Mood
Have you ever struggled to get 'into' your story? Not just getting 'into' sitting down and writing, but getting into the mood or subject matter of your story? What if you are working on a Vampire storyline but are in such a great mood you can't get into the angst of your main character?
This has happened to me several times and I have found that music can help a great deal to get me into the right mood for a particular story or scene. Have you ever tried to match a story to a certain type of music? It really can work wonders. Especially if you can find a soundtrack from a movie that is similar to your story. I have such a variety of music in my library it is very difficult to figure out what I personally like to listen to during off hours.
The next time you are struggling to get on with writing your story maybe you just need to use some music to get into the right mood. Experiment with it a bit and see what happens.
This has happened to me several times and I have found that music can help a great deal to get me into the right mood for a particular story or scene. Have you ever tried to match a story to a certain type of music? It really can work wonders. Especially if you can find a soundtrack from a movie that is similar to your story. I have such a variety of music in my library it is very difficult to figure out what I personally like to listen to during off hours.
The next time you are struggling to get on with writing your story maybe you just need to use some music to get into the right mood. Experiment with it a bit and see what happens.
posted by Victoria at 9:49 AM
9 Comments:
Funny thing. I was just having this conversation with another blogger friend of mine. I had never once considered having music as a backdrop to my writing. Odd, since music so easily affects my mood. Great post. Thanks for the reminder.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who uses music to inspire a scene. When that doesn't do the trick I pull out my old nature sounds LPs (yes, I still have those). I have hour long sound effects of thunderstorms, crickets chirping at night, soft rainshowers, fire crackling, autumn leaves rustling in the wind, a boat creaking,early morning birdsong. You name it, it's out there. Throw in a Febreeze scent disk to match the sound and ouila!
Victoria,
You once sent me to a site that had analysis of literature. The particular writer's work I don't recall, but it had to do with a room she spent most of her time in that had wallpaper with images symbolic of her plight. I'd like to go there and see if there is any analysis of Tobia Wolff's Old School.
I have to admit, music doesn't influence me much.
BUT I'm actually very influenced by scents, and I'll often put on essential oils to get my mind in that "writing" mode. After a while, a scent will trigger that mode automatically for me.
Camy
Hmmm... that's something worth thinking about. I'll definitely give it a try next time I'm stuck with mood.
I spend a great deal of time listening to music - I like my life to have a soundtrack.
To me, it makes sense to use music to influence the scene I'm writing.
While I'm here, I'd like to take the time to thank you for the tips you provide on Characters Journey. It's all good advice.
Cheers
Steve
I had to come back and say that I've noticed quite a few authors have "soundtracks" to their books. Music they listened to when they were hunting the muse or getting into the right mood. I didn't quite understand that before but I certainly do now :)
I love to listen to music as I write. Anything from rock to classical. It really does help to inspire a scene and create the perfect mood for that scene.
Hey, I'm in the mood for a new post!
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