Totally off the usual topics, but I wanted to mention a few words about using musical playlists while writing books. Music is a HUGE part of my process, so when I received a survey recently about it, I couldn’t wait to read it and see how others were using music to expand their creativity. I wanted to answer the questions in the hopes it would help others find a boost for their muse via music.

Here are the questions I received and answers I gave. For those of you writing to music–or just using music in your every day life to channel energy–I’d love to hear about your process.

Do you develop a playlist/soundtrack for specific works in progress (WIPs) (as opposed to using music in general for inspiration)?
I’ve actually done it both ways. I try to build a whole playlist to represent the general flow of the action and emotions in the story, but I don’t always find the exact series of songs that call to me. So sometimes, for me, a book is represented by a single song. But I always write with music that expresses the general mood of that part of the story. For instance, when I wrote a book with a hero with Puerto Rican roots, I choose to write to a lot of Latin music. I recently wrote an erotic suspense with a very hard-edged hero, so I wrote a lot to the music of Hinder, Seether, Three Days Grace, Nine-Inch Nails, etc. I taught myself to write to music with lyrics recently, and it’s really expanded my playlist and boosted my creativity.

Do you develop this playlist before you start or does it develop as your writing progresses?
Usually, I develop it as I’m plotting. It helps me to tune into the emotional notes of that story that are important for me to put front and center in the book. And if I get stuck, it reminds me why I wanted to write the book and what’s important about the story, at least for me.

Do you use this technique only with certain genres? (e.g., yes for contemporaries but no for historicals)
I’ve used it for nearly every book I’ve written (17 and counting). When writing historicals, I tend to write more to classical or new age. Contemporaries obviously means I listen to more contemporary music. I just adjust the type and mood of the music with the type and mood of the book.

Respondents have indicated a variety of applications for their playlists. Which of these do you do?

1. Music piece for each chapter. Not usually. If I can find enough representative music, it’s usually a song per plot point or something similar.

2. Each major character gets a theme song. Yes, I do this A LOT. It really helps me to tune into the characters and put myself in their shoes at pivotal points.

3. One theme song for entire work. Sometimes. If I find songs that seem to represent the body of the work. My upcoming Berkley HEAT Decadent (Oct 2007) has 1 theme song: Precious from Depeche Mode. It really encapsulated what I wanted to say.

4. Heroine (Hero) gets a playlist that matches her/his character ARC. Never tried this. The search for music is a bit organic for me. If I run across it, good. If not, I go without it until I find something. It seems the search for this could be long and time-consuming. Deadlines don’t always give you this luxury.

Respondents have indicated a variety of uses for their playlists. Which of these apply to you?

1. Choose pieces that match tempo of the chapter. (e.g., uptempo for happy scenes, slow for sad, to help keep pace of the writing appropriate to the scene.)
Not really. When I start writing, I generally listen to whatever is playing unless it’s completely and totally wrong for the scene, like hearing Don’t Worry, Be Happy in the middle of a character dying.

2. General theme of WIP is represented in the music chosen and use it brainstorm plot and envision character’s journey.
Absolutely. This is the minimum for me. I MUST have this or I struggle. In fact, I’m working on a paranormal for Pocket to be out in Fall 2008. Right now, I have no theme music. It’s tough.

3. After playlist is built, use it to get back into the frame of mind for that particular WIP, either during the initial writing or when revising (when already started on the next WIP… helps to keep them separate!)
I don’t revise much, so I haven’t used a playlist for that, but to get into the frame of mind for a WIP? Absolutely!

4. Specific pieces “click” when stuck in the writing and inspire character action or plot solutions.
Yep. It’s great inspiration to help you remember the character’s signature note and/or the reason the idea of writing the story inspired you in the first place.

Do you prefer music with lyrics or without? Why?
I can do both now. The lyrics used to step all over the words in my head, but I’ve forced myself to adjust to expand my playlist. It really helped when writing contemporary novels. I’ve also expanded the music I listen to. It was always eclectic, but now even more so.

Enjoy your weekend!