Mirriam-Webster defines muse as a "source of inspiration," citing the example of a writer's beloved wife. I concur. While others think of their muse as an animate object, however, I tend to regard mine as intangible.
I recently posted on Instagram that I'd traveled to the Monterey Peninsula (Steinbeck country) and was awestruck by the magnitude of its raw coastal beauty. I commented that this stunning slice of natural splendor was sure to stoke my muse. And then I reflected upon what I really meant. Those squawking harbor seals and flirtatious seagulls didn't exactly provide new fodder for writing. I simply relished the ambience and enjoyed being in the moment.
I think of my muse as something metaphysical that I cannot name, smell, or see. Nor can I conjure it at a moment's notice. It strikes when it wants. Fortunately, my brain is in a perpetual state of percolation, filled with a myriad of thoughts (not good when I need focus for the task at hand). While I usually don't lack ideas for writing projects, my issue is more about corralling those thoughts into the distillate of a singular project. It's the act of putting pen to paper that needs a jolt from time to time.
Nothing jazzes me up more than reading another writer's work, especially if it belongs to one of the genres I tackle. The idea of an author's ruminations, emotions, and sensitivities (all nontactile stuff) informing the production of an inanimate but tangible book readily conjures my muse.
Admittedly, this blog post may not be one of my more fascinating reads; however, it came about after I struggled to summon my muse. Though I'd considered other topics, I just wasn't feeling them. Instead—in what might seem like a circular move—I called upon my lack of motivation to beckon my muse.
Some famous artists of yesteryear relied upon paramours to inspire their next great masterpiece, seemingly beholden to their human sources of inspiration and, thereby, rendered susceptible to inertia without them. Whether or not I've inspired you to go back to your workspace and put some words down, being at an impasse is nothing more than a temporary state of mind when it comes to the act of writing. An impasse wouldn't be a roadblock if there wasn't something on the other side worth seeking.
So, if you're feeling stuck, step back and reassess the direction you want to go. Then, when you're ready, get on with it!