I must be odd.

I thought of the topic for this blog quite a while ago. When I finally got around to writing it, I went researching (I always research every blog post) to see what others had to say about the topic, or what resources I might share.

But I found nothing. Nada. Zippo.

So, at the moment I feel like I’m the ONLY person in the world who writes novels with soundtracks. Maybe I can make it a thing, but first, let me tell you what it is and why you might care.

Setting the mood

Isn’t music wonderful? Just a few notes can change your entire mood. When used in movies, music is critical to creating the feel of the scene. Just watch Nightmare on Elm Street without the sound or put on dance music or something instead. It just isn’t the same.

When I write, I will put on music or binaural beats that put me into a creative mood. That can make all the difference, especially when I’m struggling to write anything at all.

In my youth, I would listen to pop music (weren’t the 80’s great?). But as I’ve aged my mind can’t handle writing and hearing lyrics at the same time. But, my stories have music with lyrics.

Listening and watching the replay

The stories I write sit in my head a long time before they get out. I play important scenes over and over in my head like I’m watching a movie of it. And that’s when it happens.

During those “replays” I get a feel for the scene on an emotional level and my brain will find music to match. Generally speaking, it’s a specific song for a scene, but sometimes it’s a band that has a certain “sound”.

Examples, please

I think it’s time for examples, before I prove that I am indeed entirely odd.

The novel I was working on for NaNoWriMo is part of my Unity series. It’s been playing in my head for about 15 years. There is a scene where music is an integral part of what happens (think the Dwarven song scenes in LOTR).

What song did my brain pick?

My Immortal by Evanescence

Then other scenes found their Evanescence songs too.

And there are more from other albums too. So when the movie is made (being optimistic here), I’m going to ask for them, or at least music that feels like them in the songs above for the entire movie.

Is there more?

Yes. Some of my other stories have songs from Daughtry, Sarah Mclachlan, One Republic and others that have suddenly escaped my mind.

Does your novel have a soundtrack?

Have you ever heard your novel this way? Or any fiction you’ve written, it doesn’t have to be a novel.

Or am I odd from letting my stories stew too long in my head? That could be the case. If it is, I embrace it!