Music and Writing

Some people find inspiration in music. I'm not sure if I'm one of those people. I find it very difficult to think when music is playing. Let me clarify - music with lyrics is playing. I like to sing along with songs. I do enjoy music - a lot. But if there are words - especially those that I know - my brain automatically gets the pattern and I can't concentrate on anything else. It's the same reason why I could never listen to music when I was studying - ever.

When I drive to work I like to listen to musical scores, so I can think. See my characters. Hear them. Write in my head. It's my routine. Doesn't work when there's someone else in the car, because there's always the pull to talk to the other person. That's not bad. Just not condusive to writing.

But I do like listening to "regular" songs. Current ones, "older" ones. I have massive playlist (called "Misc") on my iTunes that I play during class. Students like working to music - it helps them focus, provides more energy in the classroom. In this playlist there are songs from when I was in junior high / high school through today. Very ecclectic. There's a bunch that students have suggested to me. There are songs that I've found that if there was a soundtrack to my books, it would definitely be on it.

I do have a playlist that is my "soundtrack". These songs didn't inspire me to write, it's more like, "Hey! That captures a scene/feeling/moment in the book!" There's a song that's been a favorite since it came out when I was in high school. I've heard it many times since - especially since I started playing music in my classroom. It's a New Kids on the Block song. All of a sudden, it clicked. It was very fitting for a future book in my series. If my book was turned into a movie, it would definitely have to be in it. Well, the future book. I have written "future" chapters, although that book is far from completed. But I do it as number 8 or 12 in the series. Now, whenever I hear this NKOTB song, I definitely think of my characters and that future moment in their lives. I get transported to it. After the song is done, my mind wanders more to what might happen next or what happens just before it.

I still don't think the music inspires me, but (as it does in movies) enhances certain moments. I don't think I'll see the song the same way.