My husband buying books on a trip to North Carolina
My husband doesn’t know that I sneak photos of him reading or buying books. (Although I suppose now he does, since he subscribes to my newsletter. Oops, the secret it out!)
Tom is my muse. I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist. And ever since he walked into my life, every book I’ve written has a character inspired by him, by different facets of this wonderfully complex man.
In The Hundred Loves of Juliet, Sebastien Montague has been through so much and yet still loves fiercely. He’s also always reading. That is Tom.
In One Year Ago in Spain (out July 30th), Matías de León is an artist with an exuberance for life. He has an easy smile and a hundred hobbies and he isn’t afraid to give his entire heart. That is also Tom.
Tom didn’t sign up to be my muse, but sometimes life—and relationships—surprise you in wonderful ways. :)
Who is the muse in your life who inspires you to be the best version of yourself—kinder, more creative, or otherwise?
WORDPLAY is a merry band of readers and writers who love stories that are deeply human—that make us laugh and cry, pause and think a little harder, and connect with one another in an otherwise too-fast, anonymous world.
Such an interesting question. I often refer to 'the muses' but never try to pin them down into something physical. Besides the energies of the universe I don't fully understand, I think my creative muses are my braver self, my future older and wiser self, my past heartbroken and injured self, my beloved partner, my beloved pets, and the people living worlds and lives both shared with me and parallel to me. Because that is how it so often feels. Like our lives are touching, but separate. Thanks for the question, Evelyn! :)
Perhaps this sounds too egocentric, but I am my own muse. Specifically, my muse is the person I have become through loving and losing my husband 2.5 years ago. I take more chances, I have more empathy and the f**ks I give about what others think of me is at an all time low. XO 😍
Amy, this made me both smile and get teary. I know we've shared some of our sadness in the past, but I just want to say again that I am amazed at how you came through with such wisdom. Loss and grief are never ever easy, and I absolutely love that you embrace yourself as your own muse.
I don't know if I have a muse. I get inspiration by anything and everything around me. I was almost feeling left out for a moment from the lack of a single muse, but on a second thought, I think life is my muse and what it throws my way. This line is so poetic and beautiful and it inspires for one to write "I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist."
In return, I love YOUR line: "life is my muse." What an incredible way to live and view this neverending world of possibilities! This really resonated with me tonight. :)
I studied writing with Ursula K. Le Guin (a cultural treasure). I visited her after a reading of "Lavinia," her last novel. It's about a young pre-Roman woman who visits the Oracle and chats with the spirit of the poet Virgil: her muse. I asked Le Guin, "Where shall I find my muse?" She pointed to my husband (a lit major and very fine, imperfect human who provides emotional grist for my Monkeys)!
How wonderful 🥰 that you saw this in your partner: "I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist."
First--you studied with Ursula LeGuin?!?! WOW! What an incredible, rare experience. And secondly--and equally importantly--I love that she pointed out your husband, and that you also seem him as the perfectly imperfect muse for your work!
When I first started, I was writing YA and teaching high school. I suppose that was one of the reasons I wrote YA. And though none of my characters were inspired directly by individual students, the characters had qualities and experiences derived in part from several different students and from my own experiences when I was younger.
I know it's weird, but my dogs tend to be my muses, starting with Hopidog, a feral puppy from the Hopi reservation. He was so fierce, so devoted to me, so beautiful, so determined and stoic in the face of pain, so brave and loyal that he appeared in every painting I did, even when I didn't want a dog in the painting, and since then, in my books, parts of him, and parts of other dogs of mine, wiggle their way into every story.
I don't think that's weird at all! Dogs--and animals--really touch our souls deeply and often in a different way than humans. I think this is incredibly beautiful and speaks so much to who you are, Suzanne.
Love this so much! My gem of a husband is also my muse. 🫶🏻 What a beautiful sentiment: “I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist.”
Hooray for Husband Muses! Isn't it such an amazing gift to be married to someone who is not only partner and best friend, but also a fountain of creative inspiration? I'm am really happy for the two of you. :)
Love this so much! My gem of a husband is also my muse. 🫶🏻 What a beautiful sentiment: “I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist.”
At the moment, I sense my teenage self is my muse. She was told she was too sensitive, felt too much. In essence, her emotions were an inconvenience to others. I'm writing to say: You're pretty awesome. The fat tears of truth rolling down your freckled cheeks are especially lovely.
I LOVE this! Fat tears of truth on freckled cheeks! I'm rewriting a graphic novel and my Soul guided me to write it for my teenage self (a wild child who nearly died several times.)
Such an interesting question. I often refer to 'the muses' but never try to pin them down into something physical. Besides the energies of the universe I don't fully understand, I think my creative muses are my braver self, my future older and wiser self, my past heartbroken and injured self, my beloved partner, my beloved pets, and the people living worlds and lives both shared with me and parallel to me. Because that is how it so often feels. Like our lives are touching, but separate. Thanks for the question, Evelyn! :)
Petra, this was such a gorgeous way to put it. You made my evening better for it. Thank you for sharing your insight!
I've been finding Substack to be my muse 🌿
Isn’t Substack so so so great?!?!
Perhaps this sounds too egocentric, but I am my own muse. Specifically, my muse is the person I have become through loving and losing my husband 2.5 years ago. I take more chances, I have more empathy and the f**ks I give about what others think of me is at an all time low. XO 😍
Amy, this made me both smile and get teary. I know we've shared some of our sadness in the past, but I just want to say again that I am amazed at how you came through with such wisdom. Loss and grief are never ever easy, and I absolutely love that you embrace yourself as your own muse.
I don't know if I have a muse. I get inspiration by anything and everything around me. I was almost feeling left out for a moment from the lack of a single muse, but on a second thought, I think life is my muse and what it throws my way. This line is so poetic and beautiful and it inspires for one to write "I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist."
In return, I love YOUR line: "life is my muse." What an incredible way to live and view this neverending world of possibilities! This really resonated with me tonight. :)
You made my day... week, month! You made my month! I was sitting people watching today and your line is still in my mind. Thank you!
I studied writing with Ursula K. Le Guin (a cultural treasure). I visited her after a reading of "Lavinia," her last novel. It's about a young pre-Roman woman who visits the Oracle and chats with the spirit of the poet Virgil: her muse. I asked Le Guin, "Where shall I find my muse?" She pointed to my husband (a lit major and very fine, imperfect human who provides emotional grist for my Monkeys)!
How wonderful 🥰 that you saw this in your partner: "I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist."
That same quote has stuck with me too!
First--you studied with Ursula LeGuin?!?! WOW! What an incredible, rare experience. And secondly--and equally importantly--I love that she pointed out your husband, and that you also seem him as the perfectly imperfect muse for your work!
Yes 🥰 Feeling so blessed in this life (even if it doesn’t always look/seem like blessing)! Thank you for amplifying this.
When I first started, I was writing YA and teaching high school. I suppose that was one of the reasons I wrote YA. And though none of my characters were inspired directly by individual students, the characters had qualities and experiences derived in part from several different students and from my own experiences when I was younger.
I love this. You were so deeply immersed in giving to others, then those students gave back to you in ways they probably had no clue they were doing!
How true!
Thanks Evelyn. ❤️
I know it's weird, but my dogs tend to be my muses, starting with Hopidog, a feral puppy from the Hopi reservation. He was so fierce, so devoted to me, so beautiful, so determined and stoic in the face of pain, so brave and loyal that he appeared in every painting I did, even when I didn't want a dog in the painting, and since then, in my books, parts of him, and parts of other dogs of mine, wiggle their way into every story.
I don't think that's weird at all! Dogs--and animals--really touch our souls deeply and often in a different way than humans. I think this is incredibly beautiful and speaks so much to who you are, Suzanne.
Love this so much! My gem of a husband is also my muse. 🫶🏻 What a beautiful sentiment: “I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist.”
Hooray for Husband Muses! Isn't it such an amazing gift to be married to someone who is not only partner and best friend, but also a fountain of creative inspiration? I'm am really happy for the two of you. :)
Love this so much! My gem of a husband is also my muse. 🫶🏻 What a beautiful sentiment: “I was writing about him before I even knew him, just a dream that someone like him could exist.”
At the moment, I sense my teenage self is my muse. She was told she was too sensitive, felt too much. In essence, her emotions were an inconvenience to others. I'm writing to say: You're pretty awesome. The fat tears of truth rolling down your freckled cheeks are especially lovely.
I LOVE this! Fat tears of truth on freckled cheeks! I'm rewriting a graphic novel and my Soul guided me to write it for my teenage self (a wild child who nearly died several times.)
Wonderful! You write it for that version of you and it will resonate with so many others in the process, 💗
Goodness, I love this so much. I'm so glad you're in touch with Past Sheila and able to see her beauty through this new lens!
Only with the help of many years of therapy, Evelyn! :) Thank you for this lovely prompt.
Our minds are in the same place, Evelyn. The next post I have cued up on my Substack for Tuesday is called "Muse Complex."
oh wow! Definitely on the same wavelength, and that fact made me smile!
❤️