tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post3711927874356682860..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Got any good muse?L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-10393895131461436802012-10-25T15:59:41.933-07:002012-10-25T15:59:41.933-07:00Jen - you're funny! Yes, long live women of my...Jen - you're funny! Yes, long live women of mystery, whereever they are!<br /><br />Drew - it's probably rare to have a muse as sweet as my little red mare. Typically, I think of them as firebreathing demons of the ninth circle of Hell, who drive you relentlessly, then abandon you in favor of a better idea, because they're also ADHD. But if you want to call it Fear, I can go with that.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-13560838366382636212012-10-25T13:47:33.071-07:002012-10-25T13:47:33.071-07:00My muse is called Fear. It's what drives me. I...My muse is called Fear. It's what drives me. It's what makes me sit down every single day and write--and not just write, but write better. Fear of losing what I've struggled so hard to get up until now, of finding out there isn't any more of it left. Fear of letting down my readers...or even worse, myself. <br /><br />You name it, I fear it. <br /><br />It's probably not the best kind of muse to have, but damn...she sure does keep me on my toes.<br />ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-53290577780637418082012-10-25T10:41:17.573-07:002012-10-25T10:41:17.573-07:00Wonderful post, Gayle! Animals have always been a ...Wonderful post, Gayle! Animals have always been a great inspiration for me, as well, and there's something so inherently peaceful about the bigger beasts. Like the rest of the folks here, I don't know that I really have a muse per se... I'm one of those sorts who will do just about anything to avoid the dreaded day job, and while my preference early on would have been to become a jewel thief or an international woman of mystery, writing allows me to (1) Steer clear of the nine to five, (2) Live vicariously through characters who are jewel thieves or international women of mystery, and (3) Avoid doing hard time in the process. I have to say, you having a lovely red horse as inspiration is much more poetic than me just being too lazy to put my time in at the local secretarial pool! Jen Bloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17750979789472540108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-75800093011392557362012-10-25T08:56:59.540-07:002012-10-25T08:56:59.540-07:00Jenny, you're such a hoot, I missed you in Dua...Jenny, you're such a hoot, I missed you in Duarte this year. Having the same stubborn streak, I definitely recognize yours (in a good way)! <br /><br />Maybe I should rent out my gnomes. More than one person has threatened to nick them.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-50504145533507532362012-10-25T08:27:49.020-07:002012-10-25T08:27:49.020-07:00I also have no muse. I wasn't reading crap whe...I also have no muse. I wasn't reading crap when I decided to start my first novel. I was reading a terrific novel by Sidney Sheldon and it inspired me to do what I'd wanted to do for years. I thought, "I can do it." I'm a stubborn sort and refuse to believe I can't do something. If I truly can't do it, I want to see it proved before I'll believe it. <br /><br />(I'm gonna nick one of those gnomes next time I share a booth with you. They are awfully cute).Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-61353157645672148572012-10-25T08:24:00.975-07:002012-10-25T08:24:00.975-07:00How wonderful, Peg, to have a mom who encouraged y...How wonderful, Peg, to have a mom who encouraged you to follow your passion. You and she must have shared a special relationship.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-64515143334233374132012-10-25T08:17:04.024-07:002012-10-25T08:17:04.024-07:00I've always been drawn to horses, but they als...I've always been drawn to horses, but they also frighten me. Just had to say that.<br /><br />Like you Gayle, it took me years and years to figure out what I wanted to do, and more years to get good enough at it to actually do it. My desk is filled with little things that represent muse-iness to me, but I really think for me it's my mom.<br /><br />Mom was a huge reader, and she loved mysteries. She, I think, was happy that I finally figured out what made me happy. My mom died before RED TIDE came out but I know she would have been (is) proud of me. I hear her voice telling me to get with the program and that she believes in me.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-41526925160772407032012-10-25T08:11:45.070-07:002012-10-25T08:11:45.070-07:00I love that you not only decided you could do bett...I love that you not only decided you could do better, you actually did it. There are countless other people out there who say things like "I could've written that script/book/etc" but lack the determination and true talent to sit their butt in the chair and DO IT. (I have to add, now that your books are out, they're probably just reading the wrong author!)Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73721375825132196982012-10-25T07:42:11.725-07:002012-10-25T07:42:11.725-07:00Thanks for sharing your story. I love getting to k...Thanks for sharing your story. I love getting to know you better. <br /><br />I'm sorry to report that I don't have muse. I wrote my first story after announcing that I could write a better novel than the crap I was currently reading. My anal/compulsive brain said, "Really? Let's see you do it." <br /><br />So I did and I loved it, and now I can't stop. But storytelling turned out to be one of my better addictions. L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com