19The Official Muse Ownership Manual
By: TA Maxwell
So, you've decided to take on a muse to help you with your writing. Bravo! This manual will hopefully give you all the information you need to choose and care for your muse! So, let's start!
Part one: Choose your muse.
Before you grab a muse, you have to decide what role you'd want him or her to take care of. Will they be a muse for humor fanfics, angsty tales, or just everything you want to write? You should make sure to pick someone who will cover all the bases.
Also, consider choosing one who you're partly familiar with. Your favorite series may be a good place to start.
Remember, just because one character is your number one favorite doesn't mean he or she is fit to be a muse for you. (Note: Most muses do not end up in relationships with their writer. It would be wise to avoid choosing your crush for a muse.)
A muse should be opinionated to a certain level. You don't want one who will disagree with every idea you have, but you also shouldn't have one who just nods his or her head and agree with everything.
Types of muses:
All-around Idea Muse
Examples:
Nuriko – Unofficial muse to TA Maxwell. Being a crossdresser helps with ideas, as he can usually see both sides of an argument (the female view and the male view) He's got serious points, but is usually a perky, lovable person.
Humor Muse
Examples:
Xelloss – Unofficial muse to Lilly The Writing Goddess. What can be said besides he's a natural mischievous character? This is a good quality for just plain humor muses. The less seriousness, the better.
Skysong (Sky) – Official muse to DT-chan. A blue and gold dragon, she often gets herself into humorous situations, such as being dressed up as an ice cream sundae. Situations such as this can be good inspiration, so sometimes a troublesome muse if the best for humor.
Muses can be used for any type of writing, be it Romance, angst, all-round serious, RP, et cetera. There are no limits to how many muses a writer can have, or who they can have. It's recommended that you make sure all your muses get along.
Examples of Multiple Muses:
Lilly The Writing Goddess – Tomo (Fushigi Yuugi, serious, unofficial) Xelloss (Slayers, humor, unofficial) Hatsui (official, character creator) Evil Chichiri (official, causes writers block) Chibi Chichiri With Sign/Chichiri's shoulder devil (official, TA and Lilly Theater)
TA Maxwell – Nuriko (Fushigi Yuugi, all-around idea, unofficial) Chibi Nuriko With Sign/Nuriko's shoulder devil (official, RP) Amadan (Eversummer Eve, humor, unofficial) Chibi Chichiri With Sign/Chichiri's shoulder devil (official, TA and Lilly Theater)
Now you may have noticed the use of the terms "official muse" and "unofficial muse." Some muses can be found at the Muse Employment Agency. These have been trained in their special areas and are licensed, waiting for an author or authoress to choose them. These muses are original characters, not ones to be found in any series, book, etc. These muses are "official."
Some authors or authoresses prefer to use a familiar character they find to be inspiring to them as a muse. These may work for many authors or authoresses at a time and have had little to no experience prior to their first job. These are unofficial muses, and cannot be registered or hold a license. That does not say that official muses are better. You just have to find the muse to fit your needs.
Part two : Creating a good environment for your muse
As most characters commonly do, muses have their own particular likes and dislikes regarding food, sleeping arrangements, et cetera. An unhappy muse is not particularly a good one, unless you like angst, drama, or death stories. It is necessary, at least on the first few days, to spoil your muse. Give him or her the food he or she likes most, make sure his or her living space is comfortable, and avoid using weapons on them at all costs! At least for the first few days that is. Weapons such as mallets, rubber fish, or staffs are recommended for keeping your muse in line at later dates. Do NOT shoot, cut, maim, or in any way kill you muse as this can and will be held against you for abuse on your record. Your other muses will be taken away from you by the Federal Muse Protection Bureau and you will be stricken with a terrible case of writers block. (scary, hm?)
After a week or two, and your muse has gotten to know you, go right ahead with disciplinary training. It is imperative your muse know who the boss is. Otherwise he or she may take advantage of your talent (or your account.)
Part three: The MRA (Muse Rights Agreement)
This is a little known bit of the muse world, but important. When you adopt your own muse, be it officially or unofficial, there is an agreement between the author and his or her muse. There are some small points to being a muse that the agreement covers. As a muse, he or she has responsibilities to you, the author. Thus, to accomplish these to the best of his or her ability, the muse's powers must be decided, yet restricted as well. A muse can have whatever powers an author deems worthy to assist you, the author, in your work. Such powers include but are not limited to: Mind reading (from experience, this can be dangerous if you're around your muse and your crush and your muse feels slightly evil or vengeful,) plothole/spandex space/hammer-space usage, mental link with author (both can speak with each other mentally,) and others. If an agreement under the MRA harms the author physically or insanity is caused, the harming right can be nullified, or the author can claim to release the muse from his or her agreement, thus ending all terms binding the muse to the author. The muse must then return to the Muse Employment Agency unless employed by another author in the case of an unofficial muse.
Part four: The Aftermath
After the muse has been given to employment, there is nothing else to do but sit back and start writing! Your muse(s) work along with you, help you out in stories, and inspire you past writers block. Authors and authoresses who employ muses will tell you they are helpful, even IF a pain at times. More often than not he or she will not only be a muse, but a counselor, and a friend. That is, as long as you pick the right muse for you. Happy Searching and Good Writing!
~TA Maxwell~