Stewing apples and the temporary madness of the Muse

 

It happened while coring and cutting up apples ready for the process of stewing. My muse issued forth in a very small whispery voice, 'write me.' And so the conversation began:

'No. Not now, can't you see I'm busy.'

'But that's not as important as me. Write me!'

'Busy.'

'Imagine the picture of your novel when you've finished, got an agent, publisher. Doesn't it look nice?'

'Yes. Lovely.'

'Write me.'

'Muse. Behave yourself. I'll write you, but I only have one pair of hands.'

Frequently, the Muse strikes when we’re minding our own business, getting on with the small tasks we do in our every day life: vacuuming, washing dishes,  cleaning the kitchen floor, cutting, and chopping. It also happens when it knows we are indisposed, when shopping for instance or driving. It will never come so easily when sitting down with a cup of coffee, pen and notebook in hand.

What to do when the inconvenient Muse appears is just to enjoy the 'drifting madness,’ and try to remember its ideas when you are able to sit down and write.