The Soundtrack to My Writing Process — songs that fuel your scenes.

You ever get a song stuck in your head and are like, “What does this even mean?”, “Why is it here?” Or my personal favorite… “What is my muse or character trying to tell me?” Because as random as we would like to think it is, it isn’t. Some writers need outside stimulation to spark inspiration. Some, like myself, rely on music, movies, or even art. 

For example:

My Double-Edged Series is completely based on Nickelback songs. Crossroads is Far Away. The Demon You Made is Lullaby. Ain’t No Cinderella is a mix of Shaking Hands and Something In Your Mouth. With the series rounding out with the last two songs of Photograph and Someday. As of right now, it’ll be five stand alones with floating characters between books.

Now the 4 Queens for 4 Kings Series along with the Destined Chronicles, that’s a different mix all together. I start out with 5 Finger Death Punch and could easily move to Ozzy, Brantley Gilbert, Nickelback, or even Kid Rock, all depending on the scene along with emotions I’m trying to invoke. 

What I am getting at here, is that music is powerful on its own. We all have that one song that we can either listen to amp up or make us bawl our eyes out. It brings us back to a time and place with people that we no longer see. It can invoke such strong emotion that we can feel ten feet tall and bullet proof. 

Some writers can’t listen to music with the lyrics when they are actively putting words on the paper. Others listen, then make everything as quiet as possible to see the words fly from their fingertips. While one set of writers like classical music, another loves metal, country, or even R&B. Music, in whatever genre, is as unique as the words writers put on the page. 

Writing has the same unique classifications. And no two writers, even when given the same prompt, have the same story. Like the way you can give the same lyrics to three different bands/singers and you will get three different songs. It’s never wrong, just different.

So, let me leave you with this. While your process might look strange to others, it's not wrong, it's you. It doesn’t matter how you get the words on the damn page only that you do. Because someone out there wants to hear your unique voice and that of your characters. Writing is as fluid as music, with rises and falls just like the tempo to a song. So find your tempo, find your beat, and make a masterpiece. 

Be Brave, Be Bold, But Always Stay Humble.