Guys, may sound silly, but i was just having a quick read over previous messages on the message board. What is a Cafe Muse Story? It may sound rather silly of me to ask, but it sounds very interesting. What goes on here?

Kerrie

well Kerrie, what fun the Cafe Muse story is... let me enlighten you....
When we first started meeting in a chat room we let our imaginations run ramp! The waiter was a hot topic for a while there, and so after awhile of flirting and too much coffee, the brains of Project Muse, thought a great way to develop our writing skills is to write a short story incoroparting the waiter and cafe. So, we all toodled off to brain storm each of our stories. So far, i think half of Project Muse has written a story. Does that sound right?
You are by all means welcome to write your own. You'll find in the post a reference to what the waiter is suppose to look like but the rest is up to you.
We dream that one day these stories will be brought together in one volume, published or self published. Its really just a writing exercise. A fun one at that!

Timna,
That sounds like a plan! Its wonderful.. so we read the description of the waiter, then go off and write our own little story, bring the waiter in at any point in time? can the story be about anything at all? and all it must include as a rule, is the waiter? that sounds like lots of fun! Good for the spirit and great for the imagination!

Thanks for the insight!

Kerrie.

Kerrie, please do have a bash at the Cafe Muse story. Timna's right, it was initially mooted as a way of compiling an anthology of stories so I was waiting until everyone had done one before working out how to get them together, edited etc. A few were doing them to enter in the Woman's Weekly short story comp, so we'll need to wait until August when that's judged before we do anything with them anyway. But the word count was pretty open - probably between 3000 and 8000 words and the waiter was just described in case he did come into the story. He doesn't have to, and neither does the cafe itself. The story can be about someone who just visited the cafe one day or whatever really, although I did set mine in the cafe. One of the threads has a pretty detailed description of the inside of the cafe if you need that.

It was just another way of exercising your imagination and I was curious to see how everyone would approach it - what genre they'd write in (fantasy, romance, horror, crime etc)and hopefully we'll find a home for the stories one day.

You should write one Kerrie. Our only 'rules' were the cafe had be be a link of some sort, though not to go too specific apart from the descriptions we came up with in our original threads - go to the 'Chatroom' thread as that is where we all went nuts and came up with the 'Cafe Muse' - a wonderful place we all could meet where the waiter knew what you wanted to drink even before you did.

It was fun to do, a great exercise in writing to order too, not just coming up with your own ideas.

I hope you have a go Kerrie. Mines all in my head, waiting for the break coming.
As for finding them a home... maybe one day we'll be lucky.
The different ideas we all get should make an interesting collection.

Okay, in my lunch hour, while snacking on my tuna sandwhich, i jotted down some idea for my project muse, short story. I have a fair idea on where i want to go with it.. though as for finding a home, wasn't Lou talking about having them published one day, as a type of short stories collection between all of us?! Hmm, well, i can't be too sure. Though it would be great to get them all published into one book. Would we organise to send them to one person in particular maybe.. and have them make copies? we could then send a copy of all the storis together back to everyone in the cafe muse society? Well, it is just an idea anyway. They may not be able to be published - but we can each have a copy of everyones little stories.. That is just an idea, and i'm sure everyone else has their own ideas as to what will happen to the Cafe Muse. I'll keep you posted and let you know how i go!

Take care,
Kerrie.

well, i think i see your point through all that Kerrie. The main idea of this group, as far as i see it, is to develop your own writing to a standard that you are happy with. The whole publishing thing we have as an end result, is just that... an end result, so we can share our stories. Your focus may be just to be published, which is fine, but i hope you look behind that to why you write and what you are hoping others will get from your stories. Does this make sense?
Maybe im reading your posts wrong, but it doesnt hurt to say whats on my mind. A bit of advice, and now if you dont want to hear another word, just let me know...

Timna, I think it is good advice for all of us. Even when you've been writing for years it's good to rethink why you're doing it. Your reasons change. And sometimes you can get so caught up in the rush-deadline thing that you forget you're doing it because you love it and you want to touch people with your stories.

Sometimes people think in terms of publication because it keeps them going when the going is tough. It's an end goal, but the process has to be more important or why do it because it's so very personal and at times so very hard.

I'm pleased that you raised the point though, and I wonder if anyone else wants to talk about why they're writing.

First and foremost I write because it's what I love to do.
I cannot go a day without using words to describe the world about me. Even if I cannot get to my novel, I describe scenes about me - some old tree, a sunset, a delapidated house - you get the idea. I play with the words in my mind, attacking the said sunset or tree with various ways to write about it.
Words and how we can string them together are important to me.

Second reason - I want to write things that people will remember, that will touch them, that they may learn something from. Call it seeking immortality if you wish, but it is deeper than that. If one of my stories or poems can teach and touch someone's heart and soul then I have achieved something special in this life of mine.

Third reason - If I don't write my mind gets full. Words and ideas bubble and boil in my brain, I get frustrated and agitated and I am horrible to live with. It's as if words are sent to me and if I don't release some of them onto the page they build up and build up until the energy inside is turned to anger....writing is a more pleasant way to let of this 'steam'.

Fourth reason - And this is the end of the journey I now travel...I would love to be published, have a real book out there. One I can touch, see and smell. To see it on the shelves of a book shop would be so great!

There are many more reasons but with everyone home it's hard to think of the fragile, intangible stuff!

deb

I write because I love stories. I love reading, I love watching films, I am a TV addict and its all for the sake of immersing yourself in a riveting tale. Opening up the laptop, opening up the appropriate word file and just letting the story tell itself before my eyes is a rush because because I really want to know what will happen next.

But I don't think any of us would be so excited by being in this group if we did not want to be published as an end result. We talk about agents, and editing and are all learning clues and hints as to how to divide our time and polish our work; not to make the writing more enjoyable as we all have that, but so that we can be closer to publication.

As I said I write for the pure enjoyment of it but I have no shame in admitting publication is a major goal.
To tell a fun story that moves people (whether with a smile or a tear or butterflies in the stomach) would be wonderful.

Just another post - the actually project! All the details are within these two posts - i think! just email me if you guys are interested in writing a story for the collection... tdean01@postoffice.csu.edu.au

Oh, thank you Timna for remembering our old posts!
BTW, I'm writing, because I MUST TO WRITE, I feel not fulfilled without!

GRACE

As I said on the 'chatroom' thread, which also has info on Cafe Muse, I've posted my 4000 word short story to Timna, so it's happening.  Let's get those stories rolling and make The Cafe Muse Anthology a reality!

I think I'm having a short story about a tall, dark, handsome and hot Italian waiter! I will swing my pen, girls!!!

GRACE

OK I have started my cafe muse story, I have writen about 1000 words in 1/2 hour. I was flying I am now about to start the main body of the story today. BTW my table is across from Deb's LOLOL. Did I read right the waiter's name was Luca? Let me know anyone please.

Nancy, I have heard, that the waiter is nameless, but we can call it Luca .... or Giorgio...?

I'm sure he was nameless. That's what gave him some of his mystery.

deb

He was nameless - as Deb said, and he had a certain Eygptian air to him... as he was based on the tatooed dude from the Mummy movies. But he has to be mysterious. That was the whole clinch.
I have two stories collected - Lou's and mine, so you guess better get cracking... its looking good so far... lol.

My writing goes very well, there are some things from my own experiences ......., so far my memory works right, lol. BTW, the name of "my" waiters is Giorgio, I don't like to speak to someone: "Hey you!"

Hello Girls! How was actually nationality of the waiter Italian or Egyptian? And how was his eye colour? Brown? They Southern Men have mostly brown eyes. Did someone know it? In any case "mine" is a heartbreaker and my story developes itself slowly to a novel. Help!

Luv

GRACE

Hey all,

If it's not too late I think I'll get stuck into a short story. Something to break from the book (feels so big in my head at times). I like the idea of having something fun to play with.

Grace, I think he had very dark eyes, probably brown.  In my story they were "Persian eyes".  Nicky, do have a bash at it.  It's so much fun and you can write in any genre - horror, crime, romance, mystery, supernatural.  Whatever grabs your fancy.

I'm onto it..........let's see what comes out of my head. I have no set idea of what or when just let it flow out. As much as I love my big story it's nice to have a different story to play with.

My story seems to be a very nice fairy tale, there is a prince and a princess ......, but for more their have still to wait....

GRACE

Woo Hoo, after days of mulling it hit me last night at some unfriendly hour like 2.30am (it woke me up) so today around other chores I'm going to get it up and running

Keep those stories rolling in, guys.  I'm sure Timna is waiting eagerly to get them.  When we have enough we'll look at compiling them into an anthology.  Our own little "Cafe Muse" Project.

Hmm, will have to mull this over. Beautiful Cafe, so many tales. Where to start...?

Sk.

Just a brief note to see how you guys are coming with the Cafe Muse story? How many of you have forgotten? How many are too busy?
This is a good chance to practice writing to a deadline and word limit. Come on guys, get to it! Email with any problems in the mean time.

I think I have mine to rewrite...., there are hot passages...., maybe too hot for you, Yeah, wasn't me, it was the waiter.....

I've done that too, Grace! My characters get carried away, and I get so caught up in the moment that boom - all sorts of odd things start happening (mind you, my plots have improved by these moments of 'deep writing')

"Deep Writing" came from my friend, who when watching me write just couldn't get my attention because I was so involved with the story. I couldn't help it - it was an important passage! But good luck Grace!!! And tell that waiter to play nice! (Ah, the image in my head.....)

Raw writing is sometimes teh best way tyo get the story happening. Thats why editing is so important. Helps to cut away the dead wood, as it were.
Goodluck everyone.

I think someones experiences are likewise very important .... then are the characters alive....

I'm still not content with my story, although there are add some surprises-turning points, and actually the story seems to be ineresting...... but there is something missing... how I use to say there are no "wings", no oomph, lol. I think I need a bit more time to finish it. Now by the summer-temperatures with us it's rather difficult to sit and write.... but I will try, promised.

Luv
Grace

Grace, sometimes the best thing to do is put the story aside for a time, so when you come back to it, you can look onto it with outer eyes. Then you may find where the problem is. This what i do, and it can help find the smallest error. No hurry. And i'm here if you want my opinion in the mean time.

What I read there above? The summer temperatures? It was maybe two days together, lol, then I'm happy like a child! But it's over.
So, thx Timna for your advise, I did it exactly how you was saying, in meantime I make notices and researches. Happy writing to everyone!

Grace

Well, I'm just checking in with everyone to see how their cafe muse stories are shaping up?
I want to thank Nicky for submitting her story. Big round of applause. As the third muser adds to the pile.
Looking forward to hearing from the rest of you, either here or via email (tdean01@postoffice.csu.edu.au).
Will be setting a dead line soon and a word limit based on peoples story. Please let me know how you are all going to make it easier to set?

Thanks Timna, just hope it's readable........Second story I've ever actually got to "the end" of. Now going to work on my book but also going to keep "exercises" going on the side (but as i've discovered "short" stories by me are well not that short *lol*).

I have my first workshop this Saturday and am both starting to look forward to it but also there is a healthy element of terror in there too

Everyone have a good week, I have a child free week so going to go for it in the writing and also researching departments whilst I can.

Timna, I have mine ready to go. What's your email?

Ally
http://www.allyblake.com

Alright Nicky! I hope this workshop will keep you motivated. Am looking at your story right now, so will be in touch.
Ally, its tdean01@postoffice.csu.edu.au.

Just wanted to say hello! And I'm letting you know that I'm still working on my Cafe Muse story, which I musted rewrite totally due to: found on the net a very similar story! However, now flows it very well and I hope to have it ready very soon. How far is everyone with they story?

Luv

Grace