Today's theme is a tough one for me–I think I've mentioned before I don't listen to music as I write because…well, here's the confession. I got kicked out of typing class in high school. Yup, I was a trifle to rambunctious, and the teacher figured I could use the time better elsewhere. So did I, I headed outside and proceeded to work on my tan, but neither of us would imagine that years down the road I'd be wishing I knew how to touch-type!
I use a modified typing method–when I started writing two years ago I called it my ‘two finger typing method'. I've since progressed. I use both my forefingers, all the fingers on my left hand except my pinkie, and most of my right hand, although I rarely use my right hand ring finger. Still, I type pretty fast when I get going, not accurately, but thank you Lord for word autocorrect– I can power out over 700 word in 15 minutes when I'm flying.
But I'm looking at the keyboard while I do it. This makes for amusing (not) times when I accidentally hit the caplock key, and don't notice for a while. You'll see me do that on twitter occasionally, have a row of all caps. I'm not shouting, I'm just too lazy to go back, erase and retype,
What does this have to do with playlists? Even though I'm NOT touch-typing, my brain and fingers have begun to be mystically connected. There are so many times that I'll be thinking something along the lines of “…she needs to know the real truth” and when I look up at the screen, there, typed correctly, is “her needs to know the truth truth.” In otherwords, I'm channeling a not very grammatically correct ghost with a warped sense of humour. Now you know where the stories come from.
Where was I? Oh yeah, playlists…
If I DO listen to music as I write, I go back later to re-read the new section and find gems like this:
Kyle glanced around as they paced the mile to the front door. The place was a little reminiscent of his whole childhood home, not that he’d tell her that, And if I grow old well I know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you But I would walk 500 miles only this house had something extra to it. Yeah, it was big, as in really big, makes a guy want to shift and start marking territory big, but it wasn’t all fancy-dancy like his Aunt had decorated their Colorado home.
Did you catch it? PITA!!! While amusing, after a few times it gets really old. So I don't listen to music while I write, unless it's something instrumental only, like Enja, but that's got to have the right feel to match my WIP, and right now, writing about a 24 year old chasing his older cousin's best friend, or writing about cougar shifters–Enja just isn't cutting it.
So I'll leave you with -one- musical tribute. Most of my books are set in places I've visited–and most of my travels have been with my hubby of almost 25 years. We've trekked many a road together, and this song by John Denver is one of our original inspirational songs. The one following? A more modern song that expresses the same thing. No matter where on this earth we travel, I love the man.
Now hop over to some authors who I know do use playlists–
Lauren Dane, Mari Carr, Shelley Munro, McKenna Jeffries, Taige Crenshaw, Emma Petersen
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I’m the same way about music with lyrics, except that instead of typing along, I sing along — and don’t write. I do find that foreign languages (or other incomprehensible words) work. For instance, on my current WIP, which is a medieval, I can use Benedictine chant or songs in Middle English because I can’t understand them anyway.
And Annie’s Song…that’s one of the few songs I can still play on the guitar, I love it so. (“You fill up my senses…”)
Ohhhh, foreign languages…hmm, I wonder what my weird mind would do? I could end up with chants in the ms!
Two of my own most favorite songs in English (also, Savage Garden’s I knew I loved you *sigh* (that’s how I feel about my beloved, by the way 😀 )
Hmm, what’s your favourite non-English song? Do you speak another language?
Oh that’s just too funny–I’m Mexican bred and born. I moved to the US in December ’96 😀
Well, you learn something new everyday! You still didn’t tell me your favourite song. I’m planning on learning Spanish, so I’d love to hear it. 😉
Way too many to list–I am forty-four and have a lifetime of listening behind me, woman! 😛
(but if you’d like, I’ll email you a list of youtube links for some of them)
Love the John Denver song but not so wild about the Savage Garden song- heard it played on the radio so much when it came out that I now kinda hate it…lol
I don’t listen to the radio that much, so I’ve avoided that trouble EXCEPT when we go on holiday–man, the one summer we did a road trip–I can’t hear any of those songs without thinking about that trip. Good, and bad at the same time, since it was a fun trip but bad because we heard the Same. Damn. Songs. So many times!!!
LOL – I’m with Lisa. I get to listening to the music, and then stop writing. Or slow way down, anyways. Tried it a few times, and now if I’m going to listen I do it before or after I write, not during.
However, noise-canceling headphones are handy for blocking noise *out* while I’m writing… 😉
OMG, I need some of those!! The kids would think I was listening to music and I’d get a moments peace…maybe? Lol!
John Denver has always been a favorite of mine-my favorite Christmas song is by him andhe figures prominently in many wonderful memories.
I think that’s the biggest part, nancy–the memories of being all those places with my sweetie-the music brings back the good thought.
I’m showing my age here but I love the original Annie’s song. I can also sing word for word (when it plays) and also Elton John’s You got a Friend. When I wrote Term Papers I listened to I’ll Divo. It doesn’t matter what language. But to get back to you Music is inspirational and we would be lost without it. Also like music I would be lost without yours and other authors’ books. J
Elton John’s got a lot of songs I love as well. Oh well if it shows our age 😉
And thank you- I think books are pretty awesome as well, and would be lost without them too!
Both great songs. You sound a bit like me when it comes to music and writing. I really do zone out and couldn’t tell you what was playing.
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