"There's No Such Things As Muses!" *pop*

[mysticjuicer]

A counterpoint to the first of the TEDtalks I linked to earlier. I like this refutation of the muse more than the call to bring it back. (Thanks for sending me the link Alex!)

Comments

[mistress_gwen]

Dude, yes. *flexes* I may only write essays and reviews, but I bled over those bitches. You'd know.

The other side of the self-destructive-artist thing is simply being able to own your power. That's what that refutation is saying. It means that you're not going to go insane, because you don't have the time for that shit. You've got stuff to do. Stuff to say. Everything Gilbert says here points towards that kind of destructive behaviour, not away from it. Responsibility and a real work ethic will save an artist. Period.

My two cents. Probably should have slept more first.

[mysticjuicer]

No, I agree completely. Like Valente says: "These are metaphors for brain processes--but talking about them as literal realities makes us all look a little flighty and a little crazy. And indirectly leads to the awesome I'm-an-artist-and-I-can-drink-all-day-and-fuck-whoever-I-like-because-I'm-an-artist-and-I-need-to-court-my-muse. Vomit."
While Gilbert is talking about dealing with the expectations and worries of your writing's reception, Valente is concerned with the actual writing. There's a humility there that's very valuable, I think.

[phreeque]

"Muses and talent have a common parent, chance. Hone your skill. Muses maybe get you a homerun your first time at bat, but they may never come to you again. Skill is yours, hard earned and I think far more valuable."

Reminds me of when Edo Von Belkam came to visit the Crafting a Novel class I was in at Sheridan. He explained to us that, to be a successful writer, you need two of the following three things: Talent, persistence, and luck.

Talent and persistence will get you published in no time. Talent plus luck would be the equivalent of the home run metaphor. With persistence and luck, no matter how crappy your work is, if you keep putting it out there, someone's going to bite eventually.

I mean, being good at your career is definitely better than being a lucksack at it, but that's not to say it can't be done.

And yes. I think I, too, came to the conclusion that I'd be happy doing things that aren't writing for money. Kind of makes me wish I hadn't kept pushing with the writing thing at York. Too late to turn back now...

[syhd]

Oooh, I'm glad you found that post. I showed the video to a friend and while we enjoyed her storytelling, we debunked the idea of divine muse soundly between the two of us.

[mysticjuicer]

*nods* I really enjoy her presentation. I'm glad she got a near-ovation. But yeah, instead of bringing back the muse in order to dissolve the archetype of the tortured artist, maybe we should just all work towards being less tortured. :>)

[adagioweapon]

Really? You debunked it? With the scientific method? Incredible.