The theme of today’s group blog by Stephanie Faris at Steph in the City is “That Song That Fits Your Novel.” You can participate in the group blog by clicking here.
I’ve noticed that a lot of writers have playlists that suit the mood of their works in progress as well as their finished novels, and despite being something of a music nerd – I think this might just mean that I listen to nerdy music – I’ve never really had a playlist for my work or even a single song that I considered the theme song of my novel.
Way back (and it was a long time ago) when I first started working on The Balderdash Semesters I remember coming up with a list of inspirational books, films, movies and TV shows. I don’t think they were really specific to my novel or more just things that captured the American high school experience. I have long since lost that list. I do remember one list item was Amy Heckerling written in big block letters for her contributions to the canon, namely the movies Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless. The movie Heathers made the list as did the short-lived television show My So-Called Life which in my household was known by its less common name, One Foot in Slutville thanks to an offhand remark by my father after watching approximately thirty seconds of one episode.
There were probably a whole bunch of songs on the list as well, but the only one I can remember is the song “Popular” by Nada Surf. It is a very high school song and so I will share with you the song’s video via You Tube:
What about you, does your book have a theme song?
My Books
I remember going to a writer’s retreat where everyone was “posterboarding” their books. They’d go through magazines and cut out pictures that pertained to things in their book and paste them on this posterboard. It was recommended we all do this, but I never really have. I think it took a little of the mystique away. But having a song kind of adds to it, if that makes sense. It’s something real-world that we can have to make our novels seem more real.
Posterboarding, huh? That sounds a bit like some sort of weird new military torture. I think if I went to a writer’s retreat and they made me start “posterboarding” my book, I would have to hurt someone. Just write the book already! Inspirational music I can see, but making some sort of collage, I don’t know.
Oh, I LOVE My So-Called Life! I just bought the DVDs and watched them ALL over two weekends. It was amazing. I just can’t believe it didn’t last longer. It really took me back.
I wrote about it on my blog, it was so powerful. If youre interested:
http://lifeissweet16.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/there-used-to-be-good-television/
http://lifeissweet16.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/my-so-called-life-part-deux/
I think My So-Called Life just may have been ahead of it’s time. I could see it being a hit show today.