This is really interesting! I’m not sure if it’s the same thing but I quite often reference song lyrics in my writing and add a link to them in the footnotes. For a recent piece on marriage, I had a 4 song playlist at the end which included ABBA and The Beautiful South! I also cannot write without blasting music in my ears. I live in a v noisy house and I tend to listen to the same playlists I use when running to drown out the interruptions that are all around me! Thanks for this Hattie.
Been writing for thirty years and haven’t used music, but very much like the idea, whether as a playlist that always instantly transports you into that world, or as a way to really get to know your character. Lots of writers occasionally struggle with the writer’s block phantom, this seems a great way, by using the senses, to overcome it.
! I was just thinking about how important music and soundtrack are for me when writing. There are times when I can only find focus and flow if I put on certain tracks, and I too have very specific music that I consider the opening credits to the film that'll never be made about the book I may never finish! But I can so see the characters and how they fit with the music, that all I need to do is slip those songs on to find that place.
For some reason, I termed it "Listening in high focus", which is kind of nonsensical maybe but I like how it sounds.
This may not be the book that is requested, but my immediate reccomendation is Jeff vanderMeer's incredible WONDERBOOK (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/15842650) as it's got a plethora of tips of creative writing *and* it's full of awesome illustrations. Nrgghh it's such a good book. I need to go read it again.
I have a playlist for whatever I’m working on, and it’s generally songs and music from the time period, so for The List of Suspicious Things it was all early-mid 70’s music. I found it then made its way into the book and I think there is a song reference in every chapter, as well as an Elton John obsessed shopkeeper 😂
Hey Ella - it’s deffo not a children’s book, more aimed at TV and screenwriters, but I have never read a better book on storytelling than John Yorke’s Into The Woods. It’s gorgeously, conversationally written and I think would have lots of lessons around stories for an audience that includes children (to borrow Philip Pullman’s wonderful phrase). I return to it again and again. And - talking of Pullman! His essay collection Daemon Voices is incredible, inspiring, a well of knowledge. Good luck!
Oh my GOD Ursula Le Guin Great Shout. Not massively storytelling but I adore The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction - massively influenced the way I approach narrative form as a director
This is really interesting! I’m not sure if it’s the same thing but I quite often reference song lyrics in my writing and add a link to them in the footnotes. For a recent piece on marriage, I had a 4 song playlist at the end which included ABBA and The Beautiful South! I also cannot write without blasting music in my ears. I live in a v noisy house and I tend to listen to the same playlists I use when running to drown out the interruptions that are all around me! Thanks for this Hattie.
Been writing for thirty years and haven’t used music, but very much like the idea, whether as a playlist that always instantly transports you into that world, or as a way to really get to know your character. Lots of writers occasionally struggle with the writer’s block phantom, this seems a great way, by using the senses, to overcome it.
! I was just thinking about how important music and soundtrack are for me when writing. There are times when I can only find focus and flow if I put on certain tracks, and I too have very specific music that I consider the opening credits to the film that'll never be made about the book I may never finish! But I can so see the characters and how they fit with the music, that all I need to do is slip those songs on to find that place.
For some reason, I termed it "Listening in high focus", which is kind of nonsensical maybe but I like how it sounds.
This may not be the book that is requested, but my immediate reccomendation is Jeff vanderMeer's incredible WONDERBOOK (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/15842650) as it's got a plethora of tips of creative writing *and* it's full of awesome illustrations. Nrgghh it's such a good book. I need to go read it again.
Thank you, sounds really great! I’ll look into it :)
I have a playlist for whatever I’m working on, and it’s generally songs and music from the time period, so for The List of Suspicious Things it was all early-mid 70’s music. I found it then made its way into the book and I think there is a song reference in every chapter, as well as an Elton John obsessed shopkeeper 😂
I'd missed Ella's question but I've just responded on the original thread (bookseller hat and picture book writer hat on).
Really looking forward to listening to Sophie's episode tomorrow - I read her latest book the other week and it's SO good. (reviewed here for anyone interested: https://katieclapham.substack.com/p/the-proof-and-the-prove)
Also only got round to listening to Raven Smith's episode yesterday which I so enjoyed - his column is the *dream* job.
Thanks Hattie! Fingers crossed for some interesting recommendations. I haven’t got much further on my quest yet, but I will report back if I do.
Hey Ella - it’s deffo not a children’s book, more aimed at TV and screenwriters, but I have never read a better book on storytelling than John Yorke’s Into The Woods. It’s gorgeously, conversationally written and I think would have lots of lessons around stories for an audience that includes children (to borrow Philip Pullman’s wonderful phrase). I return to it again and again. And - talking of Pullman! His essay collection Daemon Voices is incredible, inspiring, a well of knowledge. Good luck!
Thanks very much! I have the Phillip Pullman one, but haven’t dipped into it yet. I’ll look into Into The Woods, sounds intriguing! Thank you! :)
I second both of these :) They're both so helpful. Also recommend Ursula K Le Guin's 'Steering the Craft'.
Oh my GOD Ursula Le Guin Great Shout. Not massively storytelling but I adore The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction - massively influenced the way I approach narrative form as a director
Yess! that bit at the end the 'womb of things to be, tomb of things that were', love it.
Hey Ella, not sure if my suggestion is any good, but see my post I just popped in here :)
A scent! Fascinating. It's like a sensory platform.
I cannot and will not write without my cape. It's a matter of principle
I hear ya...but equally, I now feel I want to read the end product of the writing session with the full moon and special cape 😄👌
I'm on it