Finding New Inspiration
“Feeding the Muse” is an expression most artists and writers recognize. The word Muse originated in ancient Greek mythology, describing “any of the nine sister goddesses presiding over song and poetry, and the arts and sciences” (Merriam Webster online.) It also means “a source of inspiration.”
Feeding the Muse is essentially about replenishing the well of one’s creativity, by opening the mind to fresh ideas and helping us find new inspiration to do our best work.
As a Christian author of historical fiction, I pray daily to be inspired. I also turn to my research, and with three novels set during wartime, I don’t need to go far to find real and amazing stories from the past that touch my heart and give me fresh insight. In my most recent novel, High As The Heavens, I based my fictional tale on actual events that took place in Belgium during WWI, and the ordinary people who accomplished the extraordinary; men and women who rose above their own fear to save lives and survive impossible odds. Honestly, I never get tired of reading about the strength of the human spirit. It reinforces my belief in the basic goodness of mankind, and it gives me a glimpse into what God intended when He made us in His image. With so much negativity in the media today, I find stories of true heroism incredibly uplifting.