Writing with your Muses

HOW THIS ZONE CAME ABOUT

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I recently published a paper on Helium in which I described briefly the two modes that I use in writing. http://www.helium.com/items/1656801-creative-writing The first mode is one that everyone is familiar with, you choose a subject and, through a series of conscious judgments you decide what you will do with the subject. I am using that mode in preparing this paper.

The other mode, which I will call the "Muse" mode, is what I use for most of my creative writing, unless it is something like a memoir of a personal experience. In the Muse mode there are several possibilities. I can simply "ask" my muses to give me a "piece", in which case I have no idea what will come to me. Alternatively I can say, "I would like very much to have a short poem similar to the one called "Genevieve". Or, thirdly, I can actually give a title. I recently participated in a creative writing contest which gave twenty titles. I wrote to seventeen of those titles and in the process simply suggested a title to my Muses and they "gave me" the desired piece.

In the Muse mode I begin with a blank piece of paper and a pen that is paused on the line on which I intend to write. I "converse" with my Muse and agree to write what he gives me and then I write the first word or phrase that I think of. I then continually trust this thinking process as the words continue (usually in a very orderly fashion). Occasionally there will be a "block" in the words and I simply state "I am blocking" and I reread what I have just written and the flow goes on.

I never know, consciously, what is coming next. The whole plot flows without my consciously knowing where it is going. Sometimes I get a clue but just as often I am surprised by the outcome. Ordinarily you would think that such a method would lead to poor work at best, but my short stories usually find their way to the top 15 to 20 percentile. I seldom have any editing to do beyond a few typos.

I recently began with..."Her name was Doris" that story is 3 of 25. http://www.helium.com/items/1656262-work-ethics  Last night a story began.."The mischief you say! What did Ole Ollie mean by what he said?"..A strange beginning to say the least. But it came out to be a good story. This morning it is rated at 1 of 21. http://www.helium.com/items/1667091-leprechauns I do not say that to be bragging. I just want to show that this is a very productive mode in which to write. It is also mysterious. I do not know exactly what is happening here, except that it works.

HOW THIS WRITING MODE CAME INTO MY LIFE

This whole process began in February, 1997, when in my reading I came across an audio book called Angelspeake. It said that everyone has a Guardian Angel and it purported to tell how one could have a written conversation with his Angel.

I was on vacation and had extra time. I tried it and to my surprise, it worked. That story is found in http://www.helium.com/items/1095520-channeling . I call it channeling because I don't know what else to call it.Since the day I began writing with the Muse, Mike, (as explained in the above article) I have written hundreds of short stories and poems and most of them have been posted.

I have added several other Muses, Chad, Stephen, Rick, and Robbie. I did not ask for these but each was introduced at one time or another by my Angels. Each of them has just a little different personality. Yes, I know it sounds just a bit like a multiple personality situation. But I have taught others this method in seminars, so if it is akin to multiple personalities, then it is also teachable.

When you have read this explanation and seen some of the work that I have posted using this method, if you feel that this is something that you would like to try, I will be very glad to help you with the process.

Thank you for looking in on our Zone!

SUNRISE IN ALL SEASONS

MY PURPOSE IN PRESENTING THIS ZONE

Since I have had such success in writing creatively in the Muse Mode, I wanted to share the process with the other writers on Helium. It is quite possible that the whole process can be explained as some very mundane, mental exercise that has no spiritual or "other worldly" basis at all. Of course that can be said of all unprovable spiritual beliefs and I would not argue with that. All I can say is that this mode of creativity is much easier than the more traditional approach and has produced many short stories and poems for me. I can also say that, any time I sit down to write I KNOW that I will have an acceptable story when I get through. I can not say that about the traditional method.

So, it is my hopes that others will try this method and find it to be helpful. I certainly hope that we will hear of your successes. We will be glad to help you through your failures. It is not my purpose to offend anyone who does not take this as a viable approach. Nor do I want to use this vehicle as a place for debate as to the validity of the process. It is helpful to me. I hope that it will be helpful to many of you. But I have no desire to be the cause of any negativity of any kind. I invite your comments.

HELIUM ARTICLES RELATED TO ANGELS, "MUSES", AND CHANNELING.

There are various suggestions concerning acquiring a Muse. These authors do not consider a Muse as an "other worldly" inspirer but something or someone in your "this worldly environment. The link is below:  

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/149956-writing-tips-acquiring-a-muse

Here are various articles on the existence of Angels and how to gain access to their help in your life. Link is below:

http://www.helium.com/items/1253175-how-to-connect-with-and-get-help-from-angels

There are various Links concerning Channeling or connecting with a reality beyond that which we usually experience with our five senses. These links are below:

http://www.helium.com/items/1479911-what-you-should-know-about-channeling-channelling-explained-simply

http://www.helium.com/items/1495850-channeling 

http://www.helium.com/items/1102715-channeling-is-channeling-a-real-experience-or-is-it-faked

USING THE "MUSE MODE" WITHOUT THE MUSES

On several occasions I have experimented to see if I could produce the same results without asking my Muses for help and it worked. The Muses' explanation was that the mechanism is available in everyone and that the Muses use that mechanism. The only difference is that when we use the help of the Muses the resources available to the writer are from a much broader source. I guess that makes sense.

Here is an example of a story that I did with this same method but without consciously calling on the Muses. I think it turned out very well. And I have an idea that the experience that I had over the years in working with the Muses certainly had a helpful bearing on my product, even though I did not ask for their participation in this case. Here is an example: http://www.helium.com/items/1283616-short-stories-music .Even though I had success in two or three situations, I still feel more confident when I consciously ask for their help.

IS THIS MY WORK?

It occurred to me early on to wonder, if this comes so easily could I really consider it my own? When I spoke to my Angels about this they said that what I write depends on my memory, my vocabulary, my personality, my experience, and the total that I think of as me. They use my own mental processes. The broader sources of information that they afford me, they say, is comparable to using the information on Google. So, from their point of view I need not be concerned that it is in any sense plagiarism. And that makes sense to me.

RELATED ARTICLES WRITTEN BY THE MANAGER ON HELIUM

These are articles posted on Helium by the Manager concerning related topics.

 http://www.helium.com/items/1537277-god-is-still-working

 http://www.helium.com/items/1656801-creative-writing This article discusses the two Modes of Creative Writing.

http://www.helium.com/items/1537277-god-is-still-working This is a discussion of how God still intervenes in the lives of people on earth.

 http://www.helium.com/items/1176903-the-timeliness-of-death
This is a channeled article concerning death from An Angels Perspective.

 http://www.helium.com/items/1125785-guardian-angels  A short story that teaches that everyone has a Guardian Angel. It tells about the intervention of a Guardian Angel in the life of a family. 

http://www.helium.com/items/1095520-channeling   This is the Manager's telling of his own experience in channeling.

 http://www.helium.com/items/1093536-synchronicity
This is the Manager's telling of two examples of synchronisity, or possible Angel intervention in his own life.

Now, for the process itself. It is somewhat a spiritual process, in that it assumes that there is a metaphysical existence beyond the world that we experience with our usual senses. But it does not require a specific religious experience on your part – only enough interest as to allow your participation in trying the experience.

Since I do not know how much my early communication with my Guardian Angel has to do with the process with the Muses, I will give a general instruction of how I have learned and then taught others to go about the conversation process. Then I will tell you how I adjust that for my writing. You might want to benefit from both processes.

You do not have to have complete faith in the process to begin. You must only be curious enough to be willing to try it.

Gratitude is a key to success, so express thanks often in the conversations.

Begin by saying a prayer or request to God (The Universe, Spirit) as you perceive Him/Her to this effect: “God, may this experience be for the highest good for all and may there be no negative or harmful element within the experience at all”.

Then address your Angel and ask: “Do you have anything for me?”

Then write whatever thought, word, or phrase that comes to your mind. Think in terms of the Angels talking directly to you. Let it be a “user friendly” conversation. If you do not sense anything, write that down (don't expect an audible response, just a mental thought). If you hear a word, ask them what they mean by that. Ask by what name they want you to call them. Write down everything, questions and answers.

Do not look around the room and do not close your eyes. Just have your pen poised on the line where you are going to write and look directly at the line.

Thank your Angel and use good manners. Ask them whatever questions occur to you, like, “what is my purpose on earth? Will you help me as I write on Helium, etc.

Do not in any way try to “prove them” by asking tricky questions. It does not work. For instance:”I don't know my grandmother's middle name but if I ask them that then I can ask my mother what it is and if the names agree then that proves that this is not just my subconscious playing tricks on me”. I can attest to the fact that this will probably be a recurring doubt. But, in my case at least, it never worked when I tried to prove them in such a fashion. Their answers, hopefully, will be enough proof to keep you going.

When I began to apply the above approach to writing stories, I shortened the process to something like the following: Say the prayer

2.Ask the angels, if you have not already done so, if they would have a Muse for you, if they would tell you something about him/Her, and would they introduce him?

1. If they introduce you, converse with the Muse as to any questions you may have about procedure.

2. Once a relationship is established with your Muse, your regular process would be:

3. After saying the prayer, (Name of Muse), do you have a story, poem, etc.for me?

4. They will likely answer, “Yes”.Then skip a line to make room for a title that will probably be given after the story or poem is complete.

5. Then write whatever follows. Ask them if this is complete and accurate when you sense the end. Ask permission to edit anything you see that you would like to change. Ask their help in determining any changes that might need to be made.

6. Always thank them.

Allow time for you to become comfortable and proficient with this process. I had written many pages of conversations before it even occurred to me that they could also help me write short stories and poetry. So, don't be discouraged if it takes a while. And I will be glad to try to answer any questions that may arise in the course of your trying this out.

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