Welcome to the Halls of Olympus! We are the Muses- goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes! (Just kidding! We are a misfit of writers who love Greek Mythology and supporting other writers.) You have found the Muse Magazine, home of the celebration of the beautiful art of literature. Join us and hear our tale...

"When someone is mean to me, I just make them a victim in my next book." - Mary Higgins Clark

Olympus is filled with many talented champions who are all at different stages in their journeys. We raise a glass to them in celebration of their accomplishments! Hazaar!

Sugar_And_Spice125 DeVil's In The Name won 1st place in the Coronation Awards for Adventure as well as the Summer Time Awards for General Fiction
WondaGal finished writing A Shadow of Redemption! It is fully released now
HeatherSmith672 Shadow of Twilight has hit 10k views
SarahSchott Dark Country made its first #1 tag
poetic_oceanxX poem book hit 300 reads
Sugar_And_Spice125 "DeVil's In The Name" won second place in fantasy in The Disney Awards
SarahSchott "Dark Country" won 3rd place in the August 2020 run of the WorldCreator Contest
solorzanowriter passed 1.5k reads on Royal Internship
Sugar_And_Spice125 finished writing her book DeVil's In The Name
sky_is_limit got 10k views on Butterfly in the Sky

Deep in the halls of the Olympus Community, the leaders are working diligently to create more resources for the members and the outside world. Check out some of our latest adventures

- The Twin Muses have arrived! We welcome two new muses as members _Foxicious (Our Queen of Graphics) and Exequinne (Our Mistress of Literature) ascend to their thrones in the Council of Muses. May they forever reign!

- House Sappho has joined the pack! This house is dedicated to the artists and readers of the Olympus Community. Split into two, this house has wonderful new features and experiences available!

• The skies paint the marble and a sense of whimsy has graced Olympus. The Olympus Community is proud to announce the arrival of the Graces, a talented collective of artists working to provide quality graphics for the community and the outside world. They reside in the Myrtle Gardens welcoming new artists to their ranks and will begin accepting requests in the coming months.

• The winds have changed course and landed in Olympus. The Olympus Community is proud to announce the arrival of the Anemoi. Residing in the Tower of Winds, the Anemoi are welcoming beta readers to join their ranks and will begin accepting requests in the coming months.

• Please note House Sappho does have space for those who wish to experience the community without the responsibility of being a team member. Team Member positions are still open as well.

- What's that I see? In the mist of 2021, there is the Olympus Olympics gearing up for the battle of gladiators! Keep watching for more information!

- Come one! Come all! The war among the houses has begun! The Olympus Community has put the coveted Underworld House Trophy up for grabs and the competition is fierce.

• The houses compete in the Ares Word Count War, Athena's Mystery Game, and Artemis' Scavenger Hunt to earn points each month to reign supreme.

• Top Three Houses of August:
House Ourania
House Erato
The Fates

• Currently, House Ourania is dominating for the second month in a row and plans to retain their title as Top House for a third consecutive term. However, the other houses are close behind and coming for the reigning champs. *nail biting*

•The Olympian and Assistant Olympian have challenged each other to see who the better house is. House Erato vs. House Ourania! Who will win for the month of September?

The Spotlight Members this month are:

Spotlight Member:
IslandChefNinja
Member of House Melpomene

What inspired you to start writing?
I became inspired by reading and watching movies. Really never set out to write, I just had ideas and wrote them down one thing led to another.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Writer's Block is tricky for me. I don't have really have a set plan to deal with it. I just take a break, maybe set back but usually ideas come.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
As far as Genres I write I write Action, Mystery Suspense Thriller. As far as why my book called The Hunt is based on all or most of those genres. I find those categories interesting and I usually read those are watch those movies.
When reading I like to feel like I'm there by visualizing it and or asking how, when, where. Also I find flow is important as well.

"To me this guy was like any other criminal who thought they were invincible until their world started to crumble. I would bring him back down to earth. It was like second nature to me at this point, having done it for so long."
-The Hunt

Your book is amazing! Thank you for the chance to spotlight it!

Spotlight Member:
HeatherSmith672
Member of House Ourania

What inspired you to start writing?
Oh gosh, so many things. I've always loved reading. YA Fantasy was always my go to. If it had romance, even better. I read A LOT as a kid and young adult. The more I read, the more I wanted to create my own world, write my own story. I started writing my first novel shortly after graduating high school. I had an idea and I ran with it. No plan, just started writing.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Usually when I get stuck, I try multiple things. I have certain songs for each of my books that help get me in the mood and sometimes this works for a block. But no always. Other times I just need a break. All too often, when I'm writing, I become all consumed and put every ounce of energy into my writing. So when I get stuck, its usually best for me to step back and think about something else. Normally I start a new tv show to binge or I read other books that I've been putting aside. Usually about a week later, I sit back down at my computer and I can look at my writing with fresh eyes.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I write Fantasy. Whether it be Fantasy Romance, High Fantasy, or Paranormal Fantasy. Fantasy has always been my go to genre, whether it be writing, reading, or watching tv and movies and that's because, there are no rules. Fantasy allows you to be as creative and free as you wish. There are no rules. As a writer, you get to make up the rules of your world and no one can question it as long as you write it in a way that's understandable to the reader and that's the best part.

"She had forgotten she was still holding his hand. But the moment he pulled it away it was as if every ounce of warmth in her body was sucked away, fleeing with him. She felt a cold rage boil inside her. Her hair rippled like a current, her skin charged with static as gooseflesh spread across her body."
-Stars Ascending

Your book is amazing! Thank you for the chance to spotlight it!

This month's Artist spotlights are:
Spotlight Artist:
_Foxicious
Leader of the Graces

What inspired you to start designing?
Over the years, I've dabbled in quite a few artistic areas (from music to traditional art and writing of course) so getting around to graphic design was just a matter of time. The main reason I took up design was because I wanted a book cover that best reflected, not only my current book, but future books I would write. It'll also lower the cost I would spend in the future once I began the self-publish process.
What's your method for creating your work?
I have two ways. As someone who is easily inspired, I tend to let pictures, music, stories or even my surroundings present the idea to me first. The other would be from the source material itself, so that I can plan the best way to portray its theme, and other associated details.

If you had to pick one animal or thing that would represent your art, what would it be?
Well, like my name, a fox definitely represents my artwork the most! Foxes are resourceful, and someone who likes to use anything and everything at my fingertips that can bring my art to life, I'll say we have something in common there. But they also are playful, quick thinking, and even wise animals that I tend to vibe with the most.

What do you consider your artist's kryptonite?
I'll say that high expectations about the artwork I can produce can oftentimes make me nervous whenever I create something for someone since I always try to live up to their expectation the best I can.

Where can readers find your work or submit requests?
They can find my work, and even request, within my graphic shop, Foxiden!

What is your favorite graphic to make?
I like making book covers the most.

Favorite graphic/ artwork you have created thus far? What is something you really want to make?
Hm..that'll be hard to say but I suppose my all time favorite will always be the book cover I made for Dark Country! It really has a special place in my heart since it really pushed and improved my skills and I'll always be grateful for that cover request.

Any last notes for the readers?
Not that I can think of.

Artist Spotlight:
CrystallineRainbows
Member of House Ourania

What type of art do you do?
I recently took up drawing, so not much at all.

What inspires your art?
I want to learn how to draw real good or on my own.

What was the inspiration for this piece?
To be honest, all of my drawings have been tutorials that I've followed.

How do you handle loss of inspiration?
I tell myself to come back to drawing later.

Spotlight Artist:
Trulyme_17

What type of art do you do?
I do both traditional and digital art (though traditional art a bit more). In traditional art, I do both landscape and portrait. 

What inspires your art?
The most random things inspire my art. I may be talking to my friend and then she says a word and then CLICK. Something just clicks in my head and I am off to find my drawing copy. But generally I take inspiration from my travels and surroundings.

What was the inspiration for this piece?
The inspiration for this piece is actually in my geography bookjoy. I was going through my textbook and then I saw the word Niagara Falls and its picture. That's when it just clicked and I knew I just HAD to paint a waterfall.

How do you handle loss of inspiration?
Quite honestly, Artist's block happens a lot to me. I may just sit my drawing copy for an hour and then just shut it up and go to sleep cause I didn't find my inspiration and searching google for paintings DOES NOT help. So I generally just let it rest for a few days. You can't force inspiration. So I advise just stop thinking about it, take a good book and cozy up. Your inspiration will find you.

Introducing our new mini-contest! Anybody can enter as long as they follow the prompt below:

You just woke up to eggs that are taller than you, and one of them cracked. Oh no! You're in the nest of dragons.

All submissions are to be posted in the comments and must stay below 500 words. The winner will be decided by the Muse Magazine staff and be spotlighted in an issue of the magazine.  The winner will be announced in Issue #12.

What is the Olympus Writing Group?
"It's a Writing Community with a unique twist on it. We create a positive environment in our Community and allow our members to be mentored by their Muses (House Leaders) in nine houses inspired by the Nine Muses of Greek Mythology. Writing is a journey and we recognize that. But just because you're taking a journey, doesn't mean you have to take it alone or that you can't ask for help. That's why we're here. Take your writing journey with us. Experience the mentorship of our experienced Muses (House Leaders). Be a part of a positive environment. Meet people who will support you on your journey. And above all, know that you do not walk this path alone."

The Houses are:
Clio (Historical Fiction)
Euterpe (Non-Fiction, (General Fiction: New Adult, Young Adult, Adult))
Thalia (Humour, Short Story, Poetry)
Melpomene (Thriller, Mystery/Suspense, Horror)
Terpsichore (Sci-fi)
Erato (Romance, Drama, Chicklit)
Polymnia (Fan Fiction, Teen Fiction)
Ourania (Paranormal, Vampire, Werewolf, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism)
Calliope (High Fantasy, all other forms of fantasy aside from Magical Realism and Urban Fantasy, Adventure, Action)

If you are interested in joining the Olympus Writing Group, apply in the link below:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/220998019-olympus-community-open-for-new-members