Okay this is probably nonsense, I’ll admit that up front, but it’s fun so it’s allowed to be nonsense. But I’ve just got to musing about how music influences writing. I seldom write without something playing, and sometimes find I can’t do certain POVs justice without the right music. And now that you’re all looking at me funny I guess it’s time to get to the weird part of this post.
I’m starting so suspect that music may be influencing my characters as well. Granted it’s not what you’d call solid proof, but I’ve just had two of my male characters decide they’re in love with each other. It’ll be a few more chapters at least before anything is likely to happen there, but it is sort of there in the background.
Now what does that have to do with music? Well my playlist at the time this became clear consisted mainly of: Pet Shop Boys, Village People, and Boney M – with “So Many Men, So Little Time” by Miquel Brown thrown in for good measure. Part of me can’t help wondering whether they ever really stood a chance with that playlist.
Of course chances are that if there is any reason for my characters ending up gay at all, other than that’s just the way the story wanted to run, it’s because I’m the sort of man who’ll happily run a playlist consisting of Pet Shop Boys, Village People, and Boney M, with Miquel Brown’s high energy classic throw in. But still, it’s fun to wonder just how much the music can influence the story.
November 11th, 2008 at 21:42
First: I think you may have a typo in your first paragraph: “I seldom play without something playing…” Shouldn’t it be write?
On your musings … for once, no synchronocity! (Not yet, at least.) I tent to be the other way around. So far, I’ve mainly written story parts where I knew beforehand at least roughly where my story would go and what my characters needed to do – not in every detail, but the general direction was clear to me. And as soon as I know that, I pick my music. I have several playlists in iTunes which correspond to the mood of the story (depressed, emotional, quiet, uplifting or erotic) and I pick the list that best suits my needs. Right now, I am having the BSG (new series) soundtracks on an endless loops as they are sometimes quite aggressive and I needed that right now to be able to write my male MC perform some truly horrible things.
And as I am writing this, I realize I need to switch the fraking playlists! *switch* I was sitting here for the last minutes and wondering how to continue the story and still listening to “All along the watchtower” (season 3) didn’t really put me in the softer mood I need right now. So, for me, the music keeps me in a certain mood and makes me write things, but my characters oblige my temperament. (Like I said, yet.)
November 11th, 2008 at 21:49
Yup it should be write, and it’s fixed now. Guess my internal editor is switched off too thoroughly
There’s a little synchronicity here, since there are times I will write with music to suit my mood as well. In a way that’s also what’s happening when I have to switch soundtracks to do a different POV justice, not all characters work from the same mood.
But sometimes a certainly playlist just works for no apparent reason, which was pretty much the case with this one. I actually had it on before I started writing and it seemed to work, so I kept it on.
November 11th, 2008 at 22:05
Uhm, Jarsto? I think you should let your inner editor out once more. You correction wasn’t really an improvement. Just put “write” in instead of “with” now.
*retreats in a fit of laughter, sorry, this is too funny*
November 11th, 2008 at 22:10
There, finally fixed. I think I’m saving up all the errors for this post, or possibly a black cat walked by my door when I was originally writing it.
November 11th, 2008 at 22:20
That’s a good strategy, putting all errors in one post. That means the writing and the other blog entries should be virtually error free for the day. I will remember that.
And speaking of a black cat … my little black tiger was sitting on my lap while I was NaNo-ing earlier. Maybe her vibes were sent via internet to you? I will remind her to be a little more careful about her powers *g*
November 11th, 2008 at 22:28
That might be it. Damn you and your super powered feline! You’re trying to destroy my writing vibe so you can catch up. Go on, admit it!
November 11th, 2008 at 22:32
Yes! You caught me in the act! And I am not in the least sorry for it. *nudges cat on* As you wrote in of your own comments earlier, NaNo is war, and therefore all means are allowed to win. Ha! There you have it!
November 11th, 2008 at 22:39
You’re right, I did write that. Let me amend it now. NaNo is war, which means it’s fair for me to use any and all means to win. You using your cat still counts as cheating
BTW have you noticed that if we were replying to each other any faster we’d be IM-ing?
November 11th, 2008 at 22:57
[...] I had my male MC finally bring out the worst in himself so that my (non existent) readers know now that he is not just the nice guy, but a really dangerous bastard. It was pretty scary letting him loose like that, but it was what the story needed. And music helped to bring it along. As Jarsto as always writes the blog posts I want to write first and I explain my thoughts in the comments, I will just refer you there. [...]
November 11th, 2008 at 23:06
Ah, now I know I am a real threat to you! You are making changes to the rules to accommodate your insufficiencies, namely your lack of a cat! Think about a career in politics! *grabs cat and makes it look at screen real hard*
And yes, the thought crossed my mind *g* But I am afraid if I put you on my Buddy list, I won’t be able to stop myself from really writing and right now, that’s not where my words should go
And this is just a cheap way of you too get me to do just that so I won’t endanger your word count. Fortunately, I haven’t even switched on Adium for the last couple of days. You need a new strategy 
November 11th, 2008 at 23:11
The only chat/IM I’m logged into these days is IRC, and very occasionally skype. For that matter I barely have time for IRC most days, and virtually all my time there is spent in #dutchnano anyway.
November 11th, 2008 at 23:15
Then I’m save!
November 11th, 2008 at 23:16
Oops, of course I mean ’safe’.