Pre-PiBo Day 3: Lauri Meyers Summons the Muse (plus a prize!)

Ha! Good timing since I just got your critique back:)

Eww, coffee out the nose would be the worst! Especially if it was a grande caramel macchiato.

Right? I mean most muses aren’t just being deliberately rude. They just want to teach you how to play. They have good intentions!

Thanks Deirdre. I’ve heard laughter is a great way to bust up writer’s block.:)

I considered saying under the couch cushions, but seriously there’s a veritable treasure under there of crayons, pennies, and goldfish.

So let’s talk about furballs. After you had hacked up a few dozen furballs, wouldn’t you just stop licking yourself? Although I suppose if habits were that easy to break I wouldn’t have just eaten 3 thin mints:)

Ooh! Maybe you and your muse are at one! You’ve reached muse enlightenment.

Yeah, I think my children are being raised with a very blurred sense of reality. For example, we just heard a weird sound, and I stated it was probably just a troll.

Great point Janet. If you choose to hide your muse, make sure you make a map so you can find her again.

She’s a real stinker. She looks like your muse, but she says things like, “let’s just reorganize your manuscripts again.” or “my your inbox looks full, let’s get in there.”

Every little girl thinks they want a pet unicorn, but they don’t realize how gassy they are.

You just can’t write when you are all tensed up! You have to let go. Relax. Release…gas.

I wish you luck summoning!

It feels good to know everyone struggles finding their muse, just part of being a writer.

Yes! Skittles are perfect. I was trying to think of the right description for that lovely scent.

Good luck, Doris!

You’re welcome Erin. I hope it works!

Woot, woot! I would love to be a part of getting your idea machine going.

We writers share so much in common!

That’s true. That last week of November when we are gorged on turkey, we both hit the wall. Luckily, pumpkin pie always snaps us back into shape.

I was pretty gobsmacked when Julie agreed and provided such gorgeous illos!

Funny, I almost went with pooting. I am raising a house full of people who laugh til they toot. 🙂

Actually, I hate to say it Virginia, but she might be in the mulch pile. Shoveling mulch and pushing wheelbarrows until you’re fatigued gives your muse a chance to take over control of your brain. I have a few very dirty pieces of paper which hold great ideas:)

Twitter is like watching baby mice running on a wheel. HOURS can pass without you realizing.

Chant with me. Ummm. Ummm. Ummm.

I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a laugh.

Oh well, I should explain I’m from Ohio and a transplant to NJ by way of Detroit, Chicago, and Scranton. It gives me a weird farm-auto-skyscraper -papermaking combination of influences:)

That can be your meditation breathing too – feel that Bwahahahahaha in your abs?

It’s too true, right?

Thank you Manju. I very much want to find a loving home for it!

You know what they say, no one is writing a new idea. Everything has been said before. You are just saying it in a special way only you can.

I just said a blessing to the postal gods. There’s a story right there- someone waiting desperately for something to arrive on time, but they realize they can make due without it. 🙂

How have I never heard of this? I just added to my Goodreads. I’m a big zombie fan too, so I can see why this discussion warrants a whole anthology:)

Yes, yes, yes. I have middle grade yearnings. I’m just very chicken to start writing 40,000 words. Great. Now I’ve said that publicly and I’ll have to get over my fear:)

Thanks Michelle!

Well, I just saw 6 muses zoom by, so it’s working for somebody!

Oh dear Robin. You need to find those things. In a pinch though, you can put ideas in your phone, or carve them into a tree, or write them in scrambled eggs…

YES! Success. If I can just get one muse out of the doghouse day, I have had a great day.

Thanks Kelly! Now back to my muse meditation. Umm….Umm…

Meditation or Yoga or anything where you aren’t forcing your muse to come out will work. Gardening. Staring at the clouds. Drawing.

Isn’t Julie amazing with her farting unicorn? Adorbs.

Does it go without saying that things will rarely throb, yearn, burn, or tingle in picture books 🙂 (tee hee! was that going too far? I don’t think so.) Good luck!

Well, where did you think rainbows came from? Refraction of light in water droplets or something wacky like that?

<3! Thanks Debra!

Of course! I think Julie is a phenomenal illustrator and would very much like her to be plastered all over the internet so I can see more of her work.

I’m such a nerd I always think flowcharts are adorable:D

Super. It’s nice to know how something works in a logical way, right?

Kirsti, you’re the bomb! Thank you.

Right? Because she gives her hiding spot when you hear her snorting with laughter.

Shopping is half the fun. I guarantee if you bring your muse with you a story will pop out of a man’s giant nose in the next aisle or a kid going boneless crying for an Elsa doll.

You are very smart, Carrie!

Okay, I learned a trick for that in a PiBo post once. Think of something funny. Then force yourself to come up with 5 other funnier things. The last one is always beyond anything you could imagine at the start.

Nice coffee pun. Bonus points to Andria!

Awesome! So glad you visited. Although I’ve been so busy with PiBo, I really haven’t tidied up. Don’t look under my blog couch, okay?

Mwahahaha! The evil force is strong in you.

Why I don’t know, but I totally want to write about a wicked unicorn now. Maybe he farts diesel or something….hmmm…

Giving gifts to your muse is a good way to get her to come out too!

Thanks Joanne. I’m so glad your under-the-couch is like mine. Sometimes I think the kids have actually cleaned up but no…it’s all under the couch.

Oh, I’m so excited for you! Maybe my bulletin will come today. Squee!!

She’s a naughty little thing – watch out for her!

Oh don’t get me started on Pinterest. That is the black hole of fabulous ideas. It will be next year before I complete all the Halloween crafts I have pinned.

Thanks Penny. It’s fun to make people laugh, isn’t it? And Julie is simply amazing isn’t, she?

Well, I guess if she is visiting a lot, you should just make an appointment with her and set a timer. 10 minutes on pinterest. 10 minutes on twitter. Then back to work!

Thank you Kathy!

Sue, why didn’t I think of that? I happen to be a good pig caller. It might work: Woo, Muse! Sooey! Here muse muse muse. Oink Oink Oink. *grunt* *grunt*

A laughing muse is a happy muse.

Thanks Jennifer!

I guess you can poke a broom under there once a month. Just DON’T LOOK!

Hmm. That’s a tough one. I don’t think your procrastination muse is doing that. That’s your grandma muse, and I wouldn’t mess with her. She’ll cook you whatever you want, snuggle you into a warm hug, and let you run around without pants on.

🙂 I give a lot of credit to Julie for the unforgettable images.

Thanks Lily!

You have the most romantic writing spot ever. My muse and I are drooling with jealousy.

I’m just getting you warmed up for month of great ways to find ideas:)

That totally makes sense. It’s that hum of the vacuum and the mind numbing motion of back and forth. Not for me though – my big sister used to make fun of me and say I vacuumed wrong. What the Flarp? I still have a hard time vacuuming to this day 😦

Here, here!

Do you know what? Your muse was under MY couch! I didn’t see that coming.

Cheryl – Now I’m going on Amazon to see if they sell an Idea Juicer.

Are Texas mosquitos hard to catch? I figured they were like 18 inches long.

Ooh, is there? You should make one! (Julie is the best!)

Good luck!

Well I’m a funny little girl. 🙂

Yes, Dana! I bet you’re right. She’s been planning this surprise all year. Don’t forget to act surprised 🙂

You are very welcome.

Julie’s illustrations will launch 1000 picture book ideas, I’m sure!

Great! Yeah, I finally taught my kids to yell “Uncle!” so I didn’t tickle them until things squirted out:)

LOVE your comment!

That is one section that I cut the “whole vs. hole” part. But who knows maybe I will find just the right words to add it back in:)

Yay a first timer! You are going to have a great time.

I know! But not all imposter muses are bad. For instance, the bacon muse just stopped in to say, “we should make bacon.” And she was totally right.

I found mine up a tree one time! She climbed up, but couldn’t figure out how to get back down, poor thing.

Just don’t espresso to the turbo because then you’ll be going too fast to catch the ideas!

Sure, we can set up some sort of mind-meld or something. Or my home in NJ is always open too 🙂

Thanks Jacqueline! I think as long as I’m not living in the made-up world more than 50% of the time, I won’t be completely CRAZY.

Thanks Donna. This is like a party with all the best writer buddies here 🙂

Wouldn’t Julie’s unicorn be cute as a bubble gun that shot rainbow bubbles out of its bum? I’ve got the merchandising plan all ready for whoever writes the unicorn book:)

Perhaps a warm blanket and hot mug of cocoa by the couch wouldn’t hurt.

thanks Darshana!

Oh, Corey. I’m so embarrassed. Your muse was stuck in the bathroom line at NJSCBWI a few years ago, and we struck up a conversation in rhyme and maybe I stuffed her in my purse. Sorry. It’s just that her meter is so fantastic, it was hard to let her go. She’s on her way home now.

Yes. I bet you are very fun to clean with. I just put paper towels under my feet and pretend to ski, but yours is way better.

It’s serious…seriously fun!

Flowcharts can be fun even if you aren’t as geeky as I am. 🙂

Thanks Debbie!

I know my juices are already flowing and we still have 3 more days!

Bonnie! I didn’t go through the trouble of taking a shower today just to have you come along and make milk come out of my nose.

Thanks Cathy! It’s been a fun day.

Yes! We all share so much of the same pain.

I had you at butt cheeks, huh? You are the first to bring that up. 🙂

Great! Laughter is a good way to get the muse out too.

It’s so cute, it doesn’t even really need to say excuse me.

Julie done good! I bet your doodling your own farting unicorn right now:)

I think that’s when you drop Mentos in your Diet Coke! It counts.

Excellent! Blank is better than noisy.

Thanks Pia! It was a good time.

Good idea, because honestly you’ll be set for the next 40 days until postpibo is complete.

Thanks Mary!

You keep punning around and you’re muse will come find you for sure!

That’s great Susan! Your perspective always changes with the latest project you are working on.

YUM! Have you tried the Candy Corn M&Ms? So good.

Great, it must have worked then:)

Thanks Marty!

Okay if you must write a dust bunny story, I challenge you to make it dystopian. Perhaps the dust bunnies live in a dome. And food is running out. And they get put in classes of dust bunny.

A giggling muse is a happy muse!

Thank you Nicole!

I don’t even know why but I find that a very amusing thought!

Excellent!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Good tip, Beth!

Tara Lazar informed me about Aqua Notes, which I got last Christmas. A note pad that hangs in the shower!!! You’ll show your muse with that.

I’m a short to the point kind of gal. I suppose you have to be writing picture books!

My procrastination muse calls her home “iPhone.” I try to stay away from her neighborhood if I want to concentrate.

Tracy you’ve got a new rallying cry: Save the flatulence!

Wait, there’s no chance an editor would buy an invisible book of invisible unicorns and pay me a million dollars right? Because they would be easy to write…

That may win the prize for the best pun! Music is a great inspiration.

thanks!

Hey, they wear the clothes, they can wash them! And you’re right, Julie did a great job on the illustration.

I like it!

Sweet!

Wendy, I was so giddy when I saw her work!

Fabulous rhyming! I can’t resist chanting along.

Good luck Sue!

Tanja, You’re calling very sweetly, I’m sure she’ll come!

Steal, borrow, learn – all are fine with me!

You’ve got a rocking muse Lori!

That’s a respectable goal Melanie. Good luck!

Maybe I’ll come visit your head one day too:)

That’s the best when a book helps you snuggle a little closer to your sweetie.

No! We need to trick the Internal Editor to take a vacation but leave the muse with you.

Oh, hole puns make my heart melt.

Laura, Wha? *pause while I go to Goodreads* Well look at that. There are already two dust bunny books in the world. They look cute.

Another good rule is to not give your muse pancakes. They do get slippery.

Thank you Sheri!

Thanks Holly!

Put it to good use and find your muse.

Awesome!

No, I think it started with the Grimm brothers, which basically means it’s based in fact.

It’s some sort of survival of the fittest thing. If everyone’s muses were hanging out willingly, every person would write a book.

Yes! You can use it any time your muse isn’t cooperating:)

You’re the best, Carolyn ❤

Nuts. It’s obvious I should have opened the post with “go grab a big drink of milk and start reading.”

I guess your muse might be in the laundry every once in awhile. Those times when you find the missing orange polka dot sock when you were just about to throw the match away…but it’s really not worth taking the risk.

Anarchy in the library is great! It seems writing a 1500 word dust bunny story is a rite of passage:)

Cool! Yeah, I don’t really have to plan for chocolate – IT JUST HAPPENS!

OMGracious – be careful with that. I bought an electronic pencil sharpener a few weeks ago, and my Procrastination Muse was all like, This pencil isn’t sharp enough. And what if it breaks? We should sharpen EVERY pencil in the house.”

Lauri’s Muse to Rachel’s Muse: “Hey! So…Totes meet you at the Leaky Cauldron later? Cool.”

You are very welcome. We all deserve a good laugh.

Good luck!

I really think it’s just because Julie’s little rainbow fart bubbles are so cute that everyone love’s unicorn farts:)

I dunno about that…but I think we can agree rainbow farts are WAY better than regular farts.

Oh no. Do you have a marathon muse? Eww. Good luck with that!

Thank you Anita!

Sue, Make sure you post a picture so we can all see your muse playground. Maybe we can arrange a muse playdate:)

Right, Jane. Unless she says “let’s go for a hike” or “look how red that leaf is.” Then, it’s your muse!

Totes Ma Gotes.

Piles and piles of lost time.

Poop pretty much sums it up Yvonne.

Yes – hiding in forts, crawling under the bed, lingering outside after the stars come out – all smart places to find your muse.

Thanks Erik! Mrs. RoZo amazed me with her art on this.

I see you in the PiBo registration page – you are registered Alicia:)

Awesome! Thank you Janet.

I didn’t know cats did that. I mean, I’ve seen tons of pictures of writer’s cats on their laptops, but I had no idea they were actually stealing their muses!!

So I was being a little silly, but if you say it enough times it actually works pretty well:)

Happy Hunting!

You’re right. Your muse was here yesterday and I was wondering why you weren’t together:)

Good luck in your PiBo journey!

Ahh, the smell of pencil shavings in the morning is second only to the smell of coffee.