A GHOST OF AN IDEA

by Betty Liedtke

Most writers will talk freely of their Muse—that unseen and sometimes elusive source of ideas and inspiration. The Muse sits on our shoulder, whispering the words and thoughts that we craft into poetry and prose. But sometimes she disappears for days or weeks at a time—or even longer. There’s another term for this, by the way: Writer’s Block.

Elsewhere in this issue of Page Turner, you can read about ghostly phenomena, and about several writers’ houses that are said to be haunted. Perhaps the spirits of writers long gone are still walking the halls of their previous residences and, like a Muse, are whispering words of inspiration to the homes’ current owners.

Whether you believe in ghosts, Muses, or divine inspiration as your source of creativity, in order to benefit from them, you need to listen to them. And listen for them. When you train yourself to pay attention to everything going on around you, inspiration can come from an overheard comment, a song on the radio, or the observance of something that startles you or makes you laugh.

During the 16 years I wrote a weekly newspaper column, people often asked where I got my ideas. The truth is I never went looking for ideas. Instead, I just stayed open to them all the time. I got many columns from out-of-the-ordinary experiences like going to Uganda, or dancing with a man in a wheelchair. But I also got column ideas from everyday experiences and occurrences, like chatting with a grocery store cashier or lighting a candle I received as a Christmas gift.

Once this becomes automatic for you, you’ll be surprised at how much and how often your Muse talks to you, giving you plenty of material for your next novel, poem, or memoir. Or maybe a great ghost story.