Do I have a soundtrack to my life? Yes, most definitely, although I’m no music buff. The music I listen to is eclectic – aka undiscerning. Right now I’m listening to an odd combination of Coldplay, New Order and a down-tempo ambient compilation.
But here’s a curious thing: I cannot write without music on. It’s a physical impossibility. Often my best writing springs from music I’ve not heard before. It’s as if my brain reacts to a great new melody by firing on more cylinders.
So that ‘s the music which inspires the writing, but what about the music which lives within it?
Recently I was introduced to the English teaching videos of Philip Beadle. His idea is to get kids into language through music: there’s a beat and cadence to a beautifully punctuated sentence. Yes! And there’s definite rhyme and reason to good writing. If it flows it goes. If I can hear the beat in the language, I know it’s ok.
If I can’t, I edit and re-edit until I can.
simple yet brilliant!!! I never wrote with music until this April’s Camp NaNo… I started simple with Soundscapes, as there was no lyrics to distract me… then I thought, hmmm there are songs that represent my main character, and the life journey she is one… I wonder what they are! Then I found… wonder of all wonders, I could write with that quiet in the background. If I was really into my writing, I didn’t even notice it was playing until I paused to take a moment!
Music is so wonderful, it speaks the words our souls know, but can’t always find the words to fill… An excellent post!
Also, because of my own nomination… and enjoying your blog so much I thought I would share this with you http://anactofwriting.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/liebsteraward/
Thank you! I can’t write without music…. However, editing is another matter. Sometimes I need silence for that.
I don’t edit… I write, rewrite, rewrite again… ad nuseum! LMAO… buuut… I have a friend who does help me with some of my spelling grammar watches, cause that is not my strong point, not that I have to worry about that overly much in what I write *grins* I am such a rebel!