I was honored to be featured as a guest blogger on author Shannon A. Thompson’s blog! Here is a snippet of my post:
Ah, yes, that terrifying word: inspiration. How do we find it? And if we find it, how do we turn it into something worthwhile?
For those of you like me who bump (or crash) into writer’s block, perhaps the muse may speak to you through music. Here are some specific ways to help get those creative juices flowing:
1) Pop/Rock: Listen to your favorite song, shuffle a playlist, or find new music…there is always a story behind the song.
For example: “Someone Like You” by Adele: who is Adele’s character? Why did she and her lover separate? What prompted her to show up at his door in the first place?
For example: “Mr. Roboto” by Styx: Is the character an actual robot/cyborg? Or is this symbolism for something else? Why does he need to hide, and why is his life in danger?
What are your favorite ways to find inspiration from music?
If Mermaids Wore Suspenders 
I just read a book in which an old song triggered a repressed memory.
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As a writer and musician, I love this article because songs are essentially compressed stories. A singer has to provoke emotion just a novelist should. For me at least, the two go hand-in-hand. I like how you suggested writers use songs as writing prompts.
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I definitely agree about songs being stories! I think all music tells a story to some extent. Thank you for commenting!
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I love and play classical music, so it seems you and I share that passion! Working out on the treadmill is such a chore for me, so I always listen to the third movement of the Sibelius Violin Concerto while doing so. Haha kind of a weird workout song, but it works:D
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I love what I’ve heard of Sibelius!! I haven’t listened to that one, though, so I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
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I listen to classical music on the stepper at the gym too!!! I thought I was the only one lol I have found that if I focus on my thoughts..let them follow the music after a while I am less concentrated on the tiredness of the legs going like the clappers and almost stop feeling the burn and go into the music instead. I sometimes get art/fiction ideas from the music at this time…
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Nice!!
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Oo yes, I totally agree that you can be inspired in your work by music.
When I am working on a project, I will often choose a cd that helps me. The only problem is that I end up associating those songs with the project and THAT is what stays on my mind when I hear it after I am through and I can never use it for anything else!
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Good point! This reminds me of when I listened to a violin sonata by Grieg and it totally reminded me of Ophelia going insane in Hamlet. And now they will always be linked in my mind! But I still think it’s worth it. Although I HAVE been able to associate music with new stories and ideas a few times, too. So you never know! Haha. 🙂
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That is good to know, because I have some cds I would love to have those associations purged from my mind lol
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Haha you’ve got this!
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I just love listening to the words, especially while trying to find inspiration for a blog post or an english essay, and the words will start to form sentences in my head 😀
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