Our Masterpieces...Err, Our Novels

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

RTW: The Soundtrack of Our Writing

Writing Songs of the Day: "Misery" by Maroon 5, and "Duality" by Slipknot



Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:

If your WIP or favorite book were music, what song(s) would it be?

We LOVE anything mixing music and reading/writing so this should be a fun RTW!

Pam's Answer:

Here's a secret: I like a lot of depressing music. You know--Eminem, Chevelle, and anything else you'd listen to while waiting for the apocalypse. So when I was writing my kinda, sorta romantic comedy, Project J, I just blinked at my iTunes playlist a lot.

And then I rediscovered my love for Maroon 5.


I mean, I've always been a fan; I even saw them in concert and swooned over Adam Levine's sexy swag. But I never had a place for them with my own writing until my narrator Jonah popped in my head. Jonah's a self-proclaimed nerd who tries really hard to win the affections of the most popular girl in school--but in the mean time, he falls for someone else that he may not ever be able to have. Is that misery or what? Hence, "Misery" by Maroon 5. Yeah, it's not the most creative song choice, but damn if that song doesn't make me jerk my shoulders to the beat. And have you seen them perform this live? Again--sexy swag.




Quita's Answer:

Like Pam, I have a lot of slow, depressing songs--the music getting the most play on my iPod right now is Adele's latest- 21. But, that doesn't quite fit with the mood and tone. Yes, it is slightly depressing since it involves death--but I want it to the have the feel of a fast paced mystery. And Adele won't work for that. Blake, my MC from The Blues, is not scorned by a lover, instead he discovers secrets about his best friend after his mysterious death.

So, if I had to choose a song for The Blues, it would be...
"Duality" by Slipknot. My MC has to deal with the fact that he can't change the situation his best friend was in or his current dilemma (and this song got heavy rotation while I was writing The Blues)



Now tell us, what song(s) would represent your WIPs or a fave book of yours?

16 comments:

Meredith McCardle said...

Quita's song scares me, lol. I saw Maroon 5 live many, many years ago, and yes, Adam Levine does have that sexy swag thing down. ;)

Kaitlin Ward said...

Slipknot FTW!!

And I like that song by Maroon 5.

Tracey Neithercott said...

I love that Slipknot song! That would work for a scene in my WIP, too. :)

Katy Upperman said...

Great choices. :) And you two are not alone in your love for slow, drepressing music!

Unknown said...

Dude, I spend 89.5% of my time writing to slow, depressing music, so I am with you on that! The Maroon 5 song is so fun (def. appropriate for a romcom-type WiP) but I'm with Meredith, a bit scurred of the Slipknot O_O

Unknown said...

Yay, SLIPKNOT!!!! love them :)

Abby Stevens said...

I love Maroon 5! I don't really listen to SlipKnot (I mostly love upbeat/poppy/romantic music), but I can see why it fits THE BLUES!

stephanie kuehn said...

Ah, I do have quite the fondness for Maroon 5, for reasons I don't really understand. Maybe it's the sexy swag. And yeah, scary on Slipknot. Angry music!

Alicia Gregoire said...

Angsty Alicia LOVES that Slipknot song. (Also the video is awesome.) I'm afraid I'll be humming Maroon 5 all day though.

Becky Wallace said...

Love me some Adam Levine!! Yum. Thanks for sharing.

Ghenet Myrthil said...

Great choices! I love Maroon 5. I saw them in concert years ago and they were amazing. :)

KatOwens: Insect Collector said...

oooh love these choices!

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Oh, both of those songs make me curious about your stories. LOVE Maroon 5. One of my favorites. I really like Slipknot, too--heavy music for a heavy mood.

Jessica Love said...

I'm also curious about your stories based on these song choices!

Kathleen Peacock said...

"I like a lot of depressing music. You know--Eminem, Chevelle, and anything else you'd listen to while waiting for the apocalypse."

I'm so with you on the depressing music!

Racquel Henry said...

Woo Hoo! I love Adele's latest CD...it's on heavy rotation in my car lol. If I had to choose a song for my WIP I would say, "Vegas" by Sara Bareilles. That song to me is about spreading your wings and sometimes even needing to get away to do so. It makes me think of self discovery. My main character is definitely discovering herself. :)