by

Muse for Hire

Amazing artwork by Peter Pham

The day is half over and I open the door to my writing room. My coffee sloshes over the rim at my sudden halt. The man’s jaw swivels my way, and I swallow. “Um…Who are you?”

“Your muse,” he growls.

“Oh.” I edge into the room and leave the door cracked for a quick escape. “Where’s my other one? You know, the… usual one?”

He stares at me like I’m a bug. “She hired me.”

“You’re a mercenary muse?” I trap a nervous laugh behind my lips. The guy looks cranky. Dried sweat coats his bulging muscles, and bloody grit etches the gold lions adorning his skimpy outfit.

He points a finger at a wooden chair, my humming laptop on the table beside it. “I’m here to make sure you keep your commitments.”

“What commitments?” I sit, my smile as shaky as my hands.

“Summer off, then a new series, full time, starting September first.” He taps his ragged fingernails on the armrest. “Your muse thinks you’re an oil-tongued shirker who’ll attempt to cut yourself a part-time deal. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Oh, that. Well, I’ll have you know, the prep work is coming along nicely.” I lift my chin, every speck of rickety indignation putting on a solid show, and I turn my laptop so he can see. “In fact, I’ve created a map!”

His lips curl in a sneer. “Don’t get cute. She says you love making maps, so that doesn’t count. What about the rest? The bios?”

“Ninety percent done.”  I show him the files – images and profiles for all main characters and most secondaries. “I’m still tweaking, but you know they don’t settle in until the story starts. World building is progressing too. I have sea-cliffs, waterfalls, and cities with layers of arching bridges. And, I’ve got a great magic system.”

I wasn’t expecting applause, but a smidgeon of encouragement wouldn’t have hurt. Instead, his little pellets for eyes are waiting to pelt me. “What about the outline?”

I wince. The story is there, but the goals and obstacles aren’t strong enough. The subplots are solid, but the main plot is nebulous at best. That’s a huge problem. My muse-from-hell leans forward in his throne and does he ever smell ripe. He opens his mouth, revealing a rack of chipped teeth, and spits out two words, “It sucks.”

“Gah! I know!” I wilt in my chair. “I should have started working on it sooner. This is a tough one because –“

“You have one week to finish your outline.”

“But–“

“One week.” He leans back. “Then I want two thousand words a day, six days a week, and I’m being generous.”

I bite my lips and do the math. It’s a stretch, but I can probably manage it. “But what about blogging? I’ve been blogging ten hours a day…”

“You’re going to write in the mornings,” he orders. “It’s your most creative time. Two thousand words, and then you can blog all you want.”

“That’s going to cut my blogging time in half,” I whine. “It’ll already be night in the UK when I just get started.”

“They’ll survive. They’re grown-ups.”

“But I enjoy blogging. I’m going to miss posts.” I know he’s right, but I’m already undergoing blog-withdrawal.

He scowls at me. “She said you’d snivel, but I didn’t think you’d be this pathetic.”

“You don’t need to be so mean about it.” I push out my lower lip. Yeesh, what a hard ass. “Fine. I’ll write in the morning, blog after I reach my quota.”

His grin turns my stomach. “One other thing.”

“Now, what?”

“You need to exercise.”

“You’re kidding me. My muse told you that?”

“She didn’t need to. I can see it myself. One hour a day. Cardio and strengthening.”

“Oh, this is just great. A muse who doubles as a personal trainer.” I hate his smug smirk. “Where do I find the time to do that?”

“Figure it out.” On his feet, the guy hulks over me like a troll, and I lean so far back I’m close to toppling my chair.  He taps my chin with his meaty fist. “I’ll be checking in; don’t disappoint me.”

I roll my eyes and rub my forehead, a muse-induced headache forming behind my eyes. Through the window, I watch him clomp down the steps from my writing room and join my other muse, The Traitor, in the driveway. They share a good laugh. Damn muses. I wish they weren’t right.

Guess I better get to work.

***

Needless to say, I’ll be switching around my blogging schedule. Though I’ll miss a few posts here and there, I’ll be visiting as much as I’m able. Enjoy the last of August, and Happy Blogging.

356 thoughts on “Muse for Hire”

  1. Muse Management – Almost Iowa says:
    June 6, 2020 at 6:51 am

    […] The next muse came straight out of Conan, the Barbarian. It was the mercenary muse who has plagued Diana, over at Myths in the Mirror. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  2. My Muse’s Bad Day – Almost Iowa says:
    July 29, 2019 at 4:07 am

    […] My muse hasn’t been the same since she broke up with the love of her life, Discipline, (who is also D. Wallace Peach’s muse). […]

    Liked by 1 person

  3. My Bossy Muse | Myths of the Mirror says:
    June 14, 2018 at 9:22 am

    […] and took the summer off to rest. Instead of popping the cork on a bottle of champagne, she hired a mercenary muse, and abruptly my break was over. The guy was a hulking brute with a bad attitude and worse breath. […]

    Like

  4. the right way to write – My Blog http//www.mypublishedbooks.blogspot says:
    May 26, 2018 at 6:23 am

    […] Muse for HireIn “The Adventure of Writing” […]

    Like

  5. Aoede’s Influence | A Wife, My Verse, and Every Little Thing says:
    November 15, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    […] I reflect on Muses. I’ve been reflecting since reading over Mike Allegra‘s and D. Wallace Peach‘s characterizations of Muses. The former described his as an ice cream-stealing rat (an […]

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Sean P Carlin says:
    November 9, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    Muse? Seems more like a drill instructor!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. jane tims says:
    November 2, 2017 at 9:35 am

    This is funny! Probably rings true for most writers but especially for me. Last November I found a whole group of weird aliens sitting at my desk. I had been writing poems about old one-room schools and these guys wanted me to write about them! I heeded the call and followed all their demands. What a weird choice of career … being a writer!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      November 2, 2017 at 10:00 am

      Ha ha ha ha. I love it. Yes, it is a weird choice of career. These characters totally take on a life of their own and they’re often so persistent! Thanks for reading and I’m glad you got a laugh. 🙂 Happy Writing.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. joylennick says:
    September 22, 2017 at 1:10 am

    Reblogged this on Joy Lennick and commented:
    Surely inspired by ‘the Gods’?! Fabulous. Best seller material.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
    September 17, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    I originally started my blog in hopes that “mini-deadines” would help me finish a few books languishing on my hard drive. Hah! It has eaten my life whole as the books languish still.

    Even tho’ I truly abhor ap-world, I think I may need to get one of those “muse-calls.” 🙂 I hope she turns out to be a seductress and isn’t friends with yours, however. I don’t respond well to tough love.
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
    ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
    “It takes a village to educate a world!”

    Liked by 1 person

  10. A Muse for Youse | heylookawriterfellow says:
    September 13, 2017 at 5:35 am

    […] to the decidedly unratty Diana at Myths of the Mirror for serving as my muse for this […]

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Old MacDonald had a muse, e-i-e-i-o-my | Shallow Reflections says:
    September 13, 2017 at 1:43 am

    […] D. Wallace Peach (Diana) wrote a brilliant post about her muse who betrayed her by hiring a thug to make her accountable. As is so often the case, when one person shares such a personal experience, it gives others the courage to share theirs. […]

    Liked by 2 people

  12. lifelessons says:
    September 10, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    Very a”muse”ing. Good luck on curtainling the blogging. I have the same problem. Addictive as chocolate. (I can do without the crack cocaine.)

    Liked by 2 people

  13. My muse and a new look for Lady Sweet – Robbie's inspiration says:
    September 10, 2017 at 11:06 am

    […] post about her muse, the blogosphere is full of muses. You can read about Diana’s muse here: https://mythsofthemirror.com/2017/08/25/muse-for-hire/ – so far the scariest of them […]

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Pleasant Street says:
    September 10, 2017 at 9:19 am

    Rough taskmaster-

    Liked by 1 person

  15. My Muse Almost Got Strangulated – Emotional Shadows says:
    September 9, 2017 at 8:59 am

    […] from Diana’s disciplinarian muse. Thanks dear […]

    Liked by 1 person

  16. A gathering of muses | Facets of a Muse says:
    September 9, 2017 at 4:08 am

    […] in pubs anymore, love. Not here, anyway. There’ll be a half dozen of us or so. D’s mercenary muse, A’s Moka and her cousin, G’s muse“–he counts off on his […]

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Her Muse | roughwighting says:
    September 8, 2017 at 12:07 am

    […] by – and thanks to – Diana of Myths of the Mirror. Check out her fearsome […]

    Liked by 1 person

  18. The Day My Muse Sent Her Sister | Lemon Shark says:
    September 7, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    […] check out Diana’s hilarious post about her muse. Thanks, Diana, for the fun read and inspiration to spend some quality, fictional time with our own […]

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Bel says:
    September 7, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    Different muses for different moods – I think mine is completely out there. Loved reading this – sorry I’m way behind (hate when life gets in the way of reading and writing blogs) 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Liesbet says:
    September 7, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    Wow. You have a great schedule going! And, if you manage to get that hour exercise in as well, I”m even doubly impressed! It sounds to me that this book is half written already. Or at least half created. Some muse pressure once is a while is probably not a bad thing. 🙂 Great story!

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 7, 2017 at 3:54 pm

      One week down, Liesbet, and so far so good on the writing and exercising. I’m still tweaking the plot, but that is pretty normal for me. I need the muse pressure otherwise I’m super lazy. Thanks for the visit and Have a great weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. stevetanham says:
    September 6, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Clever…

    Liked by 1 person

  22. brilliantviewpoint says:
    September 6, 2017 at 10:57 am

    This was amusing! Question: What final word count is your goal? Is this for a YA book? I know children’s picture books are supposed to be between 500-1000, but not sure about middle school and YA word counts. Don’t expect to hear from you for a while… That muse of yours is your “gate keeper” right now! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 6, 2017 at 12:59 pm

      I’m keeping up with blogging and writing and exercising for now. But then dinner has shifted to 8:30 at night! I write YA-ish/adult fantasy and I suspect this will probably be a duology, so I’m expecting a total of 180-200K combined. I’ve knocked off about 10K in the past six days, so the muse is satisfied… for now. Five months to go! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Missing Muse | writing to freedom says:
    September 5, 2017 at 6:02 am

    […] maybe I have a new muse that is all about writing schedules ala D. Wallace’s Muse for Hire.  Personally, I’d much rather have a muse like Greg from Almost Iowa. His muse is playful, […]

    Liked by 1 person

  24. lynnefisher says:
    September 5, 2017 at 2:43 am

    Just brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Norah says:
    September 5, 2017 at 2:38 am

    I think your muse has been talking to my muse – about exercise anyway. Gah! I am not amused. Best wishes for your change of schedule. I hope it works wonders for you. (PS Fantastic post! Very creative. Your muses have nothing to worry about.)

    Liked by 1 person

  26. reocochran says:
    September 4, 2017 at 8:06 pm

    I am proud and amazed you had 305 comments, Diana! You’ve gone viral!!
    Congratulations on hiring this rugged, harsh muse. . .
    I can imagine how strict this schedule would be.
    Seriously though, ten hours allotted to blogging is way too much.
    Take it easy and be careful. That Muse is going to drive you crazy. He is one tough cookie.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. http://www.salpa58.wordpress.com says:
    September 3, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    Delightful Marian, and underneath all that armor, quite handsome.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. cathleentownsend says:
    September 2, 2017 at 5:19 pm

    This is adorable, Diana. Maybe you need some chocolate to buy him off if you don’t meet your word count commitment one day. You know, just in case. Not that you would ever reach for a piece in moment of weakness. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Muse for hire by Diana Peach says:
    September 2, 2017 at 6:14 am

    […] I wasn’t expecting applause, but a smidgeon of encouragement wouldn’t have hurt. Instead, his little pellets for eyes are waiting to pelt me. Continue Reading . . . […]

    Like

  30. Lyn Horner says:
    September 1, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    Hmm, I could use a muse like him to “crack the whip.” I wonder if he has a brother, preferable as hunky as she is.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. marianbeaman says:
    September 1, 2017 at 4:06 am

    WOW! My muse doesn’t look like at all this hunk and is much less demanding. I love blogging but I know I too may have to cut back a little after I get my manuscript back from another beta reader, I hope very soon.

    Onward and upward!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      September 1, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      I think it’s something we all have to manage, Marian since both blogging and writing are time-consuming enterprises. Shifting around priorities is part of the process. Good luck with your manuscript! Happy Writing 😀

      Liked by 1 person

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