What is Your Love Song?

Back in the dark ages of  this blog when I had about two followers, I talked about writing and how important it is to me during the writing process. There are songs that seem to call out to me, either as an anthem to the story, as a love song for two of the characters, or a song important to a scene. I'm planning having a few different posts about writing and music, and how it can influence, distract, or even change the course of a story.

I'm planning on writing a few different posts on this subject,  but today I want to talk about love songs. While I know not everyone is featuring a love story in their writing, I know a fair amount are. The love story in Love at the End of the World is a bit of a love triangle, but not in a traditional sense. Carys is holding out hope that Lucas, her boyfriend will return after their town was evacuated due to the super-flu that has either killed off or made walking infected of most of society. Lucas comes back...but not before she meets Dex, who is older, wiser and shares something in common with Carys that Lucas never could.

I think traditional love triangles are fine, and I actually really enjoy the tension if they're done right, but a traditional love triangle wasn't right for my story. How would you feel if you fought off infected to get back to your girlfriend and found her in the arms of someone else? I couldn't imagine Lucas still being happy to pine over Carys. He still loves her, but he's pissed, and rightfully so.

I have two playlists for my two love stories, one for Lucas and Carys, and one for Dex and Carys. The songs on Lucas and Carys' playlist is more songs that they would have listened to as a couple, or songs that reflect how Lucas feels now that Carys has moved on. Some of the songs are a bit bitter in spirit, but others are more wistful. Their love song is No One's Gonna Love You by Band of Horses.



Carys and Dex are all about that new love. Love that makes your head spin and hard for you to catch your breath. The first time I heard Starlight by Muse I was just beginning to write this story and I immediately thought of Carys and Dex and it's been their song ever since.



If you have a love story in your WIP, do your characters have a love song that inspires your writing?