Looking for a playful and friendly way to dance with your creativity? The Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard will wrap you in their arms and tango across the nearest wildflower-bedecked field!
This book by Jill Badonsky brings a fresh and fun approach to your creative process. Each of the nine Modern Day Muses and the Bodyguard introduce you to ideas and tools to help you move through procrastination, disarm overwhelm, and move through all kinds of obstacles to embrace the joy of the creative process.
We begin by reading a quick overview and history, plus a list of tools needed for the journey, which include items such as Patience, Joy, and Trust. From there, we jump into a garden filled with gates that lead us into the realms of each of our trusty muses.
The Bodyguard, guardian of your creativity, sits at the front of the book. Your bodyguard is here to protect you from the damaging influence of others as well as the ways that you can find to thwart your own creative brilliance.
And here’s a quick introduction to each of the Muses:
Aha-phrodite: the Muse of Paying Attention, Passion and Possibilities
Albert: Muse of Imagination and Innovation (the only muse named after a human, Albert Einstein!)
Bea Silly: Muse of Play, Laughter and Dance
Muse Song: Muse of Nurturing, Encouragement and Good Company
Spills: Muse of Practice, Process and Imperfection
Audacity: Muse of Courage and Uninhibited Uniqueness
Lull: Muse of Pause, Diversion and Gratitude
Shadow: Muse of the Dark Side
Marge: Muse of Okay-Now-Let’s-Get-Started
One of the things that I love about this book is that, when you discover that you’re struggling with something, you can simply turn to the Muse who will most easily be able to help you and go in-depth. Each chapter includes affirmations, journal check-ins, tools, exercises, and even a specific walk to unleash the muse’s energy in your body. Badonsky covers each principle with an eye to the reader’s holistic wellbeing.
Which muse appeals the most to you? Let everyone know in the comments!
Ready to start reading? Order your copy of The Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard, 4th edition, at your favorite indie bookshop, online, or grab a copy at the library.
Our next book is Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer. Written to be the definitive guide to writing science fiction and fantasy by offering an accessible, example-rich approach that emphasizes the importance of playfulness as well as pragmatism, this book’s lessons can be applied to any imaginative writing. It also embraces the visual nature of genre culture and employs bold, full-color drawings, maps, renderings, and visualizations to stimulate creative thinking. It’s a writing book for those who love picture books, a picture book for those who’d like to learn how to write fiction.
Join me to read Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer in October by grabbing your copy from the library, ordering a copy online or from your favorite indie bookstore.
Happy Reading!
LA
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Do you want to create something but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you just want to connect to your creative side again. Or maybe you just need some fresh eyes on your writing!
I’m LA (as in tra-la-la) Bourgeois, a writer, editor, KMCC-certified creativity coach, and end-of-life doula empowering you to think differently and unlock your creativity to do whatever you want to do.
Together, we overcome obstacles, disarm fear and overwhelm, and free you from perfectionism and procrastination. Whether you’re looking to deepen your relationship with your patrons, create your bucket-list project, write your next book, or ignite your passion for creativity again, we can work through your obstacles together.
Click here to explore coaching options or contact me at la@labourgeois.biz to ask questions and schedule an exploratory call.