Sunday, October 24, 2010
Inspiration on the Muse
Now, well into the semester and looking back on what inspired my muse and what didn’t work for me and relating to some other blog post, I am realizing that it isn’t the easiest to just tap into one’s muse on command. I feel like there has to be a certain concentrated mood and/or feeling to really get good raw material to create a good bases for one’s poem. I have noticed when I am feeling really intense of a certain feeling whether it is: happy, angry, sad, embarrassed, etc. I seem to come up with my best work.
What really worked for me was when I was in a bitter or upset mood and I listen to music that kind of mimicked my mood. The lyrics sometimes help me describe how I was feeling and I seem to be able to work of that better than just sitting in a silent non-stimulating room. I keep on going different places or working on my poetry right after class so I’m kind of in the mind frame.
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I myself love to write, especially in poetic form. Music is, I suppose, my muse tool. Much of the time when I am not in class I am listening to music, and most of the time a person can tell the mood I am in by the type of music I am listening to. I have trouble writing in class but as soon as I put my headphones on or sit at my computer and listen to music the words just flow.
ReplyDeleteI think powerful emotions are the key to tapping into the muse. Music that mimics your current mood is extremely helpful, but also if you were to look at an object or a painting that resonates emotionally with you it will work just as well. The muse is simply free form writing straight from your subconscious - or straight from the heart if I want to sound cheesy. That's why it's frustrating when you can't just tap into it on command, but if you learn how to put yourself in that state of mind I believe that's the key. Don't learn how to access the muse, learn to access the mood that opens up your muse.
ReplyDeleteI think Corey's right here--you have to find the ways that put you in the right frame for Muse work. For me, that tends to be painting, for whatever reason--odd because I'm obsessed with music, or I have been for much of my life. At any rate, when I'm in a museum, I can hardly contain my urge to write.
ReplyDeleteThe whole feelings thing can be quite the roadblock to musings. But it seems to be more of a random thing for me. The muse just starts up (sometimes at the weirdest of times, like right before I go to bed, or while I work out). Adding feeling with the randomness makes the muse so much more easy to encounter. Sometimes end up enticing my own feelings with deliberate activity to get a better handle on the muse. I'll watch a comedy to get myself into a silly mood (my most product feeling) or read a quote with a powerful meaning.
ReplyDeleteI think the key is to let the mood strike whenever you feel inspired and also to allow things, anything even the most inanimate object, to create a feeling. it's absolutely a subconscious thing so maybe what gives poetry its beauty is accessing that human feeling side through everything you can in the world. Creating meaning, always creating. Plus everyone's muse works differently, probably not a coincidence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Amanda. I seem to write the best when my emotions are strong. I found it difficult when we would write in class because I can't just tap into my muse on cue. I like writing when I'm at home feeling a certain way due to an inspiration. I also use music as an inspiration, but personally I like music without lyrics to write to.
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