The Role of Music in My Life
I have
just come upon an interesting question: How do you use music in your writing
process?
Well, I'm
sad to say that instead of just giving a one-sentence answer and letting
everyone move on with their lives, I am instead going to adapt the question and
talk about the role that music plays in my life, because honestly, it's an
important one. Oh, those long, long days come to mind where I know exactly what I want to
write, know the exact scene that needs writing, rewriting, editing or deleting,
but I just can't quite get my fingers to fall upon the keys. I'm too busy
thinking about TV shows that I like. I'm too busy staring around the room at
all of my electronics and thinking of how much fun I would have if I just decided to play
hooky for the day. Worst of all, I get distracted by another story in my
head. There is a task to be done, a
story that needs attention, but my mind just wanders wherever it wants, and
trying to grab it and anchor it back creates friction. Friction, in the mental
sense, is a sure way to get NOTHING done. And all this time, my fingers are
still not hitting the keys, and the clock is ticking. I have work in the
morning. Now I seriously cannot focus, because time is short.
So what
does Alec Pangia do?
I use
music. Rocking an iTunes account of 2,900 songs as of recently, and usually
being within reach of the internet, I have an endless supply of music to
assist me with my writing. Music is a device to manipulate emotion, and emotion
is what you pour into your writing. It doesn't always work; sometimes you are
simply too distracted or too tired. But if you have the energy and the drive
and just can't quite organize your thoughts, music will be your best friend.
Common
uses for music in relation to writing include but are not limited to…
1) Helping
you relax.
I make no
assumptions about everyone else, but I personally cannot write when I'm in a
bad mood. Throughout my life, any negative emotions have easily stirred anxiety
in my mind. When my thoughts start going in circles, my hands don't hit the
keyboard. People tell you to write through whatever pain or negativity you are
feeling: use it to produce a dramatic art. I happen to know that works for some
people, but never once has it worked for me. Anger, anxiety, apprehensiveness, all are all things that stifle the stream of thought that produces my work. It is
only when my mind is clear, my body relaxed, and my imagination awake that I
can commence the penning of passages.
So, sometimes, all I really need is something peaceful with a melody that feeds me a certain set of emotions. It could be joy, excitement, wonder, admiration, curiosity, or even sadness. That's right. Sadness is a bit of a different ball game than anger. Anger breeds distraction. But I have found that sadness can occasionally form resolve. There are different kinds of sadness (some of them SHATTER my ability to write and think freely). However, there is a sadness that occurs when you are simply empathizing with another human being or creature. And when that happens, you are bound to want to write about it.
So, sometimes, all I really need is something peaceful with a melody that feeds me a certain set of emotions. It could be joy, excitement, wonder, admiration, curiosity, or even sadness. That's right. Sadness is a bit of a different ball game than anger. Anger breeds distraction. But I have found that sadness can occasionally form resolve. There are different kinds of sadness (some of them SHATTER my ability to write and think freely). However, there is a sadness that occurs when you are simply empathizing with another human being or creature. And when that happens, you are bound to want to write about it.
In any
case, when music relaxes you, your calm emotions, positive or negative, may
then flow freely. Here is an example of a meditation song that has often helped
me.
2)
Matching your emotions to a story.
This is
the most important way I use music to help me write and the one I most often need since I have so many ideas
cycling through my mind. When it comes time to sit down and focus on one, I try
not to break that focus until the process is over. This can be challenging as
my mind is begging to wander freely, and I am trying to ground it upon a single
topic. As a quick side note: there is nothing wrong with setting your story
down for an hour, a day, or more, to let your mind follow the ideas it
naturally seeks. I always advise people that they need to let it happen
naturally; that is when our best work occurs. However, if you are struggling
with a deadline, or you don’t want to spend too long away from a story for fear
of disconnecting from the smaller ideas and thoughts propelling it, then it is
wise to engage in tactics to center your focus.
As said, music plays directly to your emotion. If you are invested in your craft, then your project evokes a variety of emotions in you. This should help you easily track down music that relates to your story. You may have even been listening to it when you came up with the idea! I know that I certainly have had that experience.
As said, music plays directly to your emotion. If you are invested in your craft, then your project evokes a variety of emotions in you. This should help you easily track down music that relates to your story. You may have even been listening to it when you came up with the idea! I know that I certainly have had that experience.
Here are a
couple of fun tunes that helped me greatly while completing Barker’s Rules:
3) A Night
at the Space Theatre
This tip might sound a little strange, but it stems from my love not only for books, but
also for movies, plays, musicals, art museums, and so much more. There are few
forms of art, if any, that don't appeal to me. Simultaneously, there are
certain forms of art that inspire me far more than others. Generally, words,
images onscreen or on stage, and music all tend to come together as one in my mind.
That is why when I am fully immersed in my writing, I sometimes picture a scene
along with a particular piece of music. Every word from the characters, every line of
prose, all depict a sequence to which I can pick out accompanying music. And if
that happens, what better way to write the scene than to play the exact music!
This also happens when I'm not writing. Sometimes I have such a solid image of a
scene and an accompanying song that matches the small moments, that I can
consciously envision it while traveling, working, etc., and I am prone to playing
it while driving. (Did I mention I am no longer willing to drive long distances
without my stereo fully functioning? If there are technical difficulties in
that department, my… impatient side comes out.)
Sometimes, when writing is done and I'm in the mood to celebrate, I pop in the iPod and take a trip to the Space Theatre, where an invisible orchestra coincidentally plays all of my favorite tunes right in my living room, and I relive all of the thoughts that led me to produce my art project. Believe me, there are few things more fun.
Sometimes, when writing is done and I'm in the mood to celebrate, I pop in the iPod and take a trip to the Space Theatre, where an invisible orchestra coincidentally plays all of my favorite tunes right in my living room, and I relive all of the thoughts that led me to produce my art project. Believe me, there are few things more fun.
Here are
some general favorites from the mix!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFr195favU4 If you haven’t listened to James
Horner, start today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQby9M7lrlA Video game music can be
incredibly useful, FYI.
So, there
you have it. Needless to say, music is a big part of my life and has deeply
influenced my craft. It has always been there when I needed it to poke me with
a stick and get my fingers on the keyboard. And music has consistently kept me in
an artistic mood through all of the trials and bumps that life throws our
way.
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