Esteemed author Jane Yolen is well-known for sharing one secret in particular with regard to her productivity, and that’s – BIC – putting your Butt In Chair. Choose the time, the place, and show up. It’s where you need to be so that the muse can find you. I don’t know about you, but when someone has authored over 300 books and been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century, I sit up and listen. My writing companion, not so much. But what does Lucy know? She sleeps on tabletops.
As writer’s, poets, artists of any kind, we also know that the muse can often be a fickle little fly-by-night. It’s as if we’re taking dictation from some creative omnipotent being in our brains one minute, and in the next, the steady flow ebbs to a drip, drip, drip, until the last drop gets sucked back up into the faucet and returns to the reservoir from whence it came. This is when I ROTC (roll off the chair), rustle up the hounds, and set out to hunt that little minx down.
Disguised as inspiration,
I frequently find her peeking from behind a lily’s prominent pistil,
Snuggled on a blanket of fog hovering over the city-scape,
Nestled between a wandering buck’s antlers,
Winking from the heavens by the full moon’s light
Or resting in the man in the day moon’s eye.
Oftentimes, Lucy, Jazzie, and I find her waving from the car in front of us
or dangling from taught cables in the late afternoon, spying on tourists.
She might ride the first rays of a rising sun
or splash a gargoyle’s feathered headpiece with her whimsy.
Lately, she’s been known to rise up from the ashes
and spark ideas like turning this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge into a writing exercise, as well. When you’re a muse, you do amusing things like that.
Now I suggest you check out the stunning photos taken on real cameras, not my phone photos, such as Lake Bled at Sunrise or Nancy Mehuys dazzling dragonfly. In keeping with the words of the challenge today, what’s your muse — what subject do you turn to frequently, more inspired each time?
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner 
Oh, what a great post, Donna! Not too far above my intellectual level and tons of great scenery! Yes, I think I’ll just stay here with my BIC and gander for a while……maybe Muse will come find me. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Torrie! I think I’ll join you for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A walk in the woods will do it, or, more likely, time in the garden. I loved your pics–as a former Bay Area resident, it was a glimpse of the past.
LikeLike
Glad you like them. I do miss the forest though. That used to be my go to place in the neighborhood. Now I’d have to drive over to the redwoods. Just different, I guess. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
great images – both in word and photo form!
LikeLike
Many thanks, Vic!
LikeLike
right on 🙂 ….. 😎
LikeLike
Back at ya 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Donna, Love your post–so funny and well-written. I make it hard on my muse a lot of the time, but hoping she finds me right now 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Annina. If she hasn’t, look under your pillow. I hear they snooze often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that BIC! Show up and work!!!
Nancy
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful!! Wonderful pictures!
Hope you are well my friend. Will be thinking of you on the 18th. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 🙂 🙂 and ❤ you too!
LikeLike