Is having a Muse necessary to be creative as a writer?

A Muse is defined as someone or something that inspires one's creativity. But is having a Muse really needed to be creative? Some will say they are not the creative genius behind their writing, but rather the grateful recipient of ideas provided by their Muse. Perhaps from another person in their life that inspires the creative energy or a specific location or place that sparks the imagination and gets the juices flowing.

The power of a Muse can be undeniable. But is that power something we have inside of us already? Is a perceptible sense of self and creativity something we could tap into without the help of an outside influence? Possibly. Maybe even probably on a good day. But believing that a Muse is the reason for anything that causes success in our writing life also comes along with a built-in excuse for when things aren't going so well. It's easy to blame writer's block or anything else preventing us from manifesting great ideas on our Muse for not showing up that day. And that may be where the real power of a Muse lies--the ability to take the pressure off ourselves for not being able to spend quality time on a writing project when the creative portion of our brain is not cooperating. "It's not me, it's the Muse," helps keep us from feeling like we’re the reason why, on some days, the writing may seem substandard to us. Blaming the Muse for not showing up can even help lessen the anxiety and pressure we feel when not producing in spite of a looming deadline. We don't feel so inadequate about our work, or lack of, if our Muse is at fault for not joining forces with us that day. 

Having a Muse in your corner can help keep your project moving forward. My personal Muse is more of a feeling of tranquility I get when sitting on my back deck taking in the beautiful scenery nature provides right in my own back yard. It's also new to me. I came upon my Muse by chance. It took a bit of time for me to recognize this feeling was actually fueling my imagination. I had never given the idea of having a Muse much thought until recently. Since I am now semi-retired, I find myself enjoying that scenery every morning before I sit down at my computer. Watching the deer and rabbits grazing or even the simple act of two birds singing to one another from two of the many different trees that surround the yard, puts me in the right frame of mind to dive into whatever project I'm currently working on. It helps open the creative pores allowing the words to flow out of me and shape themselves into the story I'm writing.

So, is having a Muse necessary to be creative as a writer? I'm still not sure if it's a necessity, but what I do know is that an awful lot of creative people in many different artistic fields, including writing, count on a Muse to help them stay focused on doing their best work. And, as it turns out, I am one of them. 

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As always, any comments or thoughts are welcome😎

Meanwhile, click on my link to see what kind of stories my Muse helps to inspire: Books by Joe Congel

Until next time...