I noticed something the other day and wondered if other writers felt the same way.
My favorite music is heavy on storytelling–by singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Jim Croce, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, etc. Music genres like the blues also hold a strong appeal for me.
My favorite art tells a story. I do like landscapes, but only if they seem like a story setting or draw me in to the picture. I like portraits where the people’s eyes are speaking to me. I’m interested in Munch’s The Scream, where the focal point is in agony and the other people on the bridge seem unaware of his distress. There’s a story.
As a reader, I think I’m a fairly demanding one. I want an escape, and quickly. I want a good story.
Maybe that’s why I can’t leave my drafts alone. Is it good enough? Does the reader want to be friends with my protagonist? Have I told a good story?
Music-wise I lean toward classical simply because it’s the only music I can have on when I write. I completely agree with you art-wise – I adore landscapes with disappearing paths – what’s over that hill? Story-wise, I’m with you if it’s a new author (for me). Get me interested fast or I’m putting it down. Thanks for explaining why I constantly edit. My criteria for my writing is that if the sentence doesn’t add to the plot or setting or character development then it’s out. Difficult to do sometimes but it does manage to keep things moving.
What an appealing post. Pictures often tell great stories.
I have an award for you, by the way.
I seem to be more ‘auditory’ when it comes to inspirations for writing. So many of my characters were fleshed out because of a plaintive melody or line of lyrics. I’m doing edits on my next submission, and there are lots of music references in the manuscript. I need to know what music my characters will pop into the CD player (although I confess since I’m much older than most of my characters, I go to my kids for help with that!)
With ya all the way on the “tell me a good story” with ANY kind of art thing.
The Old Silly
Elizabeth, yes, I have my iTunes playlist. I don’t use it all the time, but I like that it’s mood-evoking. Because it’s familiar, I don’t get distracted. It’s a broad mix, from classical to more upbeat rock.
Well, I have taught English at upper-secondary level for fifteen years so I hope I am reasonably fluent ;)
I realized quite soon that if I only posted in Danish I would miss so much fun – more than 80 % of my readers are foreigners, and even though I have some faithful Danish followers, there are not many of them who comment. A few of them do, but often in English (another reason why I am often too lazy to translate into English nowadays).
Good post, Elizabeth. As both a visual artist and a mystery writer, I’ve always tried to tell stories with my work – and now I love telling them on my blog.
In current music, I think country & western tells the best stories – I believe Nashville is the epicenter for songwriters who in previous generations would have been in the Brill Building in Manhattan.
Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso
http://julielomoe.wordpress.com
In music, I want emotion. If the song evokes a strong feeling, then I connect with it. For artwork, at least as far as photography goes, I like closeups. I want to get up close with something, see all of the little details one can’t see at a distance.
L. Diane Wolfe “Spunk On A Stick”
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.spunkonastick.net
http://www.thecircleoffriends.net
If I have trouble with a certain scene, I’ll find some form of music. Whether it just makes my brain multi-task or it causes some other reaction, I find it to be helpful. And I do love trying to find the story in a piece of art.
Marvin–I thought we might be on the same page with that idea!
Elspeth–I’m a classical fan, too. I particularly like sonatas because they seem to tell a story to me.
Dorte–Thanks so much! You’re great. I always feel bad about commenting in English on your blog…obviously, though, you’re fluent or have a great translating program (like me.)
Terry–Do you listen to music while you work, too? I was thinking about coming up with a playlist of songs to work to…
Julie–You’re right about country/western music. Their lyrics are usually completely narrative. I didn’t think about that. You’re so fortunate to be able to paint. I think I’d give anything for that…
Diane–Interesting. I didn’t think about closeups, but I agree with you. When I take photographs, I like to get right up to the subject (much to their dismay, sometimes) to get a more interesting picture.
Terry–I need to reprogram mine…I’m kind of tired of the playlist I’ve got on there. Although, as you mentioned, our familiarity with the songs might mean it’s good to have in the background.
Dorte–Goodness–you may be more fluent than I am, then! I knew you taught…didn’t realize it was English. You have a tremendous foreign base, it sounds like. That’s so much fun.
Tara–I like the idea of using music to train our brain to do more than one thing at a time. Great idea.
I may not want Myrtle to come cook me dinner! But I’d totally hang out with her :D