A few weeks ago, I turned in revisions for the third book in
my Midnight Dragonfly series, and went for a walk. It was a beautiful spring
day, with a vivid blue sky and puffy white clouds, a cool breeze mingling with
the warm rays of the sun. I had my headphones on with Dave Matthews blasting (Don’t
Drink the Water), and with each step I took, the heaviness lifted from inside
me a little more, until I actually stopped and texted my husband: OMG, no
one soothes my soul like Dave Matthews, except, of course, you.
I’ve thought about that brisk walk a lot since then, how
some alone time with a favorite album literally rebooted me. That’s why music
is called The International Language. Music transcends language. Music speaks
to our souls and fires through our blood. Music heals. With nothing more than a
few notes, a melody can transport us to another place, another time. One song,
and I’m back in high school, back in the arms of my first love. Another song,
and I’m in the gym at a basketball game. Another, and I’m nursing my first
broken heart all over again. Yet another, and I’m dancing at my wedding.
Rocking my newborn daughter. Saying goodbye to a beloved grandparent. Music is that
powerful.
When my son was born ten weeks premature, I stumbled across
information about music therapy, a technique utilizing music to create a
desired physiological effect in the patient. In my son’s case, we had to wait a
few weeks so as not to over-stimulate him, but eventually
set up a CD player next to his isolette with a fabulous collection of African
lullabies. The soft, melodic strains soothed him when he was fussy, and helped
to level out his heart rate when he brady’d (sudden drop in heart rate). Long after we brought him home, those
lullabies were our go-to miracle.
Maybe that’s why music has become such an important element
of my writing regime, because of its ability to evoke emotional and physical
responses. I’ve talked to many writers who prefer quiet while they work, but
for me, music transports me deeper into my story world. Music makes me feel
what my characters feel, whether it be love or fear or excitement. Quite
literally, music fuels me, allowing me to bleed that emotion right back onto
the paper. (My debut YA, Shattered Dreams, was written entirely to Arcade Fire!)
In the book I just turned in, Fragile Darkness, chilling
visions draw my teenage psychic, Trinity, into the underground New Orleans party
scene. Now, this isn’t a scene I’m intimately familiar with, but the second I
began listening to Dubstep, the words flowed. My husband cracked up to find me
trance-like listening to Magical World by Bass Nectar and Cracks by
Freestylers…but it worked!! In
fact, Magical World went on to become the music for my first book trailer.
When it came time to ramp up the emotion, suddenly I had the
theme song to the Dead Island trailer on repeat:
Talk about music that makes you want to cry! Watch the trailer, then close your eyes and simply listen to the music. I dare you not to get a lump in your throat!
Then, during revisions, I stumbled across Gary Jules’s
version of Mad World, and not only did I instantly realize I’d found the
perfect song for my next trailer, but the haunting combination of lyrics,
rhythm, and voice infused with the exact emotional tenor I’d been looking for.
So the next time you find yourself stuck--in life or your
writing--give music a try. Close your eyes, let the rhythms flow through you,
and see what happens next.
You might be surprised.
A couple of recommendations:
Action & Adventure: the soundtrack from Gladiator
Danger/Suspense: a few awesome suggestions from YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_BShb5UrA,
Creepy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecsrMCpviG8&feature=related
General Epic-y: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hqGIGq5PmQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T15ZMU8f230
And of course, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T15ZMU8f230
Romance/Love: Beyonce’s Halo and Unchained Melody by The
Righteous Brothers
Sleep/Relaxation: Krishna Das, Celtic, and Nature Sounds
