Hi,
Did you find time this week to giggle and dance like no one
was watching? Sure hope so.
This week we’re going to fly with Muse author, Heather
Greenis' suggestion:
Do authors integrate music into the stories. I know a few of us write with music playing
in the background.
Chris...for editing I tend to play opera in the background
as it breaks the silence but because I don't know the words or really the music
by name, it doesn't distract me.
When I come across music in manuscripts I'm editing,
well...unless it's a period piece (even set in the '80s is a period piece) you
want to watch out for music. Outside of dating your piece, I've found
some...and this is from reviewing as well...it doesn't match the character's
age. It fits more with the author's memory and tastes.
Let alone needing permissions LOL.
However, it can set a mood which can help write the mood
MARGARET
FIELAND, author
In Broken Bonds, one of the major characters is a musician.
She plays an alien stringed instrument called a rill. I'm a wind instrument
player myself, so I researched stringed instruments because I needed to picture
the blasted thing, know what I thought it sounded like, etc. I decided it was
shaped something like a lute, and played with the instrument in one's lap,
rather like an autoharp. It came in various sizes. I wrote the words to several
songs for my character, Nidrani, but I haven't done the music. The instrument plays a significant role in
the book, but, of course, most of the stuff about the instrument itself didn't
explicitly make it into the story.
In the fourth Aleyne novel, the one I'm trying to finish
up, another major character plays the
piano, and, again, this plays a significant role in the story.
HEATHER
GREENIS, author
I tend to use music in my novels. Our stereo goes on shortly
after we rise and isn't turned off until after dinner, when we're ready to
watch the television. Jazz, classical, country, talk radio, etc. My characters have an enjoyment for tunes.
In the first book in the Natasha Saga, Natasha's Dream,
concerts and theatre are mentioned. Music is carried through the entire 4
books.
BARBARA
EHRENTREU, author
I don’t really use music that much in my stories. However,
in my new novel, When My Life Changed, coming out this fall probably, one of
the characters has “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as her ringtone for one of her
friends. I don’t need music to write and usually I can write when it’s silent.
I have thought about adding music, but seeing how I had to go through so much
trouble to add quotes from Dr. Seuss to my first novel, I think it would be
difficult to add song titles and cost a lot of money. I know that videos of TV
shows sometimes need to change songs because they couldn’t get the rights
cheaper.
I do like the idea of using music to create an environment
or as a historical marker, but so far I haven’t needed to do that.
SS
HAMPTON SR., author
When writing I prefer to have music on (or the TV) because I
cannot stand silence. Besides, if the writing is time-specific, it sometimes
helps stir memories or emotion (the Vietnam War) or helps create an atmosphere
(music from the Civil War or Cavalry songs from the 1800s Western Plains). Only
twice have I integrated music into my writing; once is in the forthcoming
SHARING RACHEL. She loves classical music, so I did research and a lot of
listening in an attempt to describe the music that is interwoven throughout the
novel. The second time is the sequel PRAIRIE MUSE, except this music was from
the Vietnam War era. Bottom line, when writing, music (or TV) is essential to
me.
MARY-JEAN
HARRIS, author
I don't usually listen to music when I write, though I
usually sit outside when I can, and then I have the music of birds and the
wind, or water if I go by the river. I'll usually only listen to music if there
are loud noises around that I want to block out. Sometimes I listen to
classical music, like Vivaldi or instrumentals from movies like Lord of the
Rings. I've tried to listen to music with words, but it usually just distracts
me, and when I re-read what I wrote, I might find some words that are
completely out of place, which turn out to be words from the song I was
listening to. It definitely makes you think about how people can be affected in
their work by what noises or music there is around them.
MARSHA
R. WEST, author
I don't have music playing in the background when I write. I
have HGTV on in another room. The changing of the shows acts as a sort of time
keeper. (Yes, I know the computer has the time in the bottom right, but for me
this works. :))
A couple of specific songs have influenced my writing. The
first one will date me terribly, but oh, well. It's Barry Manilow. I love all of
his pieces, but Weekend in New England always gets me. He talks about the rocky
coast of Maine. (My favorite state.) When I write, I want to capture the
passion, he expresses in his songs. I have a long way to go.
The second piece of music is by a composer introduced to us
on our last trip to Maine. Two sweet ladies in a small gift store had the best
music playing. We asked what it was and they said it was by Tim Janis. We
bought 3 of his CDs. They are all great, but my favorite piece is Water's Edge
from the CD of the same name. Oh, boy
does he capture the spirit and beauty of the state, absolutely stirring--like
standing on the bow of a sailing ship. Interestingly my WIP is set in Maine.
I know lots of folks have whole playlists with their writing.
I'm so bad with names, I had to go look these up. That's probably why it
doesn't work well for me. :) But like everything in writing. Find what works
for you and stick with it. :)
IVA
VALENTINO, author
I never listen to music while I am writing…it is much too
distracting for me! I love music and feel very inspired by it. However, I
frequently find myself singing along, or wanting to get up and dance. In order
to really focus on my writing, I need complete silence.
In Black Cats and Ballet Slippers, my main character, Gemma,
is a ballerina. Although I don't use specific names of songs or music in the
book, music is definitely a very important part of dance.
A lot of times I come up with playlists of songs that remind
me of my favorite books. I'll be listening to the radio or a CD, and then I'll
think "Oh, this song reminds me of when (insert scene) happens!" Then
I'll listen to my playlists while I'm driving, cleaning house, or simply
relaxing. :)
DAWN KNOX,
author
I very rarely listen to music when I'm writing. I like
silence but occasionally, I turn on the Beatles or Train. As I'm not very
musical, I haven't incorporated any music into any of my writing so far but I'm
now keen to have a go!
BRYAN
FIELDS, author
I did a blog entry a while back about the soundtrack I’d use
for “Life With a Fire-Breathing Girlfriend” and it covered several of my
favorite sources of inspiration. The
entry is at
http://laughingotterslair.blogspot.com/2014/01/music-to-date-your-dragon-by.html
Two of my favorite albums are the soundtracks for ‘Conan the
Barbarian’ and ‘How to train your Dragon’.
Both have great mood pieces for romance, action, and despair.
My guilty secret of writing music is a two and a half-hour
playlist of disco hits. Xanadu, Saturday
Night Fever, the Village People, Blondie – It’s a bouncy, keep –things-moving
collection. I do, however, make up for
it by having a good collection of AC/DC albums.
From time to time, I also use vintage comedy albums,
especially Bill Cosby, Hudson & Landry, Monty Python, and the Capitol
Steps. For dramatic scenes and getting
over writer’s block, ‘Cats’, ‘Phantom’, ‘Evita’, ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ work quite
well.
PAULINE
(P.M) GRIFFIN, author
My characters love and appreciate music. They listen to symphonies from prespace Terra
and 'orchestrations' from Varn's ultrasystem plus traditional homeworld tunes
and material heard in other locations.
The characters in my other books also enjoy it.
I love music, too, listening to it, that is. When the Lord was handing out talent in that
area, I was on a secret, urgent mission to the nether regions.
CHUCK
BOWIE, author
This is my favourite Sunday Musings topic to date!
But it is challenging for me to limit what I listen to when
I write. I’m a musician, raised in a musician’s family, with 2 musician sons.
Yes, it’s a passion. So I have to keep my favourite songs out, in order that I
can stay focused.
But jazz and classical are amazing inspirations to write to,
because they are (mostly) instrumental, yet offer up the serotonin / endorphens
to complement the Muse.
On Friday afternoons I treat myself to pop music from the
fifties (before my time) and sixties (the formative years). I become a
less-efficient, but happier writer during those hours.
SUSAN
A. ROYAL, author
In my opinion, music and writing go hand in hand. I can’t do
one without the other. So I listen to inspiring soundtracks or mood music when
I write. Naturally, my love of music leads me to incorporate it into the story
In my first book, Not Long Ago, I refer to it only vaguely.
However, when writing In My Own Shadow I went a bit further.
And in From Now On, I went as far as to write the song
Rhylie sings as they approach Manx Island.
Dear reader,
thank you again for joining us and we’d love to hear from you. Keep smiling and
have a fun week. Never stop believing. See you next Sunday…nothing better than
being cozy in bed with some Musings.
If you have
a question or comment you’d like us to muse upon, do not hesitate to contact
me Christine
Steeves-Speakman at MuseChrisChat@gmail.com