Sound tracks for your book?

catherineshanahan · 12-22-2012, 02:59 PM

So sometimes I like to pretend my book is a movie and when I hear a song imagine a scene from it set to it. I am a nerd like that.

But serious question. Do you find yourself listening to different music as you write? Like music that inspires that particular work or that seems more like your characters would like it then you actually like it yourself?

Just so I feel less odd has anyone else picked out a sound track to their non-existent movie based on their book? lol

Corussa · 12-22-2012, 03:18 PM

I'm the same, absolutely.

I've relied heavily on a couple of Two Steps from Hell albums to inspire/focus me when writing. I have a favourite track that is the 'trailer music' to one of my WIPs; every time I play it I imagine the trailer. It's always great.

Just a shame I can't translate it on to the page in the way that I want! (Yet.)

So I think it's a good thing and not at all nerdy to do.

catherineshanahan · 12-22-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corussa

I'm the same, absolutely.

I've relied heavily on a couple of Two Steps from Hell albums to inspire/focus me when writing. I have a favourite track that is the 'trailer music' to one of my WIPs; every time I play it I imagine the trailer. It's always great.

Just a shame I can't translate it on to the page in the way that I want! (Yet.)

So I think it's a good thing and not at all nerdy to do.

Good to know it isn't just me! I also have an imaginary trailer!

Ellaroni · 12-22-2012, 08:44 PM

I also belong in this club! I added a number of songs to my playlist for this year's NaNo novel and they keep buzzing in my head whenever I think about scenes for that book (I'm almost at the end now). When I sit down to write, I play that list over and over, and occasionally I add some songs. There are 31 on the playlist right now.
I really need music to write - and I always prefer with lyrics too, I never think it interferes with my own words.

JustSarah · 12-22-2012, 10:01 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTY_UKnXd50

I listen to music like this whenever I'm writing my short stories.^^ And yes, I'm an anime fan.

nightowling · 12-23-2012, 03:07 AM

Haven't picked out a pretend movie soundtrack (that's a fun idea though), but I definitely have a playlist for each WIP. When the ideas start brewing for a particular story, I listen to the playlist and the songs inspire me or help me feel the tone of a certain scene. I also recently created a playlist for a character, like one that he'd be listening to on his headphones while doing his job.

KSavoie · 12-23-2012, 12:41 PM

A big portion of my novel I have been listening to the song Radioative by Imagine Dragons. It just seems to fit what is going on in my story, or at least I imagine it fits well haha.

catherineshanahan · 12-23-2012, 01:31 PM

I have been listening to the following songs on repeat while writing:

Jar of Hearts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_4O44sfjM

After Tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGkJez6pcM

Into Dust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxZwwfQj9c

The Blowers Daughter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXVMCHG-Nk

Lua
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aZh261KZWI

Sage · 12-23-2012, 11:00 PM

I make a soundtrack for almost every book I write. The ones I don't, don't usually get to the editing stage.

There's a huge thread of playlists somewhere in here if you want to share

Animad345 · 01-04-2013, 04:57 PM

If I'm honest, whenever I'm listening to my iPod, I think of my characters. Different songs remind me of the different stories I have written and plan to right. In my current manuscript, which I'm revising at the moment, the two main characters are piano players, so I'll often listen to a song and imagine that it's one of them playing the music and singing. And I imagine trailers for my books all the time!

LadyA · 01-04-2013, 06:23 PM

Yes, definitely - I reckon it adds to a scene (reading it AND writing it) if there's an appropriate song playing, and if, say, you're writing a scene full of angst and listening to Carly Ray Jepsen, it's going to put you off your stride

THE BR1GHTEST FELL, which is a pretty dark contemp, involved a lot of angsty emo stuff - Evanescence, You Me At Six, Natalia Kills, etc.
Plus some Brit chart-folk music - Mumford and Son, Seth Lakeman, Kate Rusby and so on.

YOU, ME AND EIGHT CRAZY GOODBYES is a bittersweet, grief-and-romance beach-y book, so there was happy pop like One Direction, Conor Maynard, Rihanna, and sad songs by people like Cat Stevens, Seth Lakeman again, Emeli Sande, Lady Antebellum and others.

Kitty27 · 01-05-2013, 09:15 AM

The YA novel in my siggy has a lot of Aaliyah(I don't think I could have written half of this novel w/o her music. RIP.), SWV, Drake, Beyonce, Lloyd, Brandy,basically Hip-Hop&RnB.

The second novel's soundtrack is dark and dense music. Soper Aeternus, Puscifer,Tool, My Dying Bride,Draconian, and more Gothic/symphonic metal.

Two Steps From Hell is awesome! I use them for my epic fantasy soundtrack. I LOVE ES Posthumus and when I write to them,I get quite full of myself and entertain Tolkien-esque delusions of grandeur.

CarysDovahkiin · 01-05-2013, 09:35 AM

Grooveshark.

For all your music needs.

Cyia · 01-05-2013, 09:40 AM

For atmospheric, haunting music -- Florence & the Machine, with a little Evanescence thrown in.

KSavoie · 01-05-2013, 11:39 AM

Florence and the Machine has helped me write a number of short stories for my Creative Writing classes.

Disdainful Soul · 01-05-2013, 12:38 PM

I'm actually listening to my WIP's soundtrack right now. The one downside of it is that there are Christmas carols in it. Thematically perfect... it's just awkward listening to them right now. XD

LJ Hall · 01-05-2013, 09:53 PM

Music is a huge factor when I'm writing. It helps settle the ADHD, ya know?

I like to choose songs that fit a mood, the tone of the book, not songs that would necessarily appear in some soundtrack or on my MC's iPod.

Like right now I'm editing a pretty dark-toned urban fantasy that deals with class issues (using werewolves and vampires) and focuses on the broke and miserable on the scummy side of town. I listen to a LOT of Tom Waits.

Corinne Duyvis · 01-06-2013, 05:51 PM

I don't listen to music as I write, but I do put together soundtracks for my book. They help me get in the mood and figure out the characters.

Cyia · 01-06-2013, 07:03 PM

I can't write while writing, either. I usually listen to a certain song a few times in a row to get the rhythm in my head, then try and match the words to the beat.

Another one that's really good for this is the soundtrack to the movie The Village.

SAppleyard · 01-06-2013, 10:30 PM

Most definitely! Usually I end up hearing a song that just fits the story or characters so well so then I try to incorporate it somehow lol. Usually I have a song for the main character that is the song that describes them best. Sometimes I don't find it until halfway through writing, but when I do it helps me make my character stronger sometimes because I think about the words and what they mean to him or her.

thebloodfiend · 01-07-2013, 02:05 AM

I've discovered I can't write while listening to music. It's just too distracting nowadays. My multi-tasking skills suck.

thothguard51 · 01-07-2013, 02:12 AM

Celtic...

DrunkenLilacs · 01-07-2013, 02:43 AM

I don't know if it's just me, but when I'm super invested in a particular WIP, it seems like every song I listen to fits perfectly with the characters' situations. The lyrics, the atmosphere. The only time I can really write while listening to music is when I'm writing action-y scenes or emotional scenes. Other than that, nahhh. I start typing the lyrics down by accident.

Nicole River · 01-07-2013, 03:24 AM

Harsh industrial. I can't listen to anything else lately. And for once I'm working on a WIP where harsh industrial FITS the WIP...

frankiebrown · 01-07-2013, 04:10 AM

I've found a lot of inspiration in Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die, but I wouldn't say it's a soundtrack.

Edit: Also, Florence and the Machine. Always.

12-22-2012, 02:59 PM	#1
catherineshanahan New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 39	Sound tracks for your book? So sometimes I like to pretend my book is a movie and when I hear a song imagine a scene from it set to it. I am a nerd like that. But serious question. Do you find yourself listening to different music as you write? Like music that inspires that particular work or that seems more like your characters would like it then you actually like it yourself? Just so I feel less odd has anyone else picked out a sound track to their non-existent movie based on their book? lol __________________ http://theleaptrilogy.blogspot.ca/ https://twitter.com/theleaptrilogy http://www.facebook.com/TheLeapTrilogy

12-22-2012, 03:18 PM	#2
Corussa I fight like a dairy farmer Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 308	I'm the same, absolutely. I've relied heavily on a couple of Two Steps from Hell albums to inspire/focus me when writing. I have a favourite track that is the 'trailer music' to one of my WIPs; every time I play it I imagine the trailer. It's always great. Just a shame I can't translate it on to the page in the way that I want! (Yet.) So I think it's a good thing and not at all nerdy to do. __________________ Fantasy WIP 1 - 77K, first draft complete. YAY! Fantasy WIP 2 - outlining Fantasy WIP 3 - 51K, first (short) draft complete

12-22-2012, 08:44 PM	#4
Ellaroni a bookish one Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: 500 km south of the Arctic Circle Posts: 204	I also belong in this club! I added a number of songs to my playlist for this year's NaNo novel and they keep buzzing in my head whenever I think about scenes for that book (I'm almost at the end now). When I sit down to write, I play that list over and over, and occasionally I add some songs. There are 31 on the playlist right now. I really need music to write - and I always prefer with lyrics too, I never think it interferes with my own words. __________________ My current goal: Have at least one queryworthy novel ready before I turn 40 (I am not anywhere near 29 anymore ;-). My projects: NaNoWriMo2012 - YA dystopian: 1st draft done, 70k. Revision awaits. Untitled - YA contemporary: 2nd draft done, 80k. Revising, editing... Bleeding Heart - historical fiction: briefly outlined, researching. Story is brewing.

12-22-2012, 10:01 PM	#5
JustSarah practical experience, FTW Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 602	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTY_UKnXd50 I listen to music like this whenever I'm writing my short stories.^^ And yes, I'm an anime fan. __________________ Erased Faces - Crime New Adult - Flash fiction - Complete The Neurotoxin Detective - Mystery - Game Flowchart Swallow Star - New Adult Dystopian - World Building Somewhere On The Beach - YA Horror - Short Story - Third Draft - 2,895 Words Read 3 leisure books this year: - 1/3 My Dystopian Review/Poetry Blog: My Blog

12-23-2012, 12:41 PM	#7
KSavoie figuring it all out Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Carbondale, Illinois Posts: 94	A big portion of my novel I have been listening to the song Radioative by Imagine Dragons. It just seems to fit what is going on in my story, or at least I imagine it fits well haha. __________________ If you get bored, or stressed, check out my blog. =] http://undergradtoauthor.blogspot.com

12-23-2012, 03:07 AM	#6
nightowling Maybe it was Utah. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: California Posts: 144	Haven't picked out a pretend movie soundtrack (that's a fun idea though), but I definitely have a playlist for each WIP. When the ideas start brewing for a particular story, I listen to the playlist and the songs inspire me or help me feel the tone of a certain scene. I also recently created a playlist for a character, like one that he'd be listening to on his headphones while doing his job.

12-23-2012, 01:31 PM	#8
catherineshanahan New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 39	I have been listening to the following songs on repeat while writing: Jar of Hearts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_4O44sfjM After Tonight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGkJez6pcM Into Dust http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxZwwfQj9c The Blowers Daughter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXVMCHG-Nk Lua http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aZh261KZWI __________________ http://theleaptrilogy.blogspot.ca/ https://twitter.com/theleaptrilogy http://www.facebook.com/TheLeapTrilogy

12-23-2012, 11:00 PM	#9
Sage Angel, demon, hero, villain AW Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Heretogether Posts: 48,110	I make a soundtrack for almost every book I write. The ones I don't, don't usually get to the editing stage. There's a huge thread of playlists somewhere in here if you want to share __________________ Love Sucks - now available at Musa Publishing, B&N, and Amazon "Fireflies" - Absolute Visions Taylor-Made - post-R&R querying A Paranormal Bromance - First draft done (NaNo) Quartet - Plotting Blog: http://sagelikethespice.wordpress.com

01-04-2013, 04:57 PM	#10
Animad345 "I can never remember that line." Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: England Posts: 324	If I'm honest, whenever I'm listening to my iPod, I think of my characters. Different songs remind me of the different stories I have written and plan to right. In my current manuscript, which I'm revising at the moment, the two main characters are piano players, so I'll often listen to a song and imagine that it's one of them playing the music and singing. And I imagine trailers for my books all the time! __________________ "Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lesson afterwards."

01-04-2013, 06:23 PM	#11
LadyA dreaming, drowning Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon girl living in Oxford, England Posts: 1,475	Yes, definitely - I reckon it adds to a scene (reading it AND writing it) if there's an appropriate song playing, and if, say, you're writing a scene full of angst and listening to Carly Ray Jepsen, it's going to put you off your stride THE BR1GHTEST FELL, which is a pretty dark contemp, involved a lot of angsty emo stuff - Evanescence, You Me At Six, Natalia Kills, etc. Plus some Brit chart-folk music - Mumford and Son, Seth Lakeman, Kate Rusby and so on. YOU, ME AND EIGHT CRAZY GOODBYES is a bittersweet, grief-and-romance beach-y book, so there was happy pop like One Direction, Conor Maynard, Rihanna, and sad songs by people like Cat Stevens, Seth Lakeman again, Emeli Sande, Lady Antebellum and others. __________________ Amy x Y, M & ECG - YA Contemp (62k) WHAT I DIDN'T TELL Y0U - YA Thriller (querying!) THE LIGHTH0USE B0YS - (10k/60k) twitter tumblr "I wished with all my heart that she could understand how it felt to be us that night - how it felt to be eighteen and unbeaten, eighteen and alive.” Eva Rice, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

01-05-2013, 09:15 AM	#12
Kitty27 So Goth That I Was Born Black AW Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: In The Darkside's Light Posts: 3,822	The YA novel in my siggy has a lot of Aaliyah(I don't think I could have written half of this novel w/o her music. RIP.), SWV, Drake, Beyonce, Lloyd, Brandy,basically Hip-Hop&RnB. The second novel's soundtrack is dark and dense music. Soper Aeternus, Puscifer,Tool, My Dying Bride,Draconian, and more Gothic/symphonic metal. Two Steps From Hell is awesome! I use them for my epic fantasy soundtrack. I LOVE ES Posthumus and when I write to them,I get quite full of myself and entertain Tolkien-esque delusions of grandeur. __________________ Tupac Shakur,the greatest rapper of all time,is now in the National Recording Registry NIGHT CALLS(Finally have a title! )YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Novel,Coming 2013. Vampire/Horror novel,Coming 2013. Last edited by Kitty27; 01-05-2013 at 09:25 AM.

01-05-2013, 09:35 AM	#13
CarysDovahkiin You go Glen Coco Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a lovely place, in my mind... would you like to visit? Posts: 112	Grooveshark. For all your music needs. __________________ Blog Twitter

01-05-2013, 09:40 AM	#14
Cyia Rewriting My Destiny Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brillig in the slithy toves... Posts: 12,591	For atmospheric, haunting music -- Florence & the Machine, with a little Evanescence thrown in. __________________ 04/23/13 ----------10/08/13 ON SALE NOW!** (^Preorder)**

01-05-2013, 11:39 AM	#15
KSavoie figuring it all out Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Carbondale, Illinois Posts: 94	Florence and the Machine has helped me write a number of short stories for my Creative Writing classes. __________________ If you get bored, or stressed, check out my blog. =] http://undergradtoauthor.blogspot.com

01-05-2013, 12:38 PM	#16
Disdainful Soul practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 536	I'm actually listening to my WIP's soundtrack right now. The one downside of it is that there are Christmas carols in it. Thematically perfect... it's just awkward listening to them right now. XD __________________

01-05-2013, 09:53 PM	#17
LJ Hall For I am a Rain Dog too Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: On the road (Arizona currently) Posts: 137	Music is a huge factor when I'm writing. It helps settle the ADHD, ya know? I like to choose songs that fit a mood, the tone of the book, not songs that would necessarily appear in some soundtrack or on my MC's iPod. Like right now I'm editing a pretty dark-toned urban fantasy that deals with class issues (using werewolves and vampires) and focuses on the broke and miserable on the scummy side of town. I listen to a LOT of Tom Waits.

01-06-2013, 05:51 PM	#18
Corinne Duyvis She of the Comfortable Shoulders Join Date: May 2010 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Posts: 718	I don't listen to music as I write, but I do put together soundtracks for my book. They help me get in the mood and figure out the characters. __________________ * Blog * Website * Twitter * The Fourteenery Represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. OTHERBOUND: a YA fantasy about a boy from our world who's spent ten years involuntarily witnessing the life of a servant girl from another world every time he blinks--and what happens when he finally learns to communicate with her. Available 2014 from Amulet Books.

01-06-2013, 07:03 PM	#19
Cyia Rewriting My Destiny Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brillig in the slithy toves... Posts: 12,591	I can't write while writing, either. I usually listen to a certain song a few times in a row to get the rhythm in my head, then try and match the words to the beat. Another one that's really good for this is the soundtrack to the movie The Village. __________________ 04/23/13 ----------10/08/13 ON SALE NOW!** (^Preorder)**

01-06-2013, 10:30 PM	#20
SAppleyard Making friends with the Deadly Sins Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: A haunted dorm room Posts: 57	Most definitely! Usually I end up hearing a song that just fits the story or characters so well so then I try to incorporate it somehow lol. Usually I have a song for the main character that is the song that describes them best. Sometimes I don't find it until halfway through writing, but when I do it helps me make my character stronger sometimes because I think about the words and what they mean to him or her. __________________ A Girl Named Love 86/90K Amorette has one job to do on Earth: spread her sin Lust. When Wesley arrives and ignores her advances, he has Amorette's attention. No one’s ever refused her and she isn't about to let him. What neither knows is that Lucifer has lied for centuries to keep them apart.

01-07-2013, 02:05 AM	#21
thebloodfiend Cory Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 3,570	I've discovered I can't write while listening to music. It's just too distracting nowadays. My multi-tasking skills suck. __________________ fireflies - underground voices - nov '11 goodreads thebooklantern my wip

01-07-2013, 02:12 AM	#22
thothguard51 A Gentleman of a refined age... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Out side the beltway... Posts: 7,987	Celtic... __________________ Knowledge is learned while wisdom is earned. Currently working on... From, The Tales of Netherron, Book 1, A Game of Pawns Book 2, Pawn takes Queen, Book 3, Pawn's Gambit, In the pipeline, Children of Netherron, follow up trilogy Guardians of Netherron, prequel trilogy http://nickanthony51.wordpress.com (on hiatus) Nick Anthony

01-07-2013, 02:43 AM	#23
DrunkenLilacs Growing tipsier as we speak Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: California Posts: 310	I don't know if it's just me, but when I'm super invested in a particular WIP, it seems like every song I listen to fits perfectly with the characters' situations. The lyrics, the atmosphere. The only time I can really write while listening to music is when I'm writing action-y scenes or emotional scenes. Other than that, nahhh. I start typing the lyrics down by accident. __________________ what winter left us (tentative title) ya contemporary http://drunkenlilacs.tumblr.com/ Writing: http://motelsixsixsix.tumblr.com/

01-07-2013, 03:24 AM	#24
Nicole River with the weird fowl in her userpic Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 262	Harsh industrial. I can't listen to anything else lately. And for once I'm working on a WIP where harsh industrial FITS the WIP... __________________ Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else. -Gloria Steinem "Why do we call our generous ideas delusions, and the mean ones truths?" -The House of Mirth Nicole River My Blog Goodreads Twitter WIPs: Disintegration: in revisionland Represented by Rebecca Strauss of DeFiore and Company!!

01-07-2013, 04:10 AM	#25
frankiebrown Simplify. Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 612	I've found a lot of inspiration in Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die, but I wouldn't say it's a soundtrack. Edit: Also, Florence and the Machine. Always. __________________ "To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish." Blog last updated 4/23: WORLD BOOK NIGHT: Giving books to complete strangers for free! VIRAL - Let the Querying Begin! on twitter: @frankiebrown25 Last edited by frankiebrown; 01-07-2013 at 04:27 AM.

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