In this book I’m reading the author argues that we are servants of the muses, and the art we produce is a result of their influence from a higher plane of existence. So when we sit down to write, what we’re actually writing are the words whispered to us from the muses. To connect with these muses, a writer must pray or engage in some sort of ritual. The most common way is to recite Homer’s invocation to Calliope.

This sounds weird to me. If this is true, shouldn’t all first drafts be considered an immediate masterpiece? If the work we produce comes from the muses, who are masters in their field, then the first draft should be a reflection of their skill. However, this is obviously not the case. First drafts aren’t always stellar. Does that mean the muses are not as good of a writer as we think they are?