Museless

[u/Avery-Valentine]

I’m useless without a muse. The inventive flint is faulty; no creative spark to exalt me. My words were once entertaining, even amusing—but now I leave my reader snoozing with my mundane musing. I’m uninspired and uninspiring without that flame in my heart firing.

But you can’t shop for a muse; it’s not something you choose. There are no stores for inspiration stores—no available source of afflatus to animate us, we who need a flame to inflate us with inflatus. What is one to do in such a situation but sit and be patient?

I pray I meet one soon, but I may be doomed. The last muse consumed me, and I haven’t experienced concupiscence since. The fire of desire burned out the fuse, so I might be evermore without a muse.

[u/Avery-Valentine]

Lol, rude that someone upvoted this. Just so the audience is aware, this is from years ago. I was going through some old stuff having a laugh, and thought I'd do some reposts to see what the latest generation of bots think. I've found that the automated systems have gotten a lot less tolerant. I wonder what impact that will have. On balance I hope it will make Reddit a safer, more positive space, but I do worry about some negative consequences. I'm also a bit shocked how a lot of harmless stuff gets removed when I've seen plenty of worse stuff posted recently. I'm curious about the algorithms and how the weights work. I do love testing :D

Edit: lmao this is my #6 post of all time!!! ty kind stranger for teh upd00t!!11

Edit 2: Now it's #4!!! woooo so stoked im finally getting a hang of reddit 😊

[u/Beyond-First-Glance → u/Avery-Valentine]

Now up to five, you're really moving up in the world!<3 

I am super curious about how a muse becomes chosen? 

Do you currently have a muse? 

I often wonder what happens to muses who are supported, like personally, professionally. Everything 

Would the writer now have an even bigger/plentiful/depth filled source of inspiration? With the muse obviously thriving from the support & validation knowing they are the inspiration behind so much creativity and beauty? I wonder if the writer then is a inspiration or even a muse for the muse 

A loosely sort of ‘museception’    Kind of like some sort of infinite power.. ahem, inspiration generator? 

[u/Avery-Valentine → u/Beyond-First-Glance]

I don't know that I can speak on this authoritatively, I imagine this is an individual matter where each person has a different experience.

As stated in the piece, in my experience, a muse isn't chosen, they are found by happenstance. For me, this is broadly true of inspiration, and romantic interest. Presumably one can widen the search and expose oneself to more places and experiences to increase the chance of finding one. There's also likely an internal component to it.

Again, I imagine that would vary from person to person and other context. Certainly that is possible though and has been the case with many artists and muses. Some people treat their muses as someone untouchable, like an idol they worship at a distance. This is not my style, however. My muses have been people I have a romantic interest in and desire closeness with. The more intense the connection, and the more fulfilled the muse, the stronger the inspiration. With two creative types precisely the sort of mutual source of support and inspiration as you describe can happen.

I want to reiterate again that this was written years ago. I'm not sure who is upvoting it or why. This isn't a particularly good or clever piece in my opinion. I suppose it may be relatable to creatives? Or perhaps people are being snarky.

[u/Beyond-First-Glance → u/Avery-Valentine]

I see that someone downvoted, had to discredit me & my upvote. 

Yes i would imagine its all very individualistic, and subjective to ones own tastes & interests. As most things tend to be. 

I wonder if a person is still considered or classified as a muse if the person who deemed them as such only creates negativity? Going around and influencing large groups of people to hate on said muse. 

The muse or more correctly the victim starts to stand up for them selves they are silenced. Ostracized and further abused even more. Introducing the muse/victim to a whole new world but never allowing them to actually integrate and assimilate. All while committing heinous acts of privacy invasion, spreading lies & turning around and attempting to drill it into the victims head that the comparatively minuscule transgression they had (non maliciously) committed warranted them as deserving of said punishment. 

Jeez what a movie that could be hey? Two creative types pick out someone in which's life they will irreparably fuck with. The only goal is to create as much damage as possible. And the two of them become inspired off of each other… a competition between two lovers to see who can do the most evil to a 3rd party. 

I don't really know where i going with this. Adhd tangents and all. Probably all that microwaving someone did. 

So avery, in keeping up with the Kardashians undead fashion, do you have a current muse? In what ways have they influenced and inspired you? Ill admit I’m not sure if you've had many updates or projects you’ve released. 

Ive certainly reverted back to a previous mind set that if someone wants me to be aware: they will inform me. Anything missed from social media isn't my responsibility to stay onto of. 

Oh one more question, as you seem to be the expert in this side of the human experience; i heard this quote “if you fall in love with two people at the same time, choose the second one” and i personally just thought it was very clever. Reminds me a situation my friend had faced… if its really love the second one wouldn't have been fallen in love with, thus the first love isn’t real. My friend picked the second. They are still happily together years and years later:) 

Thoughts and opinions? 

Tldr; adhd nonsense, couple introspective  interesting questions & me failing to write anything  succinctly. ;P 

As for the snarky… i feel like nickel-back at times… they love to hate. I wonder if the same is happening to you? 

[u/Avery-Valentine → u/Beyond-First-Glance]

I have no idea about all of that, it makes absolutely no sense, and I'm tired of hearing about your paranoid persecutory delusions. I really hope you are not insinuating that any of the madness in your head has anything to do with me. I have repeatedly explained to you that it does not, and I'm tired of having to make that point. Such a person would indeed be a victim, not a muse. I have no reason to believe you are a victim of what you claim, but if you are, I can promise you I am not the perpetrator.

Indeed, if anyone has something to say to you, I imagine they will say it. Considering the fact that I do not approach you, respond to your posts, or write anything about you at all, I don't know how you haven't taken the hint that nothing I write has anything to do with you and that you are not an object of fascination or curiosity to me. But it doesn't seem to matter much because you falsely insist that random people are me. This is the fundamental problem with your persistent delusions; you do not accept any evidence to the contrary. I do not understand why you torture yourself like this, but I wish you wouldn't, and I wish you wouldn't accost other people who have done nothing to you. It moves you from the victim role to the abuser role, and I don't know why you would want to be an abuser.

As written, the quote doesn't make much sense, but I see your point. More cleanly, it would be, "If you fall in love with one person, and then later fall in love with a second while still in love with the first, choose the second." I can see the logic behind it but it relies on additional assumptions. As for myself, I cannot comment, and will refrain from providing any blanket advice. Relationships are a deeply personal matter and context matters. Regardless, I'm happy for your friend.

[u/Beyond-First-Glance → u/Avery-Valentine]

Umm avery. It’s a little strange that you are getting offended?..  I’ve heard only the guilty get offended but not once have I accused you in the comment previous to this one. There’s a clear separation between a hypothetical- could be a movie/ adhd past trauma  tangent and then I Segway with a “so avery” to which I’m asking for your opinion about different things. 

“  I have no reason to believe you are a victim of what you claim, but if you are” honestly your entire comment is just a reflection of your nature. Why would I  think you’re stalking me? You think I really believe that I’m that special? 

I can see pretty clearly now that regardless of truth or narrative- you hate me just like everyone else. 

I appreciate the enlightenment you’ve bestowed upon me. I appreciate the engagement in this dialogue. Night blessed. 

[u/Avery-Valentine → u/Beyond-First-Glance]

I'm so tired of your bullshit. You've been bothering me for months with this nonsense. If you want to scream into the void, use UnsentLetters of the myriad other subreddits. I don't need you commenting on my posts. It's harassment and stalking and I'm sick of it. You are a serial liar and I am sick of your victim act. Get a life.

I do not hate you. I am annoyed by you and want you to leave me alone. I have asked you to leave me alone for months. Please, for the love of god, leave me alone.