Writing and Music: PLUS A GIVEAWAY

     There is no doubt that music puts most people in the mood.  For what, however, is up to the individual.  I, for example, cannot write without background music or a little lyrical inspiration.  I've found that this is the case for many writers particularly when blocked or in need of a little more detail.

     In her blog, The Inspired Classroom, Elizabeth Petersen writes:

"Being able to allow students to imagine their story, repeat it in their minds, and “walk around” their visualization to clarify details is a step worth taking in a prewriting stage of composing a story on paper. How many times have we asked students to add details to their stories or descriptions of what they are trying to convey? Music can be a wonderful vehicle to get those juices flowing."

(For the full story, click this link: http://theinspiredclassroom.com/2011/03/visualization-in-music-and-writing/ )

     My latest pop music obsession is "Daylight" by Maroon 5.  You already know that the Luminosi series has vampire-like characters.   Listen to the song and you'll hear exactly why it inspires me so much.   http://youtu.be/Wg9Urm2_7xQ

     I have also created playlists for the books based on scenes in my head like a movie soundtrack.  These playlists include artists like 30 Seconds to Mars, Muse, and Florence + The Machine.  Imagine how excited I got when I discovered that one of my favorite authors, Sherrilyn Kenyon, does the same thing:

     "I started building playlists for books as far back as third grade. Much like a movie, music added to the mood and it helped me to focus on the characters and stories, especially whenever I found a song that really seemed to capture the feeling of the character or book I was working with.

     "And while I have as many as 200 songs that I put in a book’s playlist (everything from rock, thrash, punk, alternative, country, opera, classical, hip hop to rap), there is always, always the one that really captures the feeling of the book and characters. That one song that even years after I’ve published the book, when I hear it play, takes me right back to what I was doing and thinking as I wrote." (http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/2011/08/music-and-writing/)

     So I ask this question to you and anyone who comments and subscribes to this blog will be entered into a random drawing for a Barnes and Noble gift card!

For writers: What song(s) help you visualize your characters and plotlines?

For non writers:  Which songs get you in the mood for...whatever?