Monday Muse: Delta Rae - "The Dark"

If any of you have been paying attention, you know that I LOVE Delta Rae.  They are often featured on Monday Muse and songs of theirs are on numerous "inspiration" playlists for my writing.  It should come as no surprise that when they went Indie and put up a Kickstarter I backed it.  The idea was simple, two sister albums -- The Light and The Dark -- released at different points in time.  Well, The Dark album dropped this week and, like all of their well timed music, I needed to hear it.  I think you all need it in your lives too, so here you go.

Monday Muse: The Glitch Mob - We Swarm (Beats Antique remix)

This song reminds me of a rave being crashed by a bunch of gypsy-clad polka musicians and a high school marching band. No joke. Rule #1: You can't beat Beats Antique. Rule #2: Remixes are awesomesauce.

P.S.-I've never actually been to a rave, but I have a good idea of what one might look and sound like...Yay television!

Monday Muse: Young Men Dead - The Black Angels

There is something about how dark and creepy this song is that makes me like it.

Monday Muse: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana Del Rey is a new discovery! She's quite lovely and has an even lovelier voice. Please enjoy!

Monday Muse: White Flag -Morgan

This is one of my favorite bands ever! This is an older version of White Flag...Back when they called themselves "Morgan" and not "The Romanovs," but I like this YouTube version a little better. Enjoy!

Toolbox Tuesday: Ironclad Will

By "will" I mean the will to do things.  This runs the gamut from simply having that self-starter mentality that will get you approaching the subject of becoming a novelist all the way to the sheer bull-headed (or pigheadedness) that you're eventually going to need not to give up.  In other words, stubbornness.  From general willingness to being strong willed.

Especially, the strong will.  This is where you go all medieval knight on your career and get Ironclad.

Starting a novel is easy.  Finishing it might even be easy.  It's when you start going through the edits and people are going to start criticizing you; pitching agents for YEARS; dealing with being on submission to editors and continually getting rejected by your dream houses; fighting with your publisist who pick bad covers and make useless book trailers; AND THEN having to adhere to a grueling touring schedule, making deadlines for the next book, and possibly STILL getting dropped because sales are too low -- where people start to crack.  Gosh that's a long sentence!

Many people just can't deal with it.  They either give up or take alternate routes.  I'm not saying that taking the alternate route is bad, I'm a strong believer in options for everyone.  While NY is my goal; I am, myself published through a small e-publisher and will probably, once in my life self-publish something.  But being an Indie author has its own set of trials and tribulations, especially if you aren't coming from NY and bringing your readers along with you.  If you want to sell at all, you have to promote yourself ENTIRELY on your own, often without being carried by larger retailers.  A hecktic self-promo schedule and, very often, (since you don't have the financial support of the big publishing house) a chunk of money coming out of your own pocket can run an enthusiastic self-published author into the ground.

I'm not sure many people realize just how frustrating and trying being an author can actually be.  People might even think it's easy...and maybe for someone like Nora Roberts it is.  But I bet it wasn't in the beginning.  Even J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer had trouble in the beginning.  It's always hard in the beginning.  And it takes wanting something so bad it hurts to keep you trudging through it all (even if the trudging hurts more).  Just envsion yourself an intrepid explorer on Mount Everest.  The air is frigid, you can barely breath, and every move hurts.  Will you lay downa dn let the snow bury you or will you continue plodding against the razor-sharp wind?  Depends.  How badly do you want to get to the top?

If your thinking of being an author, ask yourself that simple question.  Do you want it that bad?  Are you willing to do anything to get to the top?  Are you that kind of writer? 

If you are, then welcome to the very exclusive group of those with ironclad wills.  For you, the universe will hold nothing back...probably because you're just stuborn enough to beat it up for trying. :) 

Write on, dear friends.

Monday Muse: Sia - Breathe Me

Monday Muse: Anything Can Happen

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Today's muse is worth a thousand possibilities.  I hope this inspires you too!

This piece is ...nothing but silence by deviantART's wariatka.

The Circle of Muses

What's your Muse?

You often hear artists of all types talking about their "Muse."  In ancient Greek mythology there were, at one point, up to nine Muses who ruled over everything from poetry to astronomy.  These days few people mean these gods and goddesses when they talk about their muses.  Never-the-less, today's muses serve the same purpose as the muses of yesteryear.  They inspire within us a desire to see, to create, and to think beyond our daily tasks.  And, while today's version of the muse may not hover over our shoulder like a  guardian angel, we can still feel their weight pressing us to create.

So when do you feel that creative urge?

For me, like with many other authors, I find my artistic inspiration in the work of other artists.  Some authors need to read to find inspiration.  Some need only look upon a piece of art and feel the need to put it into words.  Others hear a song and feel the story behind that melody clamoring to the tips of their fingers.  Even another artist's passion makes me want to sit down and write something.

Is it possible that we've become muses to each other?  And if so, why wait?  If we want a muse, then let's go out and find it!

I'm not saying to go out and write a bunch of re-tellings and do a bunch of cover songs.  I'm saying that there are roots to the human experience in every form of art we experience and we shouldn't look over such an important resource.  So, if you're feeling a little stumped as to how to write an action scene, throw on a little Beethoven; if you don't know how your female character should react to a walking on her brother and best friend making out on the couch go watch a soap; if you want to know true joy watch a little girl laugh; and if you want to know what true cover art looks like do some research on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Most importantly, never be afraid to play the muse for someone else. :)