Just what is "The Bolt", one might ask. Is it some new superhero? A new "Monster"-style drink, chock full of caffeine goodness?
Well....no.
Some may know it by it's more common name. "The Muse".
My problem is, though, I hate calling it "The Muse".....it's just too....'Xanadu' for me, ya know?
Not that I didn't like the movie Xanadu or anything like that...I just don't want to put the picture of a roller skating, 1980s era, mythological movie creature out there when I'm trying to describe the creative process. And, invariably, when I mention a muse, I think of Olivia Newton John. Not that there's anything, AT ALL, wrong with thinking of the lovely songstress, I just don't want to distract anyone.....including myself.
No, I prefer to call the process of trying to be creative "The Bolt". You know, like lightning. Something that strikes quickly, out of the blue, and makes your hair stand on end. That twenty-one gigawatts that really gets the creative juices flowing.
Well, that's how I look at it.
Sometimes my wife will ask me what I'm doing when I'm reclining back in my desk chair with my eyes closed, hands on my head and feet propped up. I'll tell her that "I'm waiting for The Bolt".
The reason I even bring up the silly concept of The Bolt is because it struck me hard a few days ago. I'm not talking twenty-one gigawatts, even. More like one hundred and five gigawatts. What little hair I have on my head did stand up on end and my bloodshot eyes twinkled like a couple of fireflies.
I won't reveal the particulars here, but I gave a hint on my Twitter feed a couple of days ago.
Here's a hint....it has absolutely nothing to do with me trying to grow a beard. If it pans out, though, it could really give me a leg up with this years, NaNoWriMo!
Sticks a metal pole out the window, waiting for the next visit from The Bolt!
15 comments:
I hope you get several hits from The Bolt this week! :)
Now I need to go read your Twitter feed.
When I'm staring into space, I tell my wife I'm thinking of nothing at all...
I don't believe in "inspiration" or any of its various permutations.
@Tyrean: Thanks and I'll wear some tinfoil, just to make sure :)
@Alex: I like seeing my wife roll my eyes when I say it :D
@Andrew: Well, I sure do. Of course, that doesn't mean one still doesn't have to work towards it when it's not around.
Inspiration comes in all sorts of forms. (I don't like calling it a muse either.) We each have our resources. Mine is dreams - almost every single one of the stories I've written came from a dream.
Oh I really like the idea of The Bolt. That's awesome, and I think it fits you perfectly. I don't know what I call it for myself yet. But I do like when whatever it is comes in and takes over.
Oooo… I love that pic! (And "the bolt" is definitely as magical) :)
Ha. Mark. I need to go look at your twitter feed. What's this about a BEARD??? :)
Aw, I miss the bolt. And that's a perfect description BTW I've been editing for too long and this summer as been a bust as far as writing goes. Good luck with your story. Enjoy the electricity.
@Diane: I can see that and I'm jealous that you remember yours. I hardly ever remember mine.
@Lisa: Yes, it's nice, isn't it? :)
@Morgan: Haha, yes, well....there -may- be pics if it doesn't make me look like a bum :)
@Sara: Good luck with those edits and I'm sure you'll get struck when you need to be :)
Bolt - good! Glad you were sizzled.
My bolt has been something akin to the low voltage jolt you get from sticking your tongue on a battery. And both episodes end in me wondering how I could have wasted time and brain cells on something so senseless.
I think the The Bolt is much better than the muse. I totally get what you mean by it.
Good luck with the new creative energies.
love your idea of a bolt! totally "shocking". good luck with you're shocking bolt writing!
To me the "muse" is floaty and ethereal... can be hard to catch what she's saying. A bolt sounds much more direct! Hope you get plenty more hits!
"The bolt." I like that! That does describe it well. Yeah, the idea of a muse has always creeped me out. Like some invisible person is following us around, inspiring us.
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