One of the first things to do when writing a new book is to make the playlist–my “Writin’ Mix.” Here’s what I’m listening to as I write The Sinfully Seductive Rakish Rogue’s Mysterious Midnight Mistress of Pleasure and why:
Simple Kind Of Life by No Doubt
The heroine had shared society’s expectations for her life: she would marry and marry well. And then it didn’t happen (No, I am not telling you why). And then she ends up in a most scandalous profession (no, I’m not telling you what it is. But I will say that it is not prostitution). So after a hard day at work, she might turn on the radio and sing along to this song (if radios and rock bands existed in 1820. My sources indicate they did not).
The Rest Of My Life by Sloan
It’s a song all about settling down for the rest of your life. And questioning and wondering Am I gonna settle down/Am I gonna be/Someone who has to take the rest of my life to settle down….. It’s the song for the hero because he’s got some very tough matrimonial choices to make.
Why Can’t I by Liz Phair
Methinks Ms.Fair’s lyrics to the chorus explain why this is on my romance writing playlist:
Why can’t I breathe whenever I think about you/Why can’t I speak whenever I talk about you/ it’s inevitable/it’s the fact that we’re gonna get down to it so tell me/why can’t I breath whenever I think about you
Love Story by Taylor Swift
Just because it’s so romantic, passionate, and it feels like a 3 minute, melodic romance novel.
7 Comments
How cool that you have a real list! I can’t listen to music while writing but there are several songs that inspire me very much and immediately bring certain situations in a story to my mind. Funny thing, that.
Certains songs do reming me of particular scenes or books because I listen to them over and over while writing. My real problem, tho, is singing along and forgetting to type!
“Love Story” is one of my favorite songs, and I like “Why Can’t I” as well. I don’t know “The Rest of My Life” but it sounds like a good hero song.
I love making playlists for books. I don’t write books myself, but I’ve made several playlists for books that I’ve read and enjoyed. It’s fun!
I admire your ability to multitask. I can’t listen to music while I write. I get distracted or end up writing the lyrics instead of the story in my head!
But, I do listen to ’soundtracks’ for stories I enjoy. Especially romance and pairings.
I bet it’s only a matter of time before I start typing lyrics into my manuscripts!
I was going to ask if you do that. We’ll know what you were listening to if one of the characters suddenly says, “Baby just say yes.”
Hahaha Laura!