Road Tunes

In a couple of hours I'm heading north to Ashland, WI, my hometown. I'm doing a school visit at my old high school tomorrow morning - which is both trippy and delightful.

With a four-hour drive ahead of me I decided to splurge on some new music. Listening to music while drive is a sure-fire way to get my brain synapses firing in a writerly way. Listening to new music in particular seems to really enliven my creative side.

While I purchase a lot of music on iTunes I still buy cds. I love the jacket art and liner notes that lets me know more about the musicians' process behind this finished product. Here's what I'll be listening to on the rides to and from the Northwoods.

The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck

Though I already know the Mountain Goats to be incredibly talented, I was won over to purchase this album because I fell in love with the title tracks. The first track on this album: Damn These Vampires. Other fabulous titles for tracks: Prowl Great Cain, Outer Scorpion Squadron

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

I haven't listened to much Lykke Li but keep reading such great things about her that I decided to give this cd a whirl. Plus Scandinavian musicians tend toward awesome - Abba, anyone?

Jonsi - Go

Thank you to David Levithan for bringing Jonsi into my life. I loved Sigur Ros, I might love Jonsi a little bit more.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

I already listen to Madder Red and O.N.E. incessantly, today I broke down and bought the whole album. Plus the typeface on the jacket is designed to look like Norse Runes. Love.

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

It's Radiohead. Need I say more?

I'll be curious to see which tracks are particularly inspiring. Songs often spin out scenes for me and that's how they end up on my book playlists and soundtracks. I'll keep you posted with the tunes that make the cut.

Retreat

I'm not posting as often as usual - apologies - but it's because I've entered the wonderful, all-consuming world of THE FIRST DRAFT.

As I've discussed before, my brain gets hijacked by my novels, making life for me and those around me rather difficult. I knew I'd truly entered the writing zone when I drove 30 minutes west on Hwy 94 when I needed to be going east.

I was late for my appointment and I know there's more shenanigans where that came from.

It's worth it though, for the sake of the story.

What am I writing?

The fourth book in the Nightshade universe. Same world, different characters and VERY different time and place. This book is set in the 1400s, mostly in Scotland and uncovers the origins of the Witches War. I am loving it.

Lost in the book as I am, you may not see me as often as usual.

In the mean time, here's a teaser song from the Bloodrose playlist:

I, Tunes

That was a bad pun for a title, but I couldn't resist.

I was delighted by all playlist/music questions for April's Q&A and I thought I'd write a bit more about how playlists work in my writing process.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I use music to get through tough spots in writing. I'm fortunate in that I've never (and hope that will continue to be the case) suffered writer's block. That doesn't mean that I don't encounter bottlenecks in writing - these are places where a scene isn't quite working, or I just need a little more space to figure out what happens next. The best thing for me to do at points like that are to walk away from my laptop and listen to music. I can do this while wandering around the house, doing dishes, walking the dogs, or driving, but I have to have music to get the process started. This system has never failed me.

I do have playlists for all my novels and they are extensive. I have a song for each chapter and often for multiple scenes within a chapter. I also have what I consider theme songs for each character. When we get closer to Nightshade's release date I plan to do a week of posts that are character profiles plus these theme songs.

For now I thought I'd offer an example of how my playlist works using another popular question: What about the romance?

Yes, there is lots of lust and angst and kissing in Nightshade. I'm a romantic at heart and it's pretty hard to imagine myself ever writing a book that did not have these components at work.

Here is the Calla, Ren, Shay love triangle song: American Analog Set, The Green Green Grass



For those who prefer electronic remixes, Telefon Tel Aviv did an amazing one of this song. I love both versions so take your pick:

Music is My...

I'm all bubbles and sparklers because I'm about to put together a new playlist. I've mentioned in the past that I use music to write, but I haven't formally posted about the whys and wherefores of a novel's playlist.

Playlists serve three primary functions for me:
1) Create the mood of a scene
2) Define key traits of a character & his/her tastes
3) Get me to a better writing place if I get stuck

Regarding #3, while I wouldn't stay I've ever had writer's block I do experience writer's detour - wherein I find myself wandering away from the mental space I want to be in to write well. The best solution I've found for going off road involves literal driving. I do some of my best idea generating when behind the wheel, particularly if I'm listening to the playlist I've created for my current writing progress.

Up until this week I've had an informal playlist for my WIP, but I've heard a few songs recently that catapulted me into the novel and I knew it was time to put the REAL playlist together and get this baby rockin on the screen.

What about the playlist for my novel? That, my friends, will be posted in concert with the availability of ARCs. When I can share the book with readers, I'll share the music too!

But until then here's a key track from the playlist I'm buidling today:


What's even more neat-o? That girl looks like my protagonist.

I love reading about whether music works for other writers. Do you playlist?