Music Monday: Composing a Book Series

Writing Song of the Day: Sing for Absolution by Muse (check it out below!)

Hey aces! So, we recently read an awesome post on the Blue Lipstick Samurai's blog where she talked about the ingredients to writing a good novel. This inspired today's post on composing (because it is Music Monday after all) a book series.

We are toiling with an idea in our minds for a novel that could possibly turn into a series (although we intend to write the first book as a stand alone- no pretentiousness here- WE PROMISE!) and we came to the conclusion that before we start we need to figure out the perfect "notes" in order to put together our "song."

The Instruments You will Need:

1.) Characters- Varying types of people- some dark (think bass guitar), some cheery, eccentric and loud (think electric guitar) and some characters that are somberly in the background always sensing the doom (think acoustic guitar).

2.) Conflicting and twisting plots- Interweaving story lines that rise and fall within the story (think piano).

3.) Romance- Smoldering heat between characters- that of course causes more conflict and twisting plots (think violins).

4.) Action- Intense scenes of minutely described action- where the bad guys excel, but then they fall and the good guys prevail... but then you find out that the bad guys are still around because you need to have a second book, right? (think drums & symbols).

Throw all of those together and you get plenty of the successful YA series out there...and come on, you can't tell us that this doesn't sound like the perfect Muse song!

For more advice on composing book series check these out:

Nathan Bransford- Series Bible

Writing a Tween Book Series

Guide to Literary Agents- How to Write a Book Series

Music Monday: Songs for Scenes Edition # 1

Writing Song of the Day: Songs for Love Scenes Playlist (check it out below!)

Hey there, aces. We hope you had a great weekend! This Monday, we are going to kick off the Songs for Scenes edition of Music Monday. What we'll do for this special edition is suggest songs that you should listen to to help you write certain scenes. You know, those scenes that you're trying to include in your WIP or edit from your completed manuscript. The ones that focus on love, fighting, intensity, somberness, action, and emotion.

This week, we're going to focus on love scenes- whether it be literal love making, or the build up of a kiss or a relationship. Listen to the lyrics and allow them to help you break through your writer's block and FINALLY complete that scene.

Good Songs for Writing Love Scenes:

1. In Your Eyes- Peter Gabriel
2. I Just Can't Stop Loving You- Michael Jackson
3. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
4. Overjoyed- Stevie Wonder
5. Wonderwall- Oasis
6. Unchained Melody- The Righteous Brothers
7. Stellar- Incubus
8. At Last- Etta James
9. All My Life- K-Ci and Jojo
10. I Caught Fire- The Used
    
    
    

Can you think of any good songs we left off of the list?

Music Monday: Character's Playlist Edition # 2

Writing Song of the Day: Blue's Playlist (check it out below!)

Hey, aces! It's that time again- the start of a new work week and time for some MUSIC!!! Why are we so happy this Monday, you ask? We have six, count them, SIX, days left of work until we are free for some summer fun. Woot, woot!

So, we're moving on to a new character's playlist. If you missed last Monday's post: Gavin's Playlist (from Pam's completed manuscript, Wants) check it out here.

This time we are discussing a character from Quita's completed manuscript, Chasing Manson. The manuscript came from a screenplay that we collaborated on. In our heads, we thought that the main character would look like Josh Hartnett (another one of Quita's husbands-to-be) take a moment to revel in all of his sexy handsomeness:
Moment up! The main character in CM is 18 yo Blue Hudson. Blue is a listless high school graduate who becomes obsessed with Charlie Manson and the Family. The novel is set in 1972, therefore musical research had to be done. Music from the late 60's and early 70's were used to help shape this character.
Blue loves music and narrates sometimes with song lyrics- also the chapter and section titles in CM are all named after popular songs during the 60/70's.

If Blue were to make a playlist it would look something like this:

1. Yellow Submarine- The Beatles
2. Somebody to Love- Jefferson Airplane
3. Happiness is a Warm Gun- The Beatles
4. Hit the Road Jack- Ray Charles
5. Witchy Woman- The Eagles
6. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction- The Rolling Stones
7. Riders on the Storm- The Doors
8. Never Learn Not to Love- The Beach Boys
9. Bad Moon Rising- Creedence Clearwater Revival
10. Come Together- The Beatles
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Once again, leave us a comment about one of your very own characters- whether it be for a completed manuscript or a WIP and tell us what kind of music he/she would have on their playlist.

** Feel free to scroll back up to look at that GORGEOUS HAWT Josh Hartnett one more time. Whoo!**

Music Monday: Character's Playlists Edition # 1

REMINDER! You have until Wednesday, June 9th at 12 AM EST to enter our rock hard contest. Click here for the deets! We will announce the winners on Friday, June 11th.

Also, starting next Monday our blog address will be: http://www.cuzwewrite.blogspot.com/. Make sure to find us there!

Brainstorming song of the day: Gavin's Playlist- (Listen to it below)

Hey, aces! So, as promised, every Monday we are going to combine our love of music and writing. This Monday we wanted to discuss how you can use music to help shape your characters. A lot of times when writing, you have an idea of what you want your characters to do, say, or get into- but more often than not, your character has not been fully shaped and developed. Music is a good way to help round out characters. Think about what kind of artists and songs your character would listen to. If you can have a general idea of the genre of the music then you can use the songs, artists, and lyrics to help you figure out exactly who your character is.

For Example, in Pam's completed manuscript, Wants (this novel is gonna transform YA when it gets published), there are four POVs and each character has a unique, vivid, and striking personality.

One of the characters, 17 yo Gavin, is a guy who marches to the beat of his own drum. When Pam had a dream about this novel, Gavin looked like the lovely actor, Joseph Gordon Levitt (one of Quita's husbands) therefore, take a moment to revel in his beauty:

Ok, back to the post at hand:

Gavin's non-conforming personality is not just demonstrated through his sarcastic nature, or through things like embracing an old and slightly dirty hoodie, or even through the fact that he reads a classic novel that he almost always has in his pocket, but also through his obscure and rebellious taste in music.

If Gavin were to make a playlist, it would look a little like this:

1. "Let It Be Me" - Ray LaMontange
2. "Gravity"- Sarah Bareilles
3. "If You Don't Wanna Love Me"- James Morrison
4. "Your Ex-Lover is Dead"- The Stars
5. "Let Down"- Dead by Sunrise
6. "Giving Up the Gun"- Vampire Weekend
7. "If it Kills Me"- Jason Mraz
8. "The Garden"- Mirah
9. "Set the Fire to the Third Bar"- Snow Patrol ft. Martha Wainwright
10. "A Million Ways to be Cruel"- OK Go

The use of music helps to round out what kind of person Gavin is- how he'll react in certain situations or even what kinds of things he may say to his peers.

So, think about your own character(s) in your completed work(s) or your WIP(s) and create some playlists for them, you'll be surprised how much it'll help you develop your character and possibly move along your plot. Leave a comment and share what kinds of music your character(s) might listen to.