GET IN, SON!
Ahem. So yeah, Andy won the tennis. We’re all rather pleased. Nothing more inspiring than witnessing sporting history. (Also, thank you Wimbledon camera crew for zooming in on Gerard Butler and Bradley Cooper. Not so big a thank-you for zooming in on the PM.)
SO, Wimbledon is over, as is the first week of July, which means I’m cracking on with characters in line with my Grand Master Plan. After more than a fortnight of setting daily goals, I can safely say it works a charm. It pushes me to work harder and achieve more with my time. Woot!
Second Woot! – Summer is here! It’s been insanely gorgeous o’er here in bonnie Scotland, and I’ve been writing outdoors in the sunshine.
I write in a secret spot with only the sound of birds and a nearby waterfall (think Niagra and divide by a million). Sometimes kids run past, but my turbo watergun should arrive in the next few days, so it’s all good.
The lovely thing about writing outside is it forces me to use pen and paper, and step away from the laptop and all its distractions. Chilling with nature and a notepad helps me iron out problems, identify plotholes, and brainstorm ideas. As always, I need a soundtrack for my writing, and in tune with laid-back outdoor sessions, I’ve been turning to China for inspiration. Chinese music can be very relaxing and unobtrusive, and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Chilled Chinese Writing Choons
Here are some of my fav albums and tracks:
Wild China OST, by Barnaby Taylor – the whole album is magic. I believe this is the soundtrack to a documentary made by the BBC. Anyway, it’s very good, and will have you in a Zen-like state within minutes.
Hero OST, by Tan Dun. First off – go watch the film! Stunning. An absolute treat for the eyes. The ears do well also, as demonstrated by the great soundtrack. My top tracks for writing are Overture; For the World; Spirit Fight; Love in Distance; Longing; Above Water
House of Flying Daggers OST, by Shigeru Umebayashi. I like The Peonyhouse and Lovers – Flower Garden.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon OST, by Tan Dun. Favs: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; The Eternal Vow; To the South; Silk Road.
Chinese Bamboo Flute Music, by Ming Flute Ensemble. All the tracks on this album are good!
Chinese Traditional Erhu Music. This album is very gentle and calming.
So, there’s a starting point for some writing music with a Chinese flavour. I find this style works particularly well on a sunny day. You’ll notice most are soundtracks; I prefers soundtracks as they are designed to tell a story, and are therefore more inspiring. I don’t want obtrusive background music, but then I don’t want something bland. Soundtracks carry enough emotion to sometimes spark a new plot or character trait. I’ve had scenes, characters, and plots all driven from music, so I think it’s important to get it right. If anything, music can seriously affect your mood, and therefore the mood of your writing. It’s a bad idea to write a sad scene with jaunty ragtime playing, or a cheery scene while listening to Moonlight Sonata.
I hate writing in silence. One day, it would be cool to have a book that played music as you read, so you could hear the music the author had in mind as he/she wrote the words. That would be cool! We definitely need someone to invent that.
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