So, I’ve been toying with various ideas and my mind wandered into the realm of ‘The Muse’. It’s not something I typically think of since I never really nailed down an exact muse for myself. Guess I have thousands of them, but that’s besides the point. I began to wonder if a world of fantasy would have a strange variation of Muses. I know they stem from Greek Mythology, so it isn’t a far jump to imagine a Muse taking physical form and being some goddess-like being.
This brought me to the idea of fairies and a future story/series that I planned. I wanted to investigate the various species of Windemere at some point. Not sure if this specific idea will join the series or be a stand alone, but here it is. There is a type of pixie that flies around cities and sprinkles dust on artists when they need a boost of creativity. The reason for this is because these fae feed off the aura that an artist emits when working on a project. Sometimes they find someone who is so blocked that their dust can’t help them and most times they’ll let the person give up. Yet, there are times where a pixie will take pity on the artist and transform into a Muse to help them.
A Muse is bonded to the artist and can be seen, possibly even take a human (or whatever race the artist is) size. Their energy and feedback can help break the creative block and bring the project to completion. The downside to one of the pixies taking the form/role is that they sacrifice their future. If the project is finished or abandoned then the Muse fades into oblivion. Many people are probably saying ‘well then why would any of the pixies do that?’ Because the eruption of creative aura from such a project would help their entire species and bring about a stronger generation. Also, any who take this path know what their fate is, so it isn’t a light decision.
Now, I’m toying with the idea of the artist that is in this story to find a way to avoid his Muse’s death. Not drawing out his project indefinitely because that could be seen as an abandonment in the eyes of the magical laws. I’m thinking of him finding a way to actually break her from the laws and then he has a ‘wild’ Muse on his hands. This can go in various directions depending on if I decide that it’s happened before or this is a first time. I’m thinking of not going the ‘lover’ route with the two, but more of a cherished friendship between them. This is why I’m wondering about making the Muse its own series. I can pull out her trying to get used to being free and falling into a few problems. There’s always the concept of someone wanting to capture her and use her Muse abilities for his/her own nefarious schemes. Then again, I can always make it a stand alone book where she is freed in ‘Act 1’, gets into trouble in ‘Act 2’, and . . . I’m not really sure how this would end. Return to pixie life? Fade away to put nature right? Go off on her own? Stay with the artist and live a new life? It’s really an open book right now.
Anyway, that’s one of the many ideas I was toying with during my ‘vacation’. Got that and made major progress on Project Phoenix, which I really need to rename. There’s no phoenix or project involved any more. Same goes for ‘Realm of the Night’ since I made all my vampires daywalkers, but it’s hard because I love that series title. Been using it since college too. I think I’ve diverted from my path.
Legends of Windemere 
A pixie muse sounds kind of cool. I don’t think I have had a muse, but probably need one. Moses may have been my muse in my last book because I was always thinking about how he saw his world. I need a new one. He’s not in this book or anything else I am planning. Maybe Miss Josephine the cook…she sees all, knows all.
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Maybe it can be an animal or a thing.
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Like the idea of a muse and some infallibility magic wise. Sounds interesting
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It’ll be fun to see how this flushes out down the line. Definitely seems to be heading into my fae stories when the time comes.
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I like the idea of this very much, Charles.
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Thanks.
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I’m into my Muse, but kind of hope she stays away for a little while. I have other things to tend to right now. I say write it and see where it leads.
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It’s definitely on the 30+ project list.
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Sounds interesting, but did you know the Muses actually were goddesses in Greek legend? They were: Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry). Interesting to consider what the ancients deemed were separate Arts, eh?
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Yup. I tried finding a pic of them for the post, but I wasn’t sure how many people know. Greek mythology knowledge is hit or miss at times.
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I like the Pixie/Muse idea, anyhow.
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You hear people talk about their muse all the time. Figure an invisible pixie isn’t much of a stretch. 🙂
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Sounds like you are starting to get back on track Charles, but it is normal that things will evolve over time, doesn’t sound like anything to worry about. 🙂
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Thanks. Still struggling to stay on the track. Moving a lot slower than I like.
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Sometimes slowing down is all you need to get back in the groove. It generally returns all of a sudden. Hang in there.
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Thanks. 🙂
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This became even more intriguing when you introduced the idea of the muse fading into oblivion if the project doesn’t come to fruition. I like how you raised the stakes with the idea of the close relationship. I like where you’re going with this. You’ve probably already considered this, but raise it more by introducing obstacles to the hero’s completion of the creative project. The deeper you make the relationship with the muse (not necessarily romantic) and the more conflict that arises, the more intensely the reader will be involved. What are you thinking about for the antagonistic force?
BTW, I need a “type of pixie that flies around cities and sprinkles dust on artists when they need a boost of creativity.” 🙂
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I haven’t decided on an antagonist yet. It depends on what I do with the story. It’s part of a series where each book showcases a Fae hero, so I only have one book for this. The enemy might simply end up being time because the project is finishing and the artist can’t figure out how to save the muse.
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Ah, time. “Of all losses time is the most irrecuperable because it can never be redeemed.” Love that quote.
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Never heard it before. Where is it from?
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King Henry VIII. Not actually a fan, but he is a great character to study, especially how power and position twists the mind and corrupts the soul.
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I only know the silly song. History was never my strong suit because I have a problem remembering dates.
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