When I first set out to write a book, I thought the words would come much like they did when I was writing a news story. I would sit down at my desk, turn on my computer, maybe wait five minutes, and then the story would flow.

Of course, Mother Muse soon dealt me a nice firm smack to the head. Crafting a story from my imagination, from my own thoughts and musings, was a heck of a lot harder than piecing one together from notes and interviews. Then there was Muse herself. She never seemed to strike when I was actually sitting at my computer. Instead, she would pop up at the most inconvenient times — in the car on the way to work, at the mall as I trailed behind my six-year-old at Build-A-Bear, in the middle of the night, or, God forbid, in the shower. When Muse would arrive wasn’t so much the problem as trying to grasp her offerings before they slipped through my fingers. Here I am a writer, and I have no pen or paper to jot down the scene or setting or dialogue I had been agonizing and waiting weeks for.

When Muse would arrive wasn’t so much the problem as trying to grasp her offerings before they slipped through my fingers.

So I got smart. I collected a Muse Preparedness Kit.

Supply 1: Pen and paper. (OK, that’s two.) I bought several small notebooks that are now scattered throughout my house, in my car and in my purse. Pens pretty much litter the same spaces. Now when ideas come, I don’t have to make a mad dash to my office for a piece of paper or risk losing that train of thought until I can get a hold of something to write on. I also have a stash of index cards in my car’s glove box.

Napkins work just as well -- as long as you have a pen available. I’ve been caught a few times without my notebooks, but never again without a pen.

Supply 2: Recorder (tape or digital). Being a reporter, I’ve had a tape recorder for quite some time. It just took me a while to realize it was good for more than taping interviews. It’s a great way to keep track of Muse’s wanderings when I’m on the go. I get a lot of ideas for my story while I’m sitting at a red light or making the drive into work that is so burned into my brain I don’t really have to pay attention to where I’m going. (Maybe I do occasionally…) My digital recorder is now as much a fixture in my car as the cell phone charger. Anytime an idea pops up, I hit the record button and yammer away. Much easier than writing and driving at the same time (and the other drivers thank me I’m sure). When I get home, I transcribe the recording into my notes, and use them later for an upcoming scene or during the editing phase for a previous one.

Supply 3: AlphaSmart. When I know I’m going to be the least bit stationary for a period of time, I pack the Alpha. It’s lighter than a laptop and easier to tote around, but still lets me tap out anything that enters my head without the risk of running out of space (unless of course I write about 100 pages). I’ve taken it with me on road trips, to Space Center Houston, to McDonald’s and to work, just to name a few places. The small screen actually helps keep me on track because it’s only four lines deep and trying to edit in that small of a space would be, well, a b!$&*. I hook the Alpha to my computer when I get home, transfer what I’ve done, and move on.

It may have taken a few years, but I finally figured out Muse’s game. She may not come when I’d most like her to, but if I’m prepared, I can take advantage of her appearances.

Then, later, when I’m at my computer, the words -- and the story -- simply flow.

Clarissa Silva is HBA's Treasurer for 2006 and is working on a historical romance.

Copyright © 2006 Clarissa Silva. All rights reserved. Used with permission.