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...

"You are going to love some of your characters, because they are you or some facet of you, and you are going to hate some of your characters for the same reason."
-Anne Lamott

SarahSchott's "Dark Country has hit 1.5k reads, 229 votes, 140 pages, and 50,665 words!
briizy98's "The Forbidden Princess" has reached 1k reads and 265 votes!
HeatherSmith672's "Shadow of Twilight" won 1st place in the Werewolf genre for the Discovering Elites Competition!
0jamajo has won first place (alongside three others) in the most loved design in a graphic contest!
SarahSchott's "Dark Country" won 2nd place in the Romance Genre for The Creory Awards!
HeatherSmith672's "Shadow of Twilight" has hit 5k views!

The Spotlight Muse this month is: WondaGal
Muse of House Erato and Olympian of Olympus

1. What inspired you to start writing?
I think it was my own curiosity I guess. I started maybe 10-15 years ago, so a lot of it was wanting to try something new. And I suppose I loved it so much that I never left.

2. Do you complete research for your books? If so, what's your method?
A lot of my books derive inspiration from Greek Mythology, so I do research for those aspects. There are a lot of different versions of some myths and I suppose my method involves trying to blend them together in a way that makes sense. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't, so it's a trial and error kind of thing. But I've learned a lot about Greek Mythology over the years, so that's a nice bonus, since it's a very interesting topic.

3. If you had to pick one animal or thing that would represent your writing, what would it be?
If I had to pick just one animal, I'd say a wolf, because of what the wolf symbolizes. Wolves are symbols of guardianship, ritual, loyalty, and spirit, all of which I try to incorporate in my stories. Wolves run in packs, or families, and their loyalty is incredible, and yet they're still so mysterious. I strive to create that same vibe in my writing.

4. What do you consider your writer's kryptonite?
My kryptonite involves two things. The first is my inability to indicate how much time has past, something I'm working on in A Shadow of Redemption. I've struggled with this for years, but I'm slowly getting better. The second is overthinking things. I tend to challenge myself occasionally by stepping outside of my comfort zone when it comes to my stories and when I do I sometimes overthink the details of the story itself.

5. Any plans for books or a series?
Well my current work in progress is A Shadow of Redemption, and I haven't decided if there's going to be sequel yet. In addition to that, I need to finish writing Sunset (Book 1 of the Shadowfall series), and start writing Song of Sorrow (Book 2 of the Sirens series), and Tenebris (Book 2 of the Gates of the Underworld series). So there's a few things in the works for me.

6. What is your ultimate goal for your book? tv show? movie? best seller? Hobby?
Writing has always been a hobby for me. I just enjoy creating stories for fun.

7. Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special?
Just one? I have a few that I've loved. Sage Frost (from A Shadow of Redemption) is currently my favourite since I've never really written a male that's gone through as much as he has. But I think I'll always have a soft spot for Selena Silvers (from Blood of Darkness). She was the MC I wrote after my long hiatus from writing and Wattpad, so I came back to Wattpad when I posted her story.

8. Any last notes about your book for the readers?
A Shadow of Redemption has a special place in my heart because it's a huge step outside of my comfort zone. I've never written this much of a male POV before and I've never had a male MC like this. So I hope everyone enjoys the story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Title: A Shadow of Redemption

Cover:

Blurb: "Healing your soul, doesn't mean suffering in your past."

~*~

Sage Frost has been through many trials in his life. His mother's death, his father's betrayal, and the sudden disappearance of his brother have taken a toll on his mind. Tormented by his past and his desire to save his brother, Sage vows to become the saviour and save the elementals from Darkness.  But first, he must pass a trial of the six elements, but it won't be easy. Summoning all six elements is reserved for two powerful beings.

But the trials aren't the only thing Sage has to face. He desperately wants to understand his dad's betrayal. But there is more to it than meets the eye. And on top of that his own powers are tempting him. Tempting him into the darkness, threatening to consume him.
As the darkness looms over the elementals of Mystic Cove, Sage finds himself attempting to come to terms with his demons. There is hope...there has to be...

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/220222426-a-shadow-of-redemption

How To Hint Romance Between Characters:

• Glancing at each other then immediately turning away when they notice
•Making characters nervous or shy around their crush/loved ones
•Characters leaning towards the person they like during group discussions
• Finding subtle ways to touch (not in sexual way)
•Asks deeper questions and listen deeply
•Worrying about appearance around crush
•Small body quirks that show interest (bit lip, blush, twirl hair, etc.)

This Month's Spotlights are:

Spotlight Author: annasteffey

What inspired you to start writing?
I've always written. It started off as plays/scripts I would write by hand and make my friends perform. But as I got older, I wanted something more. So I turned to writing fiction novels! In 2016, I posted my first full length novel on Wattpad, and ever since it has been amazing!

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Writer's block is tough to handle. I seem to experience it mostly during school, but there some things I do to help get over it: I re-read what I've written, re-outline my novel to make sure it's on the right track, watch movies/read books in the same genre as my novel to spark creativity, and truly take it easy on myself. I usually don't like my work to force it out of me, so since I don't have deadlines, I let myself get over the writer's block naturally!

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I write mainly Young Adult and New Adult Romance! However, the current novel I'm working on outside of wattpad is a Psychological-thriller (of course with some romance sprinkled in it). I love writing Romance because love is universal, everyone wants a piece of it. The stories are easy reads and comforting. I write psychological thrillers for the complete opposite reason! I love how they mess with your mind and make you uncomfortable.

Title:
Hard to Find

Cover:

Blurb: Rough is a word Skylar Leighton is quite familiar with.
Learning to navigate the real world with only her sister by her side, she's made the most out of what she has. But fresh out of college with a new job, Skylar's life is nothing more than vanilla.
Just when she believes she's hit a plateau, someone from her past coincidently shows up in her life, settling everything off balance. Something is lurking in his past that he cannot get away from. Suddenly, her life is much more than vanilla.
Will he choose her over his past?
Or will the past control him?

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/121044195-hard-to-find

Spotlight Author: AnnaKosalla

What inspired you to start writing?
I first started writing as a teen. I wasn't satisfied with the endings of a few books or how certain plots played out so I wanted to create a modified version for myself. Soon after I began to have a lot of ideas for my own stories. I had the desire to create my own plots, characters and even worlds. I discovered that creative writing brought me balance as I feel excited yet calm when working on a story.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
If I encounter writer's block, I try to put the story away for a few days to be inspired by new impressions. I go out, read, watch a movie or even start writing down notes on ideas I have for different stories. Oftentimes, one of these things gives me a clue for my original story. I realize what to write next during these small breaks.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I love history, old myths, and legends. I like to find out things about other cultures and I have a slight fondness for art and architecture. When it comes to my books, you'll find that I get my inspiration from all of the aforementioned topics.
The repertoire of my stories spans from historical to contemporary settings. My Secret Mobster Boyfriend - the current novel I'm publishing - is a contemporary General Fiction/Romance packend with a mix of comedy, drama, suspense, and a touch of destiny. But I also love to write Fantasy or stories with a touch of Science Fiction or Mystery. They all include Romance though.
Above this, I'm a fan of plot twists and I like "grey" characters with rough edges. My novels are mainly aimed at Young Adult or New Adult readers.

Title: My Secret Mobster Boyfriend

Cover:

Blurb: When the paths of secretive businessman Dray and conscientious assistant doctor Cate cross once too often, they make a pact to solve their respective private life problems together. However, neither of them realizes that romantic feelings could develop between them, nor that their relationship is in danger of exposing a dramatic, long-forgotten family secret. And as if this wasn't complicated enough, a mysterious stranger suddenly appears in town who seems to be out to kill Dray.

- A New Adult romance packed with a mix of comedy, drama, suspense, and a touch of destiny.

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/206331065-my-secret-mobster-boyfriend

Spotlight Author:  DarlaCassic

What inspired you to start writing?
I'm a total daydreamer. I have always had dozens of stories in my head. Some of them I enjoyed writing down, some I just fantasized about. I stopped counting a while ago how many unfinished drafts I had on my computer. I was never much of a reader, but I ended up having a moment where I read a lot of romance books (like, a LOT). I guess at some point I decided I could maybe write some great, impossible romance myself. I found enough motivation to bring it all the way to the finishing line, and completed my first book! From then on, I'm not sure, but just knowing I could finish a story made me more confident in my writing.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
So, many people will tell you writer's block isn't a real thing. And it's hard to accept because it feels real, and you sometimes get really stuck on certain parts. But when they argue it's not real, they aren't entirely wrong as you can overcome it. It's not a real block. I have three different way to try and overcome it:
- What I do, is I re-read the last 5 to 3 chapters I last wrote, to get me back into the story. Sometimes it might take more, but all you need is to fall back in love with your characters and plot.
- Sometimes you just really need a break, and if you have several projects going on, it can be good to switch to another one for a bit, coming back to the one you got stuck on when you feel ready.
- Most times, when we get stuck, it's on a scene or moment we aren't too eager to write, because it's complicated, or not that interesting to write. The last possible thing I'll do is write a scene that comes after that, a scene I really want to write, and it'll give me the motivation to get back to whatever I was reticent to work on, so I can connect the dots.
Mostly, what you need is to sit down and force yourself to write, because it's the only real way to get out of Writer's Block. The first half-hour/hour is hard, but then, once you get the ball rolling, you're back to business. It doesn't matter if you're terrible, all that matters is that you're writing again. And you can always edit whatever you've come up with 😉

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I write Romance, probably because I'm a hopeless romantic. I've come to realize I would never live an incredible love story like the ones we see in books and movies, and writing them is the closest thing I've found to compensate that fact. I love writing about characters that shouldn't be together and make it happen anyway. The MCs giving in their love for each other against all odds is always so powerful and romantic. I write about feisty women, and brooding men, because I find it to be a very compelling dynamic, it's sexy, it's cute, and it can be really funny. I can't see myself working with a push-over woman, at least not with some great inner strength lying underneath.
I try my best to avoid cliches, twisting them until it seems new. It's impossible not to write cliches when it comes to romance because everything has already been done a hundred times over, if not a thousand, but I really try. The tropes might sound overdone at first glance, but the way it's treated is anything but, as I've been told several times now.

Title: Between the Lines

Cover:

Blurb: Andy is a nerdy young woman who has just secured her dream job as a programmer for Kelex, a company she has long admired.
Working there comes with some unexpected perks, much to Andy's delight. One being Oliver, her new colleague who is the embodiment of everything she's ever wanted in a man. However, her affection for Oliver is tainted by the overwhelming attraction she feels for her new boss, Alexander.
Alexander "Lex" Coleman is cold and arrogant, but she can't even blame him for it, considering his big brain and movie-star good looks.
Now, Andy is stuck battling her inner demons and desires while trying to build a successful career and have it all. It becomes a choice of mind over flesh. Right over wrong. Eventually, something has to give and it's only a question of when as Andy struggles with life and all of the crazy complications that come with it.

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/193226174-between-the-lines

Honorable Mention Author: aerys_the_mad

What inspired you to start writing?
I don't have a particular moment that inspired me to write, but ever since I was a kid (around age 9), I was creating worlds in my mind. My best friend and I would make up our own planets and take turns sharing details about them and creating characters. But I didn't start properly writing until I was a bit older (in my teens) when I started writing fan fiction because I wanted to channel my passion into something tangible.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Sometimes the best way for me to handle writer's block is to just wait it out or force myself through it. I'm not someone who writes daily; rather, I work in spurts, where I'll bang out a chapter in a day and then come back to the story at some unplanned date. This is also why I use contests as ways to get me to write because having an external deadline makes writer's block nonexistent for me.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I like to write in many genres instead of just one, but somehow I end up incorporating sci-fi, fantasy/paranormal, romance, thrillers and religion into my works. I'm open to other genres, of course, but I do like to imagine the world as it could be, rather than as it is. Perhaps it's a way for me to escape from what's around us, and to encourage that escapism in others. I also like to focus on the lives of people who don't often get a spotlight - namely LGBTQ+ people, racially oppressed people, and disabled people, because these are stories that need telling too, especially when it comes to breaking harmful stereotypes.

Title: Arakhne of the Floating Mountain

Cover:

Blurb:  Arakhne wants to be left alone in her floating palace and make dresses but most importantly, hide from Athena, whom she humiliated all those years ago. The daughters of god, triplets: Soledad, Luna, and Estelle, need gowns for their coronations as the queens of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory - and Arakhne is the only one who can take on the task. The four of them come to a mutually beneficial agreement - but none of them are too happy about it.

Link: http://www.wattpad.com/83693613-arakhne-of-the-floating-mountain

Here is a pocket prompt to get your creative juices flowing:

"I love you."
"That's pretty stupid of you."

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-writing-group-open-for-new-members-and