I have talked several times about my love of music and how it affects my writing. When I was writing straight fantasy my play list didn't reflect my eclectic taste. It was mostly a mix of rock and techno. It was what drove the types of stories I was writing. When I decided to write Elemental from a female PoV I knew I needed a change in my writing music.
So after searching I found a few bands and singers I enjoyed that set a mood. One of these was Lights, she is a Canadian musician and was constantly played all through writing the many drafts of Elemental. I even have a small reference for her song February Air in one of the chapters, "I left my jacket in the car and the February air was cold on my arms."
As I was doing revisions one song in particular kept finding the repeat button hit. It just seemed to set the mood so perfectly. So much so that now that I delve into the second book I keep going back into it before I start writing again. Here is the song below.
So is there any song that just helps you find the mood for a particular story or maybe it is a character? As always have fun and keep writing.
It's cheesy but yeah - I did keep playing this one song through a few scenes I was writing at the time with the hero and his love interest. It was Caught in the Rain by Revis.
ReplyDeleteHey if it got the scene done, no cheese about it.
Delete(Silly question, but do you do those drawings for your posts yourself? If so - good job!)
ReplyDeleteAs to music, my life is usually over-filled with noise (I had 6-8 siblings and a house full now myself). Silence is golden when I write.
(Not silly, I do and thank you.)
DeleteA lot of writers are like that, in fact I used to be, but I kept getting mad when I couldn't get the quiet to write so I found music it cancels out the other noise.
Usually not one particular song, although my first and third books each have a signature song. I tend to just throw on the latest prog rock album I've purchased and let the pounding beat drive me.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, I know some people (like Patrick Rothfuss) say they can't understand how people can write to music, but for those of us that have figured it out I think it is a great boon to our writing.
DeleteI am back and forth. Sometimes I need quiet to write, and sometimes I can have tons of annoying sounds playing in the background. And then, of course, there are times when music definitely gets me in the mood, and I am definitely a repeater when it comes to songs I like! The story I am currently editing revolves around a song, actually, so always playing that one over and over, =)
ReplyDeleteGood I don't feel so weird about it then, lol.
DeleteI didn't know you did the drawings for your posts....wow! Love them- amazing talent!
ReplyDeleteMusic inspires me everyday. And I'm with you, sometimes a specific song will spark a scene in one of my stories. :)
Thank you, yeah they are fun to draw.
DeleteIt's cool to see how similar some writers methods are.
Oh yeah! I have to have my music going while I'm writing. I'm a huge alternative fan, so generally I will have something in that genre playing, but I will mix it up. What stands out the most is one of my characters is Jamaican so whenever I write from his POV- I must crank up the Bob Marley to set the right mood. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's cool any excuse to play Bob Marley is a good one.
DeleteBeautiful song! Hadn't heard it before.
ReplyDeleteI go back and forth, sometimes I need silence... which is after everyone else goes to bed, mainly when editing. For actual writing, music gets me going, its right up there with coffee and wine :D
My most looped song for this WIP is Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri.
I like that song.
DeleteIt is nice for me in the mornings when kids are in school and the house is quiet then I play the music soft and get tons done.
I usually hit repeat on my playlist and hope for the best! Sometimes a particular scene is inspired by a song, though. That's happened twice in my current wip.
ReplyDeleteFirst: 12' tall Uergatas (weregoats) are yanked from their homeland and thrown into an arena to battle. This song embodies their hesitation to fight, homesickness, and then their relentless bloodlust. Apocalyptica - Cortege. In fact, I think I'm even going to name the head Uergata 'Cortege' or some deviation of the spelling.
Second: An assassination attempt on Vretos has finally granted him the freedom to declare war on Ausgan. This song embodies the sense of freedom and ambition as his navy rushes over the Faithless Sea to wreak havoc on Ausgan: Eternal Sonata OST - Seize the Artifact for Tallness (I have no idea what that song title means!)
***And by 'repeat' I mean shuffle :)
DeleteOh I have done this myself. I will have play list going and there is always that moment when writing where you pull back for a second to think what next and the song just flooded in.
DeleteBTW I now am dying to read about Weregoats.
Yeah, I like it!! Music influences my life in all aspects but I love powerful music when I write.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what I would do without it.
DeleteThat dragon is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I use music to inspire my stories. I did use one song to inspire my title. Unfortunately two other authors had the same idea. :P
That always sucks. Although I saw where you found another title so that's good. It is funny how several different people can arrive at the same specific thought.
DeleteI'm not a writer, but Lights is my go-to when I'm doing anything for school! I just grab any of her albums and go at it!
ReplyDeleteI really like her, she should be much bigger than she is.
DeleteI have to change music with different books or characters too. I have kind of a southern redneck character I want to write, but I'm gonna have to listen to country music, I think. Not sure if I'm ready for that, lol.
ReplyDeleteLol, well at least country has a had a big boost the last couple of years maybe you will find something you can bear through.
DeleteJann Arden, Dire Straits, The Stapler Sisters... are just a few of the songwriters that inspire me during those tough scenes.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG!
I don't listen to music when I write. Seems that's quite unusual.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised there is a good section of writers who don't. Patrick Rothfuss says music is too intrusive to write to.
Delete