If you didn’t already know, November is National Novel Writing Month. 50,000 words by December 1st. Let’s do this.
So, keeping true to my pre-NaNo check list, I created a writing playlist as one of my 6 Ways To Prep For NaNoWriMo. If you do write to music, create a playlist beforehand so you’re not skipping around your iTunes library trying to find that perfect song. With a playlist, I can pull out my laptop, turn on the music, and hit shuffle with no problem.
Imagine you’re going on a really long road trip. A road trip where you also have to write 50,000 words . . .
Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz
Way Down We Go – Kaleo
Handy Candy – Mike Higham & Matthew Margeson (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children)
Ritual Blush – George Cosby
Believer – Imagine Dragons
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Cringe – Matt Maeson
Switch – Roy Woods
Le temps qu’il faut – Tal
Who Let the Freaks Out – Todrick Hall
Havana – Camila Cabello
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
Følelsen – Kesi
Change (In the House of Flies) – Deftones
Comptine D’un Autre Été, l’après-Midi – Yann Tiersen (Amélie)
It’s a Lie (feat. TINI) – The Vamps
Ta fête – Stromae
The Gray Havens – James Galway (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
Sunset Lover – Petit Biscut
Friend of a Friend – New Hope Club
Arrival of the Birds/Exodus – The City of Prague Philharmonic
Halcyon – The Paper Kites
Tristian – Ilan Eshkeri (Stardust)
Attention – Charlie Puth
Mama – My Chemical Romance
Starlight – Muse
SUTRA – Sebastian Yatra
Crystallize – Lindsey Stirling
Trop comme ci – Nadjee
Nights With You (Cheat Codes Remix) – MØ
Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time – Panic! At the Disco
There’s really no method to the madness, though I’ve noticed I do tend to pick upbeat/pop-ier songs to write to. Too many slow instrumentals drag me down. I like music that will keep me motivated; I can enjoy listening, but I’m also able to tune out and just write to my heart’s desire.
Your music will reflect your writing, so choose songs based around your idea. Put on some Evanescence for that dark teen romance. Maybe jam to some rock while describing that chase scene. If you’re writing a steamy erotica, you might not want to download solely bubblegum pop. Listening to music while writing should be a mood setter, not a prohibiter.
If you’ve created a playlist for NaNoWriMo, share some songs you wouldn’t feel inspired without!
Happy writing! Xx
