A lost muse

I have been trying for weeks to buckle down and write a paper. Its not going well (hence posting to blogger as yet another manifestation of procrastination.) I blame the fact on not being able to find my muse, nevermind that there are no muses for scientific writing. I have settled on trying to locate Clio, muse of history, since I did in fact perform all of these experiments in the past and am now reporting on them. This search for Clio has been starting to wear on Prof. Heller's nerves: a short recent exchange...

The young student approaches the hallowed chambers of the adviser, in an attempt to stay his deadline by feigning misunderstanding of a concept to be discussed in the paper. The point is discussed to exhaustion, and the student makes an unsuccessful break for the door...

Prof. Heller: So... when are you going to have this paper to me?
The Cowardly Procrastinator: Well, its not really in a draft form yet, I need a bit more time for the figures and the introduction is...
Prof. Heller (interupting): Norman Mailer died the other day.
*awkward pause*
TCP: I'm sorry, I don't know who that is exactly.
Prof. Heller: He was a non-fiction novelist. Wrote "The Naked and the Dead". Quite a good author, one of my favorites.
*longer awkward pause*
TCP: I'm not sure what you mean.
Prof. Heller: He was a notoriously slow writer.
TCP: Ok.
*slightl pause*
Prof. Heller: He was very slow, and now he's dead.

The terrified student backs slowly out of the room, not comprehending the exact meaning of the exchange which has just taken place. Safely back at his desk several moments later, two possible meanings come to mind: "Write this paper before you die" or "Write this paper before I kill you" The search for Clio is renewed with vigor.