Write about someone who summons the creative muse through a convoluted ritual or method.

Posted in Short Story on Aug 30, 2024

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✍️ 56 stories

“The Alchemist's Muse: A Ritual of Urban Enchantment” by Vera N

Submitted to Contest #266

In the heart of a bustling metropolis, within a narrow, dimly-lit apartment on the top floor of an aging skyscraper, Elara sought the elusive muse that had long evaded her creative grasp. Her apartment was a curious blend of modern minimalism and arcane relics, an unusual sanctuary amidst the city's relentless pace. This juxtaposition provided a unique backdrop for her intricate ritual. Elara’s journey to summon inspiration was as complex as the city skyline was vast. It began with the meticulous selection of thirteen rare herbs, each one im...

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“Reddit Recipes” by Clara Zhou

Submitted to Contest #266

"Fillet of a fenny snake,In the caldron boil and bake;Eye of newt and toe of frog–" "Are you quoting the Scottish Play?" Lizzie asked, peering over Isabelle’s shoulder into the large pot she was chanting in front of. Isa spun around, surprised. She hadn't heard her friend enter her house. "You scared me!” said Isa. “What are you even here for anyway?" "You're hosting Writing Club this week, remember?" Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "Oh, yes, Writing Club! I'd totally forgotten–lost track of the time," Isa replied. "Where's ...

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“The Necessity of Creation” by Rachelle Tacosa

Submitted to Contest #266

To create is to destroy. To make one thing, you need the ruins of something else. It is necessary to do everything from sustaining life to creating comfort. It is necessary, I reminded myself, to destroy. I would say that it was the creative part of me that led me to do it. The part of me that lived for art and beauty and all the lovely things in between. I wouldn’t say what it actually was. I would let the truth burrow into the back of my mind and hide it’s true nature. So I sat on the floor and tuc...

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“Summoning the Muse” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #266

My husband shudders every time I tell him this. He stops hammering a nail into our new shed. “Please, dear, can’t it wait?” he asks. “No,” I say, “the feeling is upon me. I must summon the Muse.” I note that leaves have covered the back yard. I’ll ask him to rake the leaves when he’s finished with the shed. “If you must,” he says. “I know what this means. Tell me when you’re done.” He bows his head in acquiescence, and he continues to hammer. I set about my ritual. A year ago, my ritual had 100 steps. I have narrowed it down to 10 steps, 10 ...

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“Breakfast of Stubborn Muses” by Constance Marie

Submitted to Contest #266

Claire had already laid out the terms before. They were simple and effective. Yet Ehm still pouted, like an ever so petulant child refusing to go to school. “Chance… number one… mister.” She huffed and puffed between reps of squats. Her voice rattled in her throat barely audible over the morning’s pulse-pounding wake-up call. The track looped ten times that workout session, the vocals melting into their own incoherent instrument. “I hope you like what I picked today. I know it’s your favorite.” Her sarcasm laid its trap outsi...

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“Evil Dead, Witchcraft, and Georgia ” by Robin Greene

Submitted to Contest #266

"I can't believe I have writer's block again; that bitch owes me a freebie after what I gave her last time." Pulling out her athame, Georgia sighed; all she ever wanted to do was write and tell stories that enraptured the imagination. As soon as she graduated from Uni, her well went dry. She had won various writing contests; hell, she earned enough money to pay off her car by proofreading and editing everything from thesis papers to dissertations. Now, her mind went blank if she even looked at her laptop. The day she'd changed...

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“Devon in the Details” by Sydney B

Submitted to Contest #266

Nothing says writer’s block like browsing dubious writing blogs for inspiration. KJ French had been browsing them all for weeks. Now, she found herself at the low point of her career so far: scrolling feverishly through pages of search results for her articulate query “how to write good book” at well past 4 AM. By the time she came across an article encouraging a variety of hallucinogenic drugs, she was inspired only to finally shut her laptop down for the night. Then, as one does, she climbed under her bedsheets and continued the search on ...

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“COURTING THE NUMERICAL (NO, THE ALOPHABETICAL) MUSE” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #266

Frances.goulart@gmail.com Courting the Numerical, (no, the Alphabetical) Muse ! Any writer worth his, her or their salt needs a muse to spark his, her or their creativity from time to time. For some, it might be fantasizing about a beautiful human in real life or in fantasy, or gazing out at majestic rolling hills, a pastoral landscape, or having a faithful family dog with its chin resting on your slippers. Picasso’s muse (and lover) was the photographer and surrealist artist Dora Maar who inspired several famous portraits inclu...

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“David: An Invocation” by Susan Downs

Submitted to Contest #266

I’m hearing crickets. Why am I hearing crickets at eight thirty in the morning? Take a deep breath, Mattie. It’s just another day in Hell’s paradise. I’ve got to stop saying these crazy things to myself. Okay. Not okay. Okay, it’s going to be the perfect day to write. I’ll write on the front porch this morning. The weather feels just right, sunny and a bit chilly. Perfect. It’s still early. I’ll set my alarm for another hour of rest then I’ll get up and write. I can call Robbie, now, and thank him for the comforter he got me for my birthday ...

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“Jacob & The Ritual” by Calliope Ross

Submitted to Contest #266

Jacob sits with his legs crossed. The house is quiet, all seven candles are lit, the moon is in the right phase, and he's exactly eight feet underground.The ritual can finally begin.He peeks at the grimoire before he closes his eyes and settles his nerves.A steady breath in and out as he reads the list one last time."Seven candles, waxing crescent moon, and eight feet underground."That's all—wait.His eyes scan the last item."One cup of ice water."His body tenses.Ice water?How could he have forgotten something so simple?!Jacob scrambles to hi...

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“The gods are Stirring” by Annabelle Lang

Submitted to Contest #266

I was 13 when she disappeared, presumed dead.And that day, a piece of me was rewritten. Taken, my destiny changed, and given back.My grandmother and I were always close. The closest, ever since my parents also met her fate.Though our relationship wasn’t like others.A duty has been passed down our lineage. Gone through generations. A gift.The Artist of Deities.This was who my grandmother was. What I am now.The role of a mortal artist with gods as their muses, gifted the freedom to draw blindfolded through sacrifice.In an old vineyard at the e...

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Write about someone who summons the creative muse through a convoluted ritual or method.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 56 stories

“The Alchemist's Muse: A Ritual of Urban Enchantment” by Vera N

“Reddit Recipes” by Clara Zhou

“The Necessity of Creation” by Rachelle Tacosa

“Summoning the Muse” by Day Williams

“Breakfast of Stubborn Muses” by Constance Marie

“Evil Dead, Witchcraft, and Georgia ” by Robin Greene

“Devon in the Details” by Sydney B

“COURTING THE NUMERICAL (NO, THE ALOPHABETICAL) MUSE” by Frances Goulart

“David: An Invocation” by Susan Downs

“Jacob & The Ritual” by Calliope Ross

“The gods are Stirring” by Annabelle Lang

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone who wants to give up on their career right before their big break.

Your protagonist discovers that everything they type comes true. What happens next?

Write from the POV of a character in a story who keeps getting re-written by their second-guessing author.

Your protagonist has the perfect day scheduled — but things don’t go according to plan.

Contest #266

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

281

Contest entries

108

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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