Welcome to Music Monday! As many of you know, music contributes a great deal to my writing process. Whether it’s a song’s lyrics, beat, rhythm, or tone, I find myself constantly inspired by it.
For the past week, I’ve been struggling with developing one of my novel’s lead characters. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m over-thinking who he is, or if it’s because I can’t decide how to present his chapters to readers, or if it’s because I’m distracted by life (crazy at the moment), or because of something else. Whatever it is, it’s been impeding my progress.
So, just like I always do when I’m having trouble writing, I set aside my computer and listened to some music. Thankfully, Michael Jackson’s “Bad” popped up on my playlist and gave me the spark I needed!
“Bad” has always been one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. It’s got great energy, lots of attitude, and a fast-paced rhythm that gets my creative cogs turning.
As for my novel, this song helps me capture the essence of my less than angelic characters, especially the one I’ve been struggling with lately–a cruel, selfish, twisted man. Every time I listen to “Bad”, he springs to life in my mind and I’m able to see and hear him so much clearer!
So, if you’re looking for a song to help you break out of a rut or get in the groove of a “bad” character, check out Michael Jackson’s “Bad”!
What song(s) are you in love with right now? Which one(s) offer you inspiration? Let me know! I’m always searching for songs that motivate my writing.
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Not only did I have fun during my week off, but I made tons of progress with my new novel. I managed to write over 26,000 words in five days. Ahhh! Seriously, it’s amazing what you can do when you shut the world out and focus. Hopefully this major boost means I’ll be able to meet my goal of finishing a first draft by July 31st, when the first round of the 
The number one thing I love about this song is its rhythm and beat. It’s edgy, energetic, and even a little dark. Every time I listen to it, I close my eyes and get lost in the incessant thumping of the drums, piano, and cymbals. And every time it finishes, I realize I’ve thought of a new layer to my story. A new drama, a new twist, a new character trait, a new something.
As always, the lyrics provide oodles of inspiration as well. I didn’t really listen to them the first few times I played “Love Runs Out”, but then I Googled them and I realized they fit my story perfectly.
If you’re looking for an energetic song with an amazing rhythm and inspiring lyrics, then check out OneRepublic’s “Love Runs Out”.
I actually laughed when I first heard this song because it sounded exactly like my story’s female protagonist. The words, the voice, the tone, the emotion–everything about it was her.
What I love most about this song is its lyrics. I can’t explain how much they relate to my story. I feel like when I listen to them, I’m actually listening to my protagonist. It’s downright weird.
So, if you’re looking for a haunting song that inspires a wide range of emotions, check out Lana Del Rey’s “
The first time I heard “Fight Song” I thought, “Well, this is perfect for writers and anyone else pursuing a dream.” Most of us experience failure along our journeys, and many of us get so crushed by it, we begin to question everything: Our passion, our goals, our abilities. Some of us even wonder if we have the strength to keep fighting for what we want most. I know I have.
“Fight Song” also provides great story fodder. Although I can’t get a ton out of it for the current story I’m working on (my characters are way too crazy to care about digging themselves out of the pits they’ve fallen into), there are still plenty of gems to use from it: Conflict and drama. Depression and sorrow. Determination and hope. Freedom and courage…The list goes on and on!
And, as you likely suspect, the lyrics are what make this song so great:
So, whether you need a personal boost, or some motivation for your story, I strongly encourage you to listen to “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.
But, darn it! Her past few songs have gotten under my skin. And her latest one, “Bad Blood”, was just too good to keep to myself.
Simply put, this song kicks ass! And its music video kicks ass. And it’ll make you want to kick ass!
The number one thing I love about this song is its energy. Even though I don’t write action-adventure, and my stories lean towards ahhh!, not hi-yah!, I like to feel a buzz while I write. You know, tension, movement, feeling. And I get that from “Bad Blood”. It makes me want to infuse those white-knuckled elements into my work.
The first time you watch the music video, you might be distracted by its awesome visuals. But if you close your eyes and really listen, you’ll hear a lot of great lines:
So, if you’re looking for a kick ass song that’ll get you energized, check out “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift.
This song came on while I was at the gym yesterday and I couldn’t stop playing it! Over and over, I listened to “Addicted To You” while I jogged, my brain running almost as fast as my legs (well, maybe faster 😉 ).
For me, this song isn’t so much about love. It’s about the addiction–the obsession–love can create, and the darkness that can follow when it gets torn away or isn’t reciprocated.
So, if you’re looking for a song that inspires the light or dark side of love, check out “Addicted To You”!
To be honest, I almost skipped over this song because I’ve never felt inspired by it. But then I stopped and really listened to it and–voila! An idea for round three came to me. And I ended up using that idea this past weekend when I did advance in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge–ahhhh!
The number one thing I love about “Thank You” is its lyrics. They’re so powerful! I can’t even point out my favorite line. Each moves me in its own way, and each helped me develop my plot, understand my protagonist, and draw out the kind of emotions I needed for my story–well, as good as I could draw them out in a 24-hour period.
So, if you’re looking for a song with powerful lyrics and a moving message, then listen to Alanis Morissette’s “Thank You”.
In a nutshell, my story is about two crazies trying to off each other. So, I need to find things that inspire my inner psycho. And this music video definitely does. Shia LaBeouf and Maggie Ziegler’s movements, facial expressions, and emotions spark the exact feelings I need to experience to write my story.
Another reason I love this video is its meaning. Just like my main character, Shia LaBeouf is forced to face his inner demons (Maggie Ziegler), and then battle to overcome them. And that battle involves a wide range of emotions: fear, anxiety, denial, courage, pity, curiosity, pain, rage…It all adds up to a powerful and moving display. And watching it makes me feel closer to my main character and his struggles.
So, if you’re looking for a video that has edge, emotion, and a splash of insanity, then check out “Elastic Heart” by Sia!
My favorite thing about this song is its raw emotions. While listening to it, I’m able to experience anger, sorrow, desperation, defeat, frustration…And then I’m able to take those darker feelings and infuse them into my work.
And, of course, I love this song’s lyrics. Whether it’s one line or many, I always find something in “Take Me Away” to spark my imagination and help with whatever story I’m working on.
So, if you’re looking for a song to help inspire those darker, rawer emotions, check out “Take Me Away” by Avril Lavigne.
To help draw out my “cuckoo” side, I listened to Eminem and Rihanna’s “The Monster”. It’s perfect inspiration for creating characters who are off their rocker.
As you might suspect, my favorite part of this song is its chorus. Simply put, it’s awesome. The lyrics capture the right message, tone, and feeling I’m striving for when developing insane protagonists.
So, if you’re looking for a song that inspires insanity of any kind, give “The Monster” a listen!
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