal and sketched out a very basic storyline. Ideas nudged at me and I felt ready to write so moved indoors to a table and my laptop. By noon I had three main characters somewhat developed and had researched enough to fill in some of my storyline.
That afternoon, when the sun came out, I went for another stroll along the beach. After some time, I realized my new characters were with me! Questions and ideas bounced around in my mind as I watched the waves. I rushed back to my laptop to write them down before I forgot. Before I knew it, it was way past dinner time. As I heated up the homemade lentil soup I had brought from home, I felt productive for the first time in months.
my muse
Yes, my muse took her sweet time. It took getting out of my house, away from daily distractions to find her this time. I have around 3,000 words written for my next story. New characters are cohabitating my mind most days. I’m excited and yearning to write.
I even had fun creating an Instagram reel about searching for my muse—you can check it out on my instagram. It’s always good to not take ourselves too seriously!
What do you do to find your muse—your source of inspiration? I’d love to hear your ideas and stories.
Keep searching and stay curious
~Melora
sunrise
