Writing and Music

Hi Guys,

 

No books out at the moment I'm afraid. But half a dozen all sitting at the finish line just waiting for me to write the last chapter or two to push them over. I only wish I knew what to write! Sigh!

 But I thought I'd turn to another topic that's been on my mind lately - music and writing. No not what I listen to while I write - that's always silence. If I try to listen to music I end up stopping writing and just listening which means that nothing gets done. Rather this is about how  certain songs seem to serve as the inspiration for some of my stories.

 Probably every writer gets asked the obvious question - where do you get your ideas from? And my usual answer is to stare blankly back at people and say something like - all over the place! (I really hate that question!) But music is definitely one of the triggers for my ideas.

 I think I've told you once upon a time that Dragon was written with AC/DC's Thunderstruck constantly in my head. It is the entire theme of the book - hard driving rock building up to one explosive battle after another. Fantastic song by the way!

Thief - actually it was two books I was writing at the same time which somehow merged into one part way through - was inspired by the film Date With An Angel and in particular one song from that movie - Higher Love (the Steve Winwood original not the Kygo / Whitney Houston cover which I also love).

More recently I wrote Prince of Stars, and that's also based on a song - Southern Cross, by Crosby, Stills and Nash. I love that track and again the theme was what inspired the book. My hero was a man, a sailor, driven to set sail by a failed romance that he could never come to terms with. He could neither return to her, nor could he cut her off. In the song he is tied to her - tied with a silver chain. I even named the ship Music as a sort of tribute to the music.

And I also mentioned at one time that Pawn was based on that seventies telly show - The Aphrodite Inheritance (which is a little dated but still an engrossing story - and it's amazing to see seventies fashion!) But what I don't think I mentioned is that while I was writing that book the theme music for that show kept running through my head every time I sat down in front of the computer. It's surprisingly powerful despite being so light and melodic.

So I think looking back on my writing I can clearly say that music is one of my most important inspirations. But it's not the only one by any means.

My point in this post is really just to say for all you budding authors out there, that ideas can come from anywhere. Maybe also to add that while everyone says to write what you know to anyone looking to write a book - I would add a second line - write what you love! I should also mention that currently I've been listening to a bit of Huey Lewis and Heart. Can't wait to find out what they might inspire me to write! (And how the woman in the graphic by Quarkmaster will feature!)

Cheers, Greg.