What Inspires You? I've Got Hairy Bookends!

Not long ago I posted about my writing muses, Wood Spirit Walt and a trio of dragons named Edgar, Allan and Poe.  (Here's the link to that post, if you'd like a look at Walt and his winged cohorts:  http://www.writinginthebuff.net/2010/11/wood-spirit-walt-and-dragons-edgar.html.)

Yesterday my two Lab (okay, Lab-ish) pups curled like breathing bookends on the daybed in my office, and I realized I omitted them in my previous post about muses. How could I forget Penny (black female) and Rigby (yellow male)? These two hairy kids keep me company every day. They mosey over for a belly rub right about the time my brain is deep-freezing on a plot point or my memory faltering on proper syntax. How do they always know the perfect time to offer encouragement?

These faithful pups wait with Zen-like patience for me to abandon the keyboard and scratch their ears or reward their adorable hairiness with rawhide treats.  They also bark to warn me of horrible threats to my safety, such as a leaf falling from a tree in a neighboring county or the miniature Chihuahua peeing on a bush three houses down.

Okay, so admittedly their danger assessment skills are lacking, but Rigby and Penny excel at other things. They imbue my world with an abundance of positive juju, and they love me with unwavering fervor whether I'm putting the finishing touches on a story or wading neck deep in the swamp of a mucky first draft.

And let's face it. When it comes to inspiration, it's hard to beat a wagging tail and wet nose.

Til next time --
Lisa


P.S.  Thank you so much! To everyone participating in my February blog contest.  If you haven't yet entered, please do!  For details on how to enter and what you could win click on this link: "February Blog Contest" or click the contest tab located at the top of this blog.

Wood Spirit Walt and Dragons Edgar, Allan and Poe

clip art courtesy of hasslefreeclipart.com

It is already mid afternoon, and after missing a whole day of NaNo typing yesterday I am, at last, sitting at the keyboard.  I should be working on my novel, but like a kid with homework I must procrastinate first, and blogging is as effective a mechanism as any. So here I am, stalling. . .er, blogging.

Before the creative part of my brain fully engages, there are several pre-writing tasks to be accomplished, and noshing on Veggie Straws (pseudo potato chips shaped like french fries) has already been accomplished. After the successful munching of junk food comes the feng shui portion of the Writing Eccentricities program, where I make sure my writing muses are in their proper place.  So. . .hand carved by my daddy is Wood Spirit Walt who looks like an old Indian chief and hangs on the wall next to the window above my desk.  He whispers all manner of wise advice regarding grammar and character development--check.

The Three Writing Dragons, which I have never seen actually fly or spit fire, but I suspect that they zoom about at night while the rest of the house is sleeping. I cannot prove it, but it explains why my cats' run laps when the lights are out. So. . .my Three Writing Dragons who sit on my printer next to my desk: Edgar, Allan and Poe, who remind me not to take myself too seriously--check.

The last thing required before I get down to business---lighting of the candle. It burns while I write and smells up the room (in a good way).  Walt, Edgar, Allan and Poe seem to like it, so candle burning is a go. And--check! Writing muses in place, candle all aglow, and I'm ready to NaNo.

Before signing off I want to remind you about my blog contest for which you may still sign up. Details are in a previous post...just scroll down.  Also, my blog friend, Karen, over at Write Now is hosting a contest, too.  Check it out!

And. . .I'm off to NaNo! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Lisa