Fi Phillips

Aqua Notes - www.myaquanotes.com I don't know about you but the moment I turn on the shower or lie down in the bath, my muse comes knocking, well, splashing or poking, you know what I mean. Of course, I don't have anything to take notes on when I'm in this situation. My children long since outgrew bath letters. I do my best to keep the ideas in my brain but often I forget some details. Aqua notes must surely be the answer. They're waterproof, to the point that you can use them underwater, and recyclable too.

I don't know about you but I have a contrary muse. Sometimes, she's happy to sit in the house with me. Other times though, she refuses to stay indoors. She sits on the doorstep, shaking her head at my invitations and beckoning me outside. Even then, she may well skip off down the street with me jogging behind. Ok, I don't jog, but I do have to go in search of my muse on occasion. Sometimes, nature does it for me - the park, the countryside, even my own back garden. On other occasions, I like the city with its mixture of traffic, footsteps and overheard conversations. The hubbub of a coffee shop can inspire me. Being surrounded by books in a library or bookshop can do it too. The point is that on occasion, your creativity needs a change of scenery to fire up. It needs a new kind of input, be it overheard conversation, fresh air or the colours of the high street. More than just adding new inspiration, it can give us a fresh perspective, especially if ...

Whoops! Dead Fit has run away with me (and my time) and I completely forgot to post this week's Tuesday Choice Words. So here you are, a useful link and a thoughtful image. I promise to do better next week. You, as the Muse Sees You  by Steven Pressfield is a wonderful reminder of the value of writing on a regular basis.

Where do you get your inspiration? Where does your muse strike you on the head, shouting "Oi! Numpty! Try this on for size." As a busy mum, my brain is often on multiple tasks, for instance, making packed lunches while getting my children breakfast and ensuring my husband is out of bed. Even in bed, I'll be mentally planning the day ahead. However, there is one place where I concentrate solely on the task at hand and hence clear some space in my mind - the shower. Whilst soaping up this morning, I had a moment of clarity about my novel, a realisation of what was missing and how that could be solved. What was a two horse race has found itself an additional runner. Bricks have fallen into place and although it may mean that I have to rejig my chapters and plot, I'm confident that this new development will add richness and a new appeal to my novel. What about you? Where does your muse coming calling?

It must be spring. I'm wearing a skirt for the first time this year. My legs are in shock. This always feels like the real start of the year for me. Perhaps it's the return of the sun or the buds on the trees, but spring is the season that inspires me with its fresh colours and new beginnings. It always feels like a much better time to set myself resolutions than at the new year. Creative juices and plans a plenty buzz around my brain, asking to be picked forth into existence. Where Ted Hughes found his Thought Fox in the winter, setting 'neat prints into the snow', my muse springs from the earth with the appearance of daffodils and crocuses. I am full of ideas for all areas of my life but plans for my writing for 2010 include more plays for Murdering The Text with an accompanying eBook, more work on my novel and a joint writing project with my husband. Spring is here. Life is good.