Wired for Words
I’ve said it a million times before and I’ll say it again. I love to read. Always have, always will. I don’t make excuses for it when it interferes with daily life, because if it wasn’t for books, life just wouldn’t be the same. The same goes for music. I’ve played instruments and sung in bands and my earliest memory is of my dad up late at night playing his guitar and me sitting on the stairs long past bed time, just to listen to him and whisper along.
I am a highly sensory oriented person. I connect with music and words on a deeply personal level, much to my chagrin when I find myself overly emotional on hearing a particular piece of music, or re-visiting a story that moved me as a teenager. It’s like I am always able to find a piece of myself within the layers of a book or the melody of a song. It’s a magical feeling when something you read or hear instantly connects — it’s like déjà vu or a secret that only you know about. Something is calling to you* — and only you. It’s fabulous, isn’t it?
*Now before you have me bundled off in a straight-jacket, let me explain where I’m going with this.
I’m taking a gamble every time I sit in front of my laptop or with my notebook and Lamy in hand. What comes out is as naked and raw as a newborn. It’s squirming and squalling and covered in all sorts of goo. But while this word baby is all mine, it was born from a multitude of influences. The books I read, the conversations I have with unsuspecting friends, the movies I’ve watched, the memories I hold dear, the idea’s I dream up. However I find the biggest influence on my writing, is the music I listen and write to.
An example; in the midst of my NaNoWriMo last November, I stalled in one of the ten interconnected short stories I was writing. It wouldn’t speak to me and, rather rudely, threw a brick wall up in my face. I spent a few days moping about, one of which included watching the new adaptation of Jane Eyre. I was so taken by the score (by Dario Marianelli) that I immediately jumped on iTunes. The next day when I sat down to that story, I was armed with my headphones and Dario. It worked. It helped to invoke the particular mood I was after and, importantly, helped me to maintain it throughout. By writing the story to the ebb and flow of the soundtrack, it strengthened the structure by infusing it with the appropriate emotion at the appropriate times. I was able to scoot out five thousand decent words that day — I’ve never been so in the zone as I was then and I admit to getting goosebumps thinking about it.
Lyrics, while great for story prompts and injecting life into stagnant dialogue, only serve to distract me. I reach for orchestral, old choral (Bach is a favourite) and film scores — pieces that transport me to another time, heightening emotions, fleshing out the conflicts of my characters and adding depth to their surroundings. Well at least, that’s the intention!
I always try to find music that reflects my story. Whether that be the era, location or scene, or a theme or emotion; I pick something that will help guide me through the story. I think of it like shining a torch on the intangible. I know the scene, how the characters are going to behave and react, what they’re thinking inside, but how do I best show this? Using a certain piece of music or song, can shine light on areas I may not have noticed before. If a scene I thought held an underlying sense of sorrow or hurt isn’t working, I find myself trying a new piece. Something to shine a different light and maybe bring out an aspect I hadn’t considered before. For me, there really isn’t a more satisfying way to write.
So tell me, what works for you? Do you listen to music while writing or is the sound of silence, the only workable solution? Are there songs or scores that you immerse yourself in, that put flesh on the bones of your detail, teasing out the primal core of your story? Sing me your song!
I’m a music lover too, but the use of music varies when I write. Sometimes I will use music, other times I don’t. Lately, it’s been instrumental bass pieces by UK musician, Steve Lawson. Fantastic for mood and scene.
Adam B @revhappiness
Ah yes Steve Lawson. You have recommended him to me before – I really should check him out. I love anything that can invoke the deeper darker emotions that can sometimes be hard to effectively capture. Thanks Adam
Laura, not music but the musical words from Ray Bradbury on “the muse,” Ruta Sepetys, “Between Shades of Gray” (a 15-year old girl in Stalin Siberian camp), Ann Lamott’s kid with coronet case at the fence. All of these are shots to my writer’s gut, and I stagger to my typewriter to build my own weapon.
Bradbury was a true legend of the craft and will be sorely missed – how lucky we are to have his legacy to remind us of him! I love that you derive inspiration (and motivation) from great works you have read. It doesn’t always have to be music – a masterful story can invoke just as much passion!
Thanks for the comment
Enjoyed your article. I mostly listen to electronica or jazz, music with not a lot of singing. I find if I listen to versed music, I get carried away with the words and forget where I’m going with the writing!
Jazz! I haven’t tried that but I can well imagine the mood that would come from it! I stay away from versed lyrics also – far too distracting, although good for the laborious jobs like line editing I find…
I’m glad you enjoyed the post – thanks for the comment
Writing is the cornerstone of my writing practice. In the past I’ve used music to drop me down quickly and easily into the headspace to write (a bit Pavlovian I know). I found Decorder Ring perfect for this and now if Dave plays it while cooking I want to go search out a pen and paper, start doing stream-of-consciousness writing.
Like you, I use music to evoke a certain mood within me as much as on the page. During the Rabbit Hole I did the unthinkable and played an hour long mash up set from the Ballarat DJ duo, Yacht Club DJs. I say unthinkable as the music is high fragmented as a mash up, but it has just a brilliant vibe. High energy it kept my fingers taping away at a stupid rate.
I have a playlist for my novel, though I imagine it will adapt and change as I originally programmed it for the short action story I wrote as part of it.
In short… music is everything to me as a writer. For so many years, sans door, it has been the door to the world for me. It’s so ingrained in my process, I can’t do without it.
I am absolutely in agreement that high energy music can keep you fuelled! How do you go with lyrics while writing? I recall you talking about particular bands you listen to and I always wondered how you concentrate! I love the concept of a soundtrack for each novel, or in the least, a soundtrack for dedicated writing time. I feel the same way when I hear certain songs/pieces as you do when Dave plays Decoder Ring!