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I've discussed music & writing several times on this blog. I can't imagine one without the other. Creating a playlist is one of the first things I do when I start a new project, and I add new songs to it as I'm writing. I don't listen to those playlists exclusively while I'm writing, but I often go back to them when I'm feeling stuck, or at crucial points to get an extra bump of inspiration or emotion.
For my current novel, I reached back to my inspiration band. Stars has been inspiring my writing for ages, and they are probably the only band I'm a fan of that I enjoy 99% of their work, so much that listening to one of their songs set the wheels in motion for one of my novels. I knew the tone of this novel would be different than my previous works, more introspective. I set out to look for music with that tone in my music library. Don't Be Afraid to Sing came on my Itunes DJ and it became the perfect song, and it's the anthem of my novel.
I like to think I have a pretty good taste in music, but my characters don't always have exactly my taste, or sometimes they can influence it. For my second novel, music isn't a primary interest of any of the characters. When I was creating that playlist, Taylor Swift's Mine had just been released, and it became the love anthem of my characters. I still can't listen to that song without my heart going a bit soft. It's a perfect song for their sweet, first love story.
In my playlists I have songs that I think reflect the theme of the story, but sometimes I happen across a song on Pandora or in my own music collection that makes me think "Oh, x character would like that." On average my novel playlists have about twenty songs, and I listen to them even after I'm done with a project, or if I've abandoned it, to be reminded of what I felt when I was writing.
Is music important to your writing?
I know so many people for whom writing is important to their creative process, but I feel like the one holdout who just can't do it. I can have all sorts of other things in the background, except music! It's so weird. While I love to sing and play music, I'm not one of those people who has a soundtrack to her life (or for her characters for that matter).
ReplyDeleteGreat point. For some reason Daughtry seems to personify my current WIP. So both his albums are on heavy rotation for me. Also Lifehouse's "First Time" was the anthem for my two MC's journey to getting together.
ReplyDeleteLOVE music while I write. :)
You inspired me today! After reading this, I blogged about my own Soundtrack. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@ Angela: you're not alone, there are several writers who don't create playlists or listen to music for their writing!
ReplyDelete@ Kris: I'm glad I inspired you!
Music and well thought out playlists are not important for my writing process mostly because I cannot listen to music when I write. I find it far too distracting. That being said, Stars is an absolutely fantastic band. I haven't given them a good listen in a few years. I'm going to have to dig up my Stars mix CD now =]
ReplyDelete- Jackie
@ Jackie: I understand why some find it distracting, but I find silence distracting! :) Stars is a great band. Their latest album came out last year and & it's really, really good.
ReplyDelete