The Muse | A Psychological Horror Story About Ambition and Faustian Bargains

A blank page.
A chance encounter.
And the moment ambition becomes predatory.

In this episode of Tales Under A Broken Sky, we return to original fiction with The Muse, a story that recently appeared in Volume Four of The Dark Corner

This one is close to my heart.

Written during a bout of post-holiday writer’s block, inspired by a random prompt, and drafted in fragments on buses and in a tattoo chair, this was the story that pulled me out of a creative slump and reminded me why I do what I do.

In The Muse, a struggling writer is on the edge of breakdown when a chance meeting with a devoted fan changes the course of his career. What begins as encouragement quickly becomes opportunity. And opportunity becomes temptation.

But sometimes a deal is too good to be true.

The Muse is a slow-burn horror story about artistic desperation, external validation, and the quiet horror of discovering what you’re willing to sacrifice for success. Expect creeping tension, psychological unease, and the realization that inspiration doesn’t always arrive alone.

If you’re drawn to creative obsession, dangerous bargains, and stories that linger like unfinished sentences, this one is for you.

Follow the show for more original horror and dark fantasy, released every two weeks.

Content Warning: Death, violence, substance abuse, depictions of child death, explicit language

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:38 - The Muse
00:30:21 - Background Discussion
00:33:40 - Listener Support
00:34:03 - Outro