One of the things I’ve learned from the authors I’ve worked with over the years is that writing is often not a result of divine inspiration but of a very conscious effort. Sometimes, you need to seek out creativity – put pen to paper and just do the work.
“Absent Muse”
Pen between poised fingers.
Ready to strike, stitch together
Phrases, a melody of syllables
singing on the page
Expecting perfection
Creating less than
Words without weight
Without
Pressure
Poised fingers pause . . . wait.
for the muse that never comes
Purgatory state
The muse is fiction
Pen between poised fingers.
Hard reality work
with fragments
Dig deep. Deeper. Snapshots,
fragments into fiction
into prose into pages
and sonnets and stories.
The muse is fiction, the work is within.
Songs of the week:
“You’re Not Pretty But You Got It Goin’ On” – Band of Skulls
“O’ Sister” – City and Colour
Namaste 🙂
Rachel
Freelancing to Freedom 
So true … from someone who has lost not one, but two muses. 😦
(or is is “musii?)
By: islandeditions on February 4, 2013
at 1:56 pm
Haha I like the sound of “musii”…
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:38 am
Thats how I do it, thats how it’s done, the Muse is inside me, I’m just having fun! Very well done Rachel, thank you. 🙂
By: bawbsravenfeathers on February 4, 2013
at 2:05 pm
Always love your rhymes, BawB! 😉
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:39 am
That’s beautiful. I love it! Each phrase rings so true for me too! But stop teasing me with those beautiful Cdn winter scenes. I almost (well a little tiny bit) miss it!
By: gwendominica on February 4, 2013
at 2:48 pm
Thanks Gwen! I have to admit, I’m probably more jealous of you after seeing your last blog post…
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:40 am
Fantastic Rachel – what a beautiful piece of writing….can’t wait for the rest.
By: Kris on February 4, 2013
at 4:38 pm
Thanks Kristen! And thanks for your help 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:40 am
Sounds like this blog’s mousa could use a trip into the mountains. Nice, you have found inspiration even while struggling with it.
By: Ivan on February 4, 2013
at 8:15 pm
Thanks Ivan!
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:41 am
Beautiful post. Absolutely thrilled that I happened upon your blog.
By: thoughtsontheatre on February 5, 2013
at 7:30 pm
Thank you so much! Looking forward to checking yours out 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on February 6, 2013
at 12:37 am
The muse is a hard taskmaster, and fickle.
Jim
By: redjim99 on February 10, 2013
at 9:25 pm
[…] A new poem from Rachel Small (my editor!) on her blog, Freelancing to Freedom … Absent Muse […]
By: Blogs, noteworthy articles, inspiring words for writers, and some stuff just for fun! « Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing on February 11, 2013
at 1:44 pm