Many of my friends and acquaintances are currently in the midst of the sheer madness that is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal: to write a book (yes, sir, that’s right a whole book) in (gasp) 30 days!
Todays tip is brought to you by a rockin’ selection of music.
At some point you may find it difficult to keep your mind in the right place to write. It can be hard to get into your characters minds, or to imagine the world or events in your story. This is where an inspirational play list comes in handy. Having a selection of songs that represent the time or region of your story–or songs that simply inspire you and put you in a creative mood–can be a useful tool.
When I was working on my prohibition era, Louisiana-based novel I set up a playlist of zydeco and jazz that kept my mind in the time and place. Right now, I’m relying on some ass kicking songs (Nine Inch Nails, Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Sick Puppies, Linkin Park) for my NaNoWriMo project.
Don’t just listen to the music while your writing, try listening to your playlist while walking or driving. During those times your brain is relaxed and as you listen you may find more inspiration for a plot point or be better able to work out a problem.