Confession: I listen to music while I write. It gets me in the mood, if you know what I mean. (Myren, my chauffeur just rolled his eyes.)
What Do I mean? Music—the right music—enhances the emotional experience. Because let’s face it, what’s evokes emotion more quickly than a love song. Romance stories do a pretty good job although they make take a little while to sink their emotional teeth into you, to grab you and shake you up.
So I think listening to a love song that shares the same theme as the story I’m writing is a heck of a way to warm me up, to get me into the world and make me feel like I’m there.
In writing my NEW RELEASE, an angsty college romance about forbidden love titled I Want To Know What Love Is (yes, of Foreigner’s hit song fame), I chose a play list that evoked the kinds of emotions I wanted you, the reader to feel. And listening to those songs as I wrote, the focused me on those particular feels.
The only down-side?
It’s gosh darn exhausting—emotionally speaking! Because I write angsty books and between listening to the songs and getting into the characters so deeply to get the words on the page, I get so steeped and overwrought that my heart actually pounds.
Good news?
You, the reader get the enhanced experience, the deep feels—and you can take a break any time you need to catch your breath. Unless you’re in emotional marathon condition, then go right ahead and read I Want To Know What Love Is all in one sitting.
Ready for some angst? (Myren’s getting the tissues ready now)
The Playlist to Cry For
I Want To Know What Love Is by Foreigner
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams
If You Ever Change Your Mind by Calum Scott
In Case You Didn’t Know by Brett Young
Always Remember Us This Way by Lady Gaga
Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley
Desire by Meg Myers
Love & Lust by Eric Bellinger