It happens while I’m driving, taking a shower or walking – every darn time I don’t have a pen and piece of paper handy – and it always surprises me with a bucket of ideas with not enough brains to hold them all in. Oh yes, when Epiphany strikes, you better be ready cause she’s not a frequent visitor, not in my neck of the woods, anyway.
This time, it was so unexpected, I almost confused Her with the hallucinogenic side effects from standing so close to potheads in the crowd of an Arcade Fire concert. There I was, enjoying Power Out, when She hit me right in the head.
I’ve been working on this script-turned-novel for a while, now: my own version of Swan Lake, the ballet by Tchaïkovsky. I’ve been obsessed with it ever since I first started taking classical ballet, and it got me into finals at screenwriting contests, but I never really LOVED it – not like I do Rebel, I never connected as much with it. So what’s wrong with it?
I’m not a fan of magic and I hate prince/princess stories, that’s what. My carefully faithful adaptation was full of it, as was my novel’s first draft – but how to change such a big part of the story? How to make it mine without taking out the humans turning into birds and the doomed love story?
Well, thanks to a combination of strong whiffs of marijuana, good music and my old gal Epiphany, I have found it. Swan Lake is about to become Wild Swan, a super-duper dark YA fantasy that deals with unrequited love, a powerful druglord, and learning to fly.
The lesson in this? It hits you when you think you’ll never find a solution and you’re sure to fail.
Congrats to Cherie who won my Tattered Souls V2 copy!!
Anne Michaud 
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Yay for inspiration! Sounds awesome!
Congrats to the winner! (I’m so jealous!)
October 4th, 2011 at 7:25 am
It’s never too late: http://www.cuttingblockpress.net
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Btw, your story Wild Swan sounds really, really cool. I love the Swan Lake but your version sounds even better! Hooray for epiphanies!
October 4th, 2011 at 7:25 am
I’m so excited to start it up, you have no idea!!!
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
OK, sounds AWESOME. I’ll be the first to buy when it’s published 🙂
P.S. Jealous of the Arcade Fire gig. Not so much the potheads, but definitely the music.
October 4th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Oh yes, the concert was a tad on the short side but amazing nonetheless!
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:31 pm
You had me at super-dark. Sounds great. Have fun with it. As for the trippy concert crowd, sounds like a fun night.
Congratulations to Cherie.
October 4th, 2011 at 7:27 am
I can’t wait to write the flying sequences…
October 4th, 2011 at 1:08 am
I’ll look the group up shortly. Congrats on finding that solution. May I suggest an MP3 with voice recorder to keep on you when you’re out and about. That way you can gush your ideas onto it as much as you like and have it ready to transcribe when you get in.
October 4th, 2011 at 7:25 am
I have a recording device thingy, but man, I just *cannot* listen to my own voice. Freaks me out. Thanks though, it’s a great idea;)
October 4th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I’ve got one of those electronic voice recorders, but hardly ever use it. I bought it when I was still driving myself to work, because the Muse liked to sneak up on me while barreling down the road at 55mph, or stuck at a light, but never stuck long enough to find pen and paper and write it down. Now that I take mass transit to work, well, you can imagine how that would go on the train… 😉 Like you, I hate the sound of my own voice.
Congrats to Cherie!
October 4th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
I bought that recorder for an interior design interviews gig, but found I just could NOT listen to my questions, kept cringing. Is there a cure to accept one’s own voice? I want it.
October 4th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
I love that, Anne. It sounds like an amazing idea. Good luck with the new story. The idea for my WiP actually came to me while driving. It always happens in the strangest places.
October 4th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
I know, it’s like The Muse likes to surprise us!
October 4th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Congrats Cherie and Anne both! 😉 Don’t you love when your muse takes charge and sets everything at rights? I DO.
October 4th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Anita, I just cannot wait to start this one up!
October 5th, 2011 at 9:33 am
I hear you about Epiphany. She stays away just like Inspiration does way too often. I’ve been waiting for her to show up for a while now. Ever since I realized the first draft of my WIP needs to be completely re-written!
Congrats on the ideas & the contact buzz. I can’t wait to read what you’ve got in store. It sounds fantastic, even if I do love magic in my stories! 😀
October 5th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Epiphany likes to sneak up on writers when they least expect it, that’s how she is with me. I hope she finds you soon, Jenny:)
October 5th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Sounds amazing Anne! Isn’t it wonderful when things just work out?? So happy for you! Congrats Cherie!
🙂 Lisa
October 6th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Thanks Lisa! And for once, the timing is just right:)
October 6th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
I cannot wait to read this! Hurry up! It’s going to be amazing.
October 6th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
November, Di. Can’t wait either!!
October 6th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
I would love, just for a few days, to visit where you live in your mind. The scenery must be breathtaking, and probably Geigeresque…
October 7th, 2011 at 7:41 am
You’d get pursued by pigeons and eaten by squirrels. Take care, TJ:)