The Music of Writing
Most of my writing is accomplished with the aid of music. Music is a tool that, I feel, all writers should learn to weave into their routine. A single song can set up mood, capture emotion, and reveal an entire story in a matter of minutes. I have set up play lists for a number of my novels; the artists included varying drastically depending on where I feel like going at that particular moment in the story. The Tempest War, for example, is a sci fi epic that takes place on a post apocalyptic, dying Earth. (See On Writing for details.) While writing said book I derive most of my inspiration from deep, heavy tunes. Coheed & Cambria, Muse, Pink Floyd, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I can write the greatest scene in the world if I have O Fortuna playing in the background.
Music is the ultimate muse. I have encountered no other force that can change one’s mood so drastically in such a short period of time. I have seen more visions as I absorb ballads and harmonies. Characters, worlds, and creatures alike have all been born of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Mozart. I owe a great deal of my creativity to some of the best musicians in the entire world. As a writer, I see things in songs that others simply bypass. For some, music is all about what they hear. For me, it’s all about interpretation. When I’ve finished listening to a particularly inspirational song, my mind is tortured with ideas. Where to begin? What to do? Who to create?
So I listen, I learn, and I write.
