How do you manage the muse? That is a question that comes up a lot, and I admit I haven’t entirely figured it out. But I’ve muddled my way into strategies that work for me as a writer. And yes, there have been wrong turns, as well as bumps and moments when my motor wouldn’t turn on at all. But those dormant days aren’t so bad. Perennial plants during the winter focus on nourishing their roots. It’s a period of necessary restoration on a cellular level, so they can burst into spring. There is a big difference between productivity and creativity. And sometimes, in order to have a burst of creativity, we do need to winter our muse.
Still, there are ways, even during the dark and cold days of winter, you can coax the muse. The b.i.c. (butt in chair) method is certainly important. And yet that alone doesn’t always suffice. For me, it’s helpful to have an inspiring writing space. Above my desk, for example, is a lithograph of an eden of animals along a stream. And sound is important. For the most part, I require soothing repetitive sounds that become white noise, where I stop paying attention to what I’m listening to and focus on my writing task at hand. This is because I’m easily distracted. In film, there’s diegetic and non-diabetic sound. Diegetic music, for example, means music that the characters in the film can hear. Where non-diegetic music would be the soundtrack that the viewer can hear but the characters can’t. I guess, in a sense, I’m character surrounded by non-diegetic music. If you stroll past my my office, you will hear the gush of a waterfall on Spotify, but I will be essentially unaware as I lean into a trance-like state. The sounds of waterfalls or rainwater soothe me as I can get very anxious while writing.
Being busy can help with anxiety. When I have a tight publishing deadline, I don’t have time to be self-critical. During those periods, I don’t even notice the clock. Yet sometimes the idea of too much b.i.c. is daunting, especially when I strive for balance. Time for friends, family, cooking, exercising, nature time. It can be easy to look at those with alleged free time with envy. But when I have too much unstructured time, I find that I read way too many newspapers, or scroll through Instagram Reels that just pop up about lots of random celebrities and animals. In other words, having “free” time doesn’t necessarily always give you an edge as a writer.
Some writers have busy work lives and find that they work a bit at a time. While others like to write for hours and hours and then recover for days and days. It just goes to show that there is no one way. For example, some writers love to write in cafes. Others can only do it at their desk. I have to confess that while I can write almost anywhere, I am easily distracted so if I write in a cafe, I absolutely need noise cancelling headphones.
This is all to say that there is no one writer’s bible for managing the muse. But you can create your own and see what works. But remember your life will change. Circumstances will change and your writing routine may change with it. And that’s okay.
She can be found at hillaryhomzie.com and on Instagram, her Facebook page as well as on Twitter
My good friend, Professor Lisa Granata, who has 30 years’ experience teaching all ages, has used bugs as models in her art classes. She said the young students were enthused much more than the adults. She kindly shared her lesson directions, which she has used for both kids and adults.
1. Gather art supplies- pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, heavy drawing paper or watercolor paper, extra fine sharpie, watercolors set (Jack Richeson 38010 Yarka Student Semi Moist Watercolor), a cup for water, paper towels, watercolor brushes (detail brush # 0 and a round tip brush size 12), masking tape and a magnifying insect box. (MagniPros Pack of 3 Magnifier Box Bug Viewer Magnifies up to 5X(500%) with Crystal Clear Image)
2. Go to the windowsill in your home and look for insects. Find the bugs with the most interesting shapes, patterns, or colors.
3. Carefully place insects into the box to study. Carefully observe the lines, shapes, colors, and patterns.
4. Tape all four sides of the edges of your paper to your table. This will keep your paper flat and leave a border.
5. Take your pencil and eraser and sketch one large insect on your paper or you might choose 3 different insects from your windowsill collection. Think about your composition. Draw large and fill the page.
6. Back up and check your proportions. Are the shapes correct? If not, make small adjustments. (This is part of the creative process).
7. Trace all pencil lines with your extra fine sharpie.
8. Fill your cup with water, take out a paper towel, open your watercolor set and wet your brushes.
9. Lightly dip your wet brush into the semi wet watercolors to add color to the insects. Carefully examine the insect’s details under the magnifying glass.
10. Have fun painting!
11. Peel off your tape the next day after the paper is dry.
Several models of loups are available at low cost just for that purpose. In my part of the country, we have an abundance of stink bugs and lady bugs that get inside during the winter and die before we spot them. If your windows are so airtight, you can probably find other sources. According to the American Museum of Natural History:
In terms of numbers of species, insects certainly represent the largest percentage of the world’s organisms. There are more than 1 million species of insects that have been documented and studied by scientists.
The ways the bug drawings can be used in classroom or educational settings are nearly as numerous as bugs themselves. An insect journal is definitely at the top of the list, but there is much more – posters, story illustrations, animation, reports, fine arts.
You can order loups here. Pack of 3 Magnifier Box Bug Viewer Magnifies up to 5X(500%) 
Plagues and Pandemics (History Smashers) by Kate Messner
Itch!: Everything You Didn’t Want to Know About What Makes You Scratch by Anita Sanchez
What’s Eating You? Parasites – The Inside Story by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Neal Layton
Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at 