Although I’m
not a big music lover, there are songs that transport me back to different
times in my life, both good and bad. I’m sure this is true for most everyone.
Many authors
listen to music to inspire them as they write. My muse needs silence. The only
time I’ve needed music for inspiration was when I hit a roadblock as I was
writing my Italy-set story, Murder, Mi
Amore. I put in a CD of Italian opera music that my Australian cousin’s
partner, an international tenor, burned for me. And that music did inspire me
and help me over my block.
There are tunes
I call “theme songs of my life.” Depending on your age, you’ll have certain
songs that take you on a nostalgia-fueled journey. My favorite ones reflect my
generation—the fights for women’s rights and civil rights. The anti-war
marches, the riots that tore cities apart. And the sexual revolution.
When I was in
high school I dated a guy who had no desire to travel anywhere outside of the
immediate area where we lived. I always wanted to travel. I haven’t done as
much as I’d dreamed of, but I’ve done a fair amount. There was a song popular
at the time called “You Belong to Me” by the Duprees. The first line was “See
the Pyramids along the Nile .” Every time I heard
it, I knew I’d be the one traveling and I figured my boyfriend would have to
wait at home for me. Kind of selfish, huh? We broke up so it didn’t matter.
Yet, the rare times I hear the song now, I think of that boyfriend.
I love classic
rock and it’s mostly what I listen to, on the radio, and on my iPOD. The rock
tunes from the late Sixties, early Seventies take me back to the best time of
my life, when I met my husband and when the world was changing drastically. Not
everything in that era was good. There was a lot of turmoil, but it was a heady
time to be young.
Two songs that have
permanent spots in the playlist of my life are from my personal “summer of
love” in Margate , NJ
And then there
are Christmas carols. I love them. Some may find this music corny, but I sure
don’t. Local radio stations begin playing Christmas songs in November, and that’s
when I tune in. Listening to holiday music takes me to all the wonderful
Christmases I’ve shared with friends and family.
There are many
other songs that bring back important times in my life. Some I don’t remember
until I hear them on my classic rock station. Then I take a short trip down
memory lane.
I know authors
who have used songs as inspiration for story plots. Boroughs Publishing Group
recently held a novella contest where authors were asked to write stories based
on song titles. I didn’t enter the contest, but coincidentally I’d written a
short story called Love Potion, based
on the rock ditty, “Love Potion Number Nine.” Boroughs bought my story, and it
was released August 5, 2013.
What about you
authors? Do you listen to music when you write? What music inspires you? For
the readers—what music do you like? Does music transport you back to important
times in your lives?
12 comments:
I love coming up with songs for my books and "hear" music constantly as I'm writing. thanks for this post!
Thanks, Liz. One of my critique partners hears music in her head when she writes. And she writes beautifully.
I'm one of those crazies who constantly has a song running in their head. I get stuck on one for a week or so, and then somehow it changes for another week. Heard once about a third of the people hear constant music like me, but don't know if that's true.
Thanks, Jean. How intriguing, that 1/3 of people hear constant music. I'll bet you get lots of inspiration for your books.
There was a time when I needed silence to write but now I find certain songs really inspire different moods and have been quite helpful in keeping my momentum, especially when writing action scenes.
Hi, sweetie! I usually play classical or Spanish guitar music. Sometimes, words mess with the words in my head. I, too, play lots and lots of holiday tunes at Christmas. But one song was sung to me--and I Love Her. Wow, that made my heart beat fast back then. ox
Thanks, Paris. I think it's cool when songs inspire your writing, but I still need silence to focus. Wish I could get more into music.
Thanks, Vicki, my friend. Classical or Spanish guitar music sounds very nice. No one's ever sung to me. How romantic.
Hi Cara, this is a thought provoking blog post. I need silence usually when I write, with few exceptions. I love Christmas music, too. It puts me in a nostalgic mood and helps me get jump-started for the holidays. Often I'll get stuck on an old song I hear but it doesn't just play in my head - my poor husband and son get to hear it over and over until I tire of it, and there's no 'silence' button they can use to turn me off!
I need silence when I'm writing. The songs come about after the book is written. Then I hear a song and think that it's perfect for the character. It's ironic because music is so vital to me like breathing. I have to have it going at all times, even sing along to the shame of my family. As you said, those are the songs of my life.
Gemma, my husband gets tired of me listening to Christmas songs, but I love them and we only hear them at one time a year.
Melissa, it's wonderful that music is so important for you. When I'm home alone I put in the TV rather than music. I agree music is a very good thing and we all need it.
Cara, you and I have a lot in common. First, I can't listen to music and write. Second, that time period was the best time of my life. Music does take me down memory lane, and I get so nostalgic listening to Christmas music because of our family get togethers.
Hi, Sandy, yes, we are very much alike. It's good to know I'm not alone. Wow, we who were there know how truly amazing that time period was.
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