Friday, May 20, 2011

It's Not Blood, Music Courses Through My Veins (Anathema Spoilers Within)

Melanie Surani wanted to know how music played a part in my writing....so here ya go! :D

Everything in my life is dictated by music. Everything. 99% of my memories revolve around music. I can hear any song on the radio, on any station, and tell you a personal story related to the song's presence in my past.

When I drive, there's music. When I write, there's music. When I read, there's music. If the TV's on I'm thinking about what background music would work if my life was a movie.

If music is on I can't sit still. My foot taps, my head nods, I direct with my fingertips. There's a reason swing dancing is my favorite activity!!!!

I've always said that if I had the choice between being blind or deaf, I would choose blindness. Silence would probably kill my will to live.

Because of this, music is ultra-important when I write. The right music sets the tone of my novels. For example, when I wrote Anathema I listened to the Twilight soundtrack, but only the intense songs (sorry R Patz, your ditty did not make the cut on my playlist). Muse drove Reychel's escape from Kandek. Blue Foundation fed Ivy's jealousy over Mark's growing feelings for Reychel. Paramore gave Reychel the strength to follow her own path.

When I listen to music, any feeling I have amplifies ten-fold. I'm a pantser, so everything I write in a first draft is driven by my emotions and the music behind it. Wait until you read the book I'm writing using Within Temptation's The Heart of Everything album.


5 comments:

  1. I love Muse's new album for writing -- especially the last 3 songs! Perfect for those intense, dramatic moments.

    Also, thanks for the shoutout!

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  2. I'm the exact same way, I have to listen to music when I write and half the time it sets the scene for me. Within Temptation's Heart album is the best, and all the song are on replay on my mp3 player! Great post! :)

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  3. When I write I can't have music on, but when I paint, it's a MUST. Fusion jazz, R & B, Pink Adele, etc etc etc.

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  4. I like to listen to music that sounds a bit melancholic or dark and eerie when I'm working on my YA books... it certainly helps set the scene. One of my all time favourites is from the 80s vampire movie The Lost Boys. Its called Cry Little Sister and is by Aiden. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end... perfect inspiration. If you don't know, google it. Its amazing. Another is Stay by Shakespeare's Sister. I could go on!!
    Suzy Turner
    http://suzyturner.blogspot.com

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