[PUBLIC POST] Song or verse for atmosphere?

[ljwrites]

Edit: I think the original question was too difficult (it was hard enough for me, that should have been a sign) so let me broaden the question: What kind of music, and possibly poetry, do you feel suits the overall mood of your project or setting? Or what kind of music do you like for writing to in general? The original post is also below so feel free to answer that one if you can think of something.

This one's inspired by a conversation from the previous week's post where inkdust mentioned a couple of lines that expressed her main character really well. That got me thinking about a quote that fit my character or story. So I cast about a little and found this from the Dao De Jing:

For only he that pities is truly able to be brave;
Only he that is frugal is able to be profuse.
Only he that refuse to be foremost of all things
Is truly able to become chief of all Ministers.
 

To me this expresses her arc fairly well, although it can also sound like boring moralizing and could be problematic for a female character. Not that my heroine is a self-effacing saint, but she does find herself achieving things she never imagined by laying down some of her desires and ambitions for compassion and decency. Let's see if I can manage that process without being moralizing or misogynistic. The whole Dao De Jing is interesting in this way, extolling the seemingly passive and traditionally feminine virtues in a society that prizes the direct and masculine.

What about you? Is there a line, or verse, or song that would express some aspect of your character or story?

Comments

[dhampyresa]

I know there is, but right now I'm coming up blank, oops.

[ljwrites]

Yeah, I drew a bit of a blank at first, too, and I'm still not entirely sure if it's quite right. Maybe it'll come to you!

[dhampyresa]

All I can think of right now is that Envole-moi is my song for Steph Brown and Don't Mess with Me as 1/2 of my Doctor Doom songs.

[ljwrites]

That's a catchy tune to fight crime to! And yes, that is VERY Dr. Doom. XD

[lizbee]

Oh, wow, this is so hard! I create playlists for stuff I'm writing, but they're more about setting and mood than characters. And the poetry I read isn't really a fit for the characters I write.

[ljwrites]

I'm coming to the conclusion this was not a good subject for a post at all. It was hard enough for me, the prompter, so of course it's hard for everyone else. I'll be changing the question in the main post. In the meantime, wanna share some of the songs you use for atmosphere or mood? I like the Princess Mononoke soundtrack, particularly "The Legend of Ashitaka" for its sweeping and sad feel.

[lizbee]

I can't write to music, but I do a lot of planning on my commute -- I'll be listening to music, and a song -- it could be any song -- will just fit the mood.

For my Australian middle grade boarding school novel, that's mostly dreamy Australian alt-pop. Not what my characters would be listening to -- judging by the schoolkids I eavesdrop on, they'd be into Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and at least one should have a lot of opinions about Hamilton -- but music that fits the setting of a school in a small town on the Surf Coast.

[ljwrites]

How do you plan on your commute--do you write things out, or think things over in your head? I tend to do a lot of thinking these days, say when I'm walking, but probably should be jotting down more things.

Is Australian alt-pop stuff like this? It seems very evocative.

[lizbee]

Mostly I plan, play with dialogue, stuff like that. If I'm quite sure I'll forget it, I'll make a note on my phone, but I have a pretty good memory for that kind of thing.

And yes, much like that, but often lighter -- my protagonists are only twelve.

[jazzyjj]

Jumping in here just a bit late. Hmmm let's see...I recently started using iTunes a lot for listening to music, and often times I'll be listening to some music while working on my MacBook or even while doing other stuff such as dishes. I don't really have a favorite right now, but when working in other apps and listening to iTunes I prefer something rather quiet because then I can still hear my screen reader talking. Even when a jazz or rock song is turned down a bit, it can get a bit much at times for that reason. Fortunately though I can control the volume of iTunes separately from the volume of the screen-reading software on my MacBook. But some artists I like to hear while writing are Enya, the Chieftains, and jazz such as The Dave Brubeck Quartet. The set of external speakers I got a little while back have come in very handy too though.

[ljwrites]

I love quiet songs, too! I would listen to music from the Celestial Aeon project to get me into certain moods and help me concentrate. I love Enya and The Maiden of Mysteries album was a great re-rendering of her music, but it's probably too noisy for your purposes.

[inkdust]

Hah, now that I finally get to this post, I have many answers - if anyone feels like having a listen:

My theme for the story as a whole is We're On Our Way, sound-wise and lyric-wise and everything-wise.
And Snake Skin Heart is my song for the ending and my main character at the end. I haven't found a good one for her earlier on.

Wild Country is my song for the teenage boy ghost from 1865.
Always Gold is my song for him and his family as a whole, who built and lost the house the story takes place in.
I Of the Storm is my song for little girl ghost from 1914, also the one described in the Longfellow poem.
And my song for those two together is King and Lionheart. Most of the time they don't act like it, though.

Honestly it's a little unnerving but basically Of Monsters and Men could provide the entire movie soundtrack. Not even because all of their songs talk about ghosts. They just HAPPEN to talk about ghosts. I'm very glad their music has been around while I've been working on this book. Of Monsters and Men and Radical Face.

Now, the number of songs I associate with my side story...that's excessive.

[ljwrites]

Nice songs! Some of the videos (like "Snake Skin Heart") didn't work for me, but that could be the region I'm in. I like the creepy/whimsical vibe that Of Monsters and Men's music videos have going. Their playlist provided a relaxing soundtrack the night before my thesis review, so thanks for that!

[inkdust]

Oh I'm glad! Yeah, regions are annoying. I tried to watch some performances from the eurovision post and was like oh...I guess none for me. But I hope your review went/goes well!

[ljwrites]

It went well, thank you, I just have my final review in mid-June to go!

I assumed if I could watch a thing then everyone else could, too, but I guess it's more complex than that. That sucks, I liked this year's Eurovision songs and especially the winner.