History Main / TheMuse

* ''Literature/DaisyJonesAndTheStix'': Daisy gets frustrated when her boyfriends keep referring to her as their muse because she wants to be known for her own songwriting and singing abilities. When she shows one boyfriend some lyrics he tells her he's going to use them, without even pausing to consider that ''she'' might want to record the song.

* The premise of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' is mystery novelist Richard Castle shadowing NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett for, among [[{{UST}} other]] [[StarCrossedLovers reasons]], inspiration as she serves as his muse for a series of thrillers starring a main character based on her. Just don't actually ''call'' her a muse:

* ''Film/CynaraPoetryInMotion'': Byron (a poet) and Cynara (a sculptor) both inspire each other while they practice their art as they're falling in love.

* ''Film/CynaraPoetryInMotion'': Byron (a poet) and Cynara (a sculptor) both inspire each other while they practice their art as they fall in love.

Not incidentally, the [[Creator/NeilGaiman same]] [[ComicBook/TheSandman story]] provides a [[TropeCodifier codifying example]] of MuseAbuse.

* In ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'', an aspiring writer captures one of the bona fide, Myth/ClassicalMythology Muses. He imprisons her, and while raping her, is gifted with fantastic inspiration, and he soon becomes a renowned, and extremely wealthy, writer. Unfortunately for him, this particular muse is the former lover of The Dreamlord, Morpheus, and when she calls to him for help, he [[AndIMustScream sympathizes with her plight]]. Needless to say, the author is soon 'convinced' to release his captive... and the Dreamlord takes [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor appropriate revenge]].

* Throughout his ''Literature/{{Confessions}}'', Augustine calls upon {{God}} to give him the words to do justice to the truth and grace He provided to him.

** "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E1InThroesOfIncreasingWonder In Throes of Increasing Wonder...]]": Lestat de Lioncourt's FirstLove Nicolas was the inspiration behind the song that he wrote which plays in his music box from France.

** "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E6LikeAngelsPutInHellByGod Like Angels Put in Hell by God]]": On the sleeve of the phonograph record of "Come to Me", Lestat's first composition in a century, his Valentine Day's message is "For Louis, My Muse!" Louis de Pointe du Lac is Lestat's SecondLove.

** Lestat de Lioncourt's FirstLove Nicolas was the inspiration behind the song that he wrote which plays in his music box from France.
** On the sleeve of the phonograph record of "Come to Me", Lestat's first composition in a century, his Valentine Day's message is "For Louis, My Muse!" Louis de Pointe du Lac is Lestat's SecondLove.

This concept is often invoked by many a real life creator by attributing a real life person special to them as their "personal muse." Usually occurs with a female muse for a male creator, but the inverse (or a combination thereof) is not too uncommon. If said woman is an actress, she'll be cast in the main female role in every one of the director's movies, at least until their relationship breaks down.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In ''LightNovel/CookingWithWildGame'', Asuta becomes Ai Fa's chef as a way of repaying her for saving his life (and funding his initial culinary experiments). Since no one in her village can cook half as well as he can, this arrangement works out well for everybody.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' MetaFic setting ''Fanfic/ThisTimeRound'', most of the AuthorAvatar characters have a Muse; a supernatural being trained at the Muse Academy who basically acts as a sort of advisor.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' had an episode about an energy being who claimed to be a muse that latched onto Jake Sisko, drawing out his creativity while simultaneously draining his mental energy. The same muse claimed to have inspired other artists who produced profound works at the expense of shorter lives.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' had an episode about an energy being who claimed to be a muse that latched onto Jake Sisko, drawing out his creativity while simultaneously draining his mental energy. The same muse claimed to have inspired other artists who produced profound works at the expense of shorter lives.

* At the core of ''Series/{{Californication}}'' is the dysfunctional relationship between Hank Moody, a writer and barely-functional sex addict and alcoholic, and Karen, the muse behind most of his creative output and the mother of his child. He genuinely loves Karen, but the show is a tragic case of FailureIsTheOnlyOption because he's too self destructive to make things work and he needs the [[WillTheyOrWontThey On Again Off Again]] nature of their relationship [[TrueArtIsAngsty to truly be creative.]]
** The second and sixth seasons explore the idea further through the characters of Lew Ashby and Atticus Fetch, rock stars who have similarly troubled relationships with their muses, and Faith, who is something of a professional muse.
--->'''Atticus''': The woman that you love is out there, and you know you can't have her. How do you even get up in the morning?\\
'''Hank''': The booze is always helpful... and so is the art. Everything I write is either for her or about her. So I'm with her, even when I'm not, in my writing.

* In ''Series/WinterBegonia'', Shang Xirui is this to Du Qi, who will proudly proclaim to anyone that will listen that he writes plays for Shang Xirui and Shang Xirui ''only''.

* The premise of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' is mystery novelist Richard Castle shadowing NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett for, [[TheyFightCrime among]] [[{{UST}} other]] [[StarCrossedLovers reasons]], inspiration as she serves as his muse for a series of thrillers starring a main character based on her. Just don't actually ''call'' her a muse:

* Alex Bale's WebVideo/SpongebobConspiracy has a twisted example with the... [[EldritchAbomination thing]] inside Alex's house, as it gives him the ideas for the theory videos in exchange for fresh meat. [[spoiler: And he's not the ''only'' one with a Muse...]]

* The WebVideo/SpongebobConspiracy has a twisted example with the...[[EldritchAbomination thing]] inside Alex's house, as it gives him the ideas for the theory videos in exchange for fresh meat. [[Spoiler And he's not the only one with a Muse...]]

* [[TheMuse/RealLife]]