Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Bring on the Music



 As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Al Green cajole me in Let’s Stay Together. In the past year of virtual writer’s brain freeze I had forgotten just how important music was to my muse, Shirley (yes, she has a name and looks remarkably like Shirley Maclaine.)

In fact, I recently purchased a new CD copy of Michael Buble’s album Crazy Love. Why? Because I burned through the disc in the writing of my novels Red Mojo Mama and Red is an Attitude. The songs on the CD belong to my main character, Lydia “Red” Talbot. I’m about to take up the third in the trilogy and I need Buble’s tracks to do it justice. 

My daughter sent me Buble’s latest album, To Be Loved , and this one seems to belong to the heroine of a brand new WIP. 


The music generally fades into the background as I’m writing, but at times I find myself chair-dancing to a particular song, like Heartache Tonight. Either way, the attitude of the music filters into my writing in only the best way. I get energized; write for a much longer period and come away feeling so damn good. 

Give it a try. It may not be your cup of tea, but experimenting is always a good thing. If you currently use music, please comment on what floats your boat.

6 comments:

  1. Kathy, I tend to write at work or at coffee shops/casinos while waiting for something to open. At work I have the travel k of whatever is playing in the casino play in the background, and sometimes it may influence a scene, movements or place setting. Sometimes it just keeps me motivated to put one more sentence on the page, giving my mind something else to keep track k of besides what I am writing.
    :-) good luck with the new book.

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    1. Melissa - Oddly enough, I can't write with other background noise. It just freezes me up. I admire the fact that you can. I do think what surrounds us must influence what ends up on the paper. Thanks for the encouragement!

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  2. Music does sooth the savage beast(me).

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    1. Ya, baby! Me, too. And alternatively, it gets my inner beast going when I need it to.

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  3. I love listening to music, but not when I write! I need complete quiet when I'm working.

    I usually have it going when I'm on a walk or working in the kitchen. Music is calming for me during those times.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Nadine. I'm starting to turn it on to do chores. Very helpful.

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