How I use music to inspire my writing

Music is like magic. Put a song on and you’re transported back to where you were the first time you heard that song, or maybe you’re transported back to your first kiss. Or the first time you fell in love.

Music is like magic. That’s why I use it to get me in the mood…to write, that is.

Music helps me get into the right head space when I’m having a difficult time getting in my character’s heads. The type of music I listen to depends on the type of book I’m writing.

Doomsday- When I was writing Doomsday, Disturbed’s “Indestructible” was my go to album. Doomsday is dark, high energy, and violent. My main character, Remy, is a badass. I’m not a badass–just ask my friends. Because I’m not a badass, there were days when I’d sit down to write, but Remy wasn’t talking to me. So I’d put in “Indestructible”, sit down, and just listen. Before long, I could hear Remy whispering in my ear. “Inside the Fire” was (and is) my favorite track from that album.

Zoe Matthews, the Unwanted Ghost, and the Cursed Manuscript – When I was writing this book, Soulstice’s “Illusion” album inspired me. This album, like the Bridgeport Mysteries/Zoe Matthews series is dark. But, like the books, it’s also bittersweet. There’s a haunting quality to this album that reminds me of the relationship between Zoe and Ren. Especially in the second book. Zoe discovers things about Ren that make their relationship complicated (though, complicated feels like an understatement). Zoe is falling in love, but it hurts. It hurts bad. “Illusion” captures that bittersweet pain perfectly. “Colour” is kinda my favorite off that album. But I also LOVE “Fall Into You.”

Third Zoe Matthews Book – When I was writing this one, my sister told me about this band I had to hear. Kaleo. She sent me a link to a song, “I Can’t Go On Without You,” and instantly it made me think of the book I was writing. When I listened to the entire album, “A/B”, that grit was exactly what I wanted for the book. Of course, there was darkness there, too. I listened to that album a lot while I was writing this book.

Music is a wonderful thing. I could write without it, but it makes the writing so much more fun!

Happy Reading!

Heather