iTunes and Your Writing

In the age of smart phones and iPods, people are rarely without their music. Music always seems to be partnered with creative work. Artists play music while they paint, designers play music while they create their websites and you probably have music on while you write your masterpiece. While most people use music as background, your favorite song can actually help make your writing better. This article explores how you can use iTunes (or your music player of choice) to improve your own writing.

Create a soundtrack

When you watch a movie, the score really gives the story depth and scope. Songs help bring emotional intensity to the narrative. When you want your writing to have an emotional impact, set it to song. That might sound stupid but if you are thinking about the musical vibe you want your narrative to have, you can usually write in that direction. Surround yourself with the world you create. Listen to the soundtrack while you are at the gym or in the car. When you hear those songs, your mind will instantly take you into your story. Think about your favorite movie songs. When you hear them, you see the scene in your mind. Movies started off as words on a paper. Your writing can have the same impact.

Writing to a specific decade/time period

Writing consistently within any given decade can be challenging.If you were writing a story set in the 1960’s, listening to some Hendrix or Jagger could definitely help. This is especially true if you weren’t around during the 60’s. Movies use songs from the era to let the audience know what time period they are in before we see anything decade-specific. Think of the Forrest Gump soundtrack. Lyrics can also give us hints about went on during that time.

Character Playlist

A great story is nothing without strong characters for people to connect with. Music is a great way to open up some new passagewayscharacters you are writing for. What type of music does your lead character listen to when she is stuck in traffic? What’s her favorite song? Music tastes says a lot about a personality. If you are stuck on a character build, make a random playlist and freewrite while you listen. You might come up with random phrases and words that can be used to describe your character. Once you find a song that fits the vibe of the character, create a Pandora radio station for the song. Need a creative boost? Write a character playlist for a character you already love. My latest: Liz Lemon’s favorite songs.

Listen to songwriters

Songs usually tell stories over the course of 3 minutes. That’s brevity. Listen to your favorite songwriter. How do the musicians use language to tell the story in such a short space? Also, good songs are known for the beautiful language. Great songs are known for being beautiful without being silly or over-sentimental. Listen to songs that avoid using tired cliches or draw comparisons between eye color and the sea. Once you figure out how to do it right, try it out in your own writing. Even if you are a bare-bones writer, a pop of fancy writing can add some variety.

Listen to podcasts

Get some interesting story ideas from listening to podcasts. There are dozens on the topic of writing, such as Grammar Girl for some grammar tips. Listen to author interviews to get some insight on the writing process and inspiration. Listen to The Moth and be instantly inspired by incredible stories from regular people. This American Life is also a must-listen for the aspiring writer.

Listen to comedians

The ultimate storytellers. There is an art to comedic writing that is hard to master. Comedians make real life compelling with word choice and funny comparisons. The stories are funny because somehow, we can all relate. Study up on your favorite comedians and try to figure out why you think they are so funny and test some of that out on your own writing.

What are some of your favorite movie soundtracks? Do you have a set of songs you write to? 30 rock fans, what songs do you think Liz Lemon listens to?

Images courtesy of Maury McCown and Rakka.