“Novelling” Music
When I was in Middle School, I learned that it was easier for me to concentrate on my homework if I had music playing. Just prior to the invention/popularization of iPods, YouTube, and internet radio stations, my selection was limited to whatever chrome Benny Goodman disk I found lying around. But now, thousands of hours of mind boggling sounds and shapes are at my fingertips.
I would like to suggest that writers are often influenced by music. Read any Stephen King novel if you don’t believe me. For my style in particular, I find that certain sounds get me into the mindset of what I am trying to write. Furthermore, I try to experiment; I don’t listen to the same artist over and over, and I attempt to find sounds that make me think.
Some say you should listen to music before you write, some say during, and some say after. I say that it is all up to you. Anyway, I will post a few songs that put me in different mindsets.
1. Danko Jones – “Baby Hates Me.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM-C7EgHxE4
2. Falling Up – “Contact”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4UyP0pkfeY
3. Coheed and Cambria – “Domino”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ogODyzUNM
4. Devin Townsend – “Ghost”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGpVN7xag0
So this is just a sample of the diversity of music I have found, but all of it helps me create moods of characters, and think in a different way than I may have before. And some of it is just fun to listen to.
Sometimes I’m jealous of people who can listen to music and write. I’m the silent by the window type.
It took me a while to get used to doing it, but it is something I recommend working on. Also, listening while writing is not always a good idea, either. Last month I was in Chicago, in a Coffee shop at lunch. Something is inspiring about that city.