Rubber Ducky Copywriter

Our muse gets a lot of credit for our best work. Sometimes, it’s almost as if we don’t actually have control over what we do; everything good comes from that little voice inside our heads that tells us what to do. Call it what you will: “I was in the zone.” “The muse was talking to me loud and clear.” “The groove, man. I was in the groove.” The muse is a glory hog.

I’m not my muse’s biggest fan. The bitch is fickle. Comes and goes as she pleases. Doesn’t give one whit about deadlines. Will gladly retreat to a sandy beach and sip a cocktail while I struggle to remember basic sentence structure.

I write for a living. My paycheck can’t afford to depend on her.

Inner hamster? That little workaholic stays loyal. By my side for every deadline, detail and debilitating blank page.

If we all have a muse, reason stands that we all have an inner hamster, too. Yourself included.

Meet your inner hamster.

Inside your head is a little hamster. Your inner hamster is your unsung hero. Have to produce with regularity and clarity on the spot? Client needs your ideas now? Deadline looming like the sword of Damocles?

When you have a draft rougher than tree bark and your muse is nowhere to be found, your inner hamster will wipe your brow and start working over that writing. Massaging it into happy client-making content.

With you through thick and thin, your inner hamster churns out the words while your muse works on her tan.

True, your inner hamster may not churn out as much of the inspired, glowing gems of brilliance your muse might. But that furry little trooper plunks out precious, shiny gems when you least expect them and most need them.

Your hamster helps you get the job done. And expects little in terms of reward.

• Water
• Regular off time to rest
• Healthy walks and exercise
• Hearty meals that don’t come in boxes
• Comfortable living quarters
• Regular, full-night’s sleep
• Relaxation and reasonable expectations
• Occasional candy and trashy novels

(If you read between the lines, this is called self-care.)

Your muse has her own agenda and fits you in when it’s convenient. Your inner hamster does twice the work and gets almost none of the glory. But you have to take care.

Acknowledgement and appreciation go a long way with your inner hamster, too. Don’t ignore her or take your hamster for granted. (Or him. Your hamster, your pick.)

Take care of your inner hamster, because that’s the one who helps pay the bills.

(My inner hamster is named Hortense. She enjoys cosmos, glitter and bunny slippers. Has a crush on Henry Cavill. Is in the mood for lunch, so I’m signing off to feed her.)

Faithfully yours,
Ducky

Care to share? Tell us about your inner hamster in the comments below. And how you take care of it.