05 June 2015

Playlist Commitment

Hey, everyone! Today is particularly awesome because I'm being interviewed over at Chrys Fey's blog! So you should go check it out. I'll keep this brief because this is about as close to a blogging break as I am willing to take (and you should go to Chrys' blog instead).

When you have a story idea in your head but you're still figuring it out, at what point does it become real? When exactly do you commit to it and say, I'm definitely going to write this?

I feel like I made a huge step of commitment yesterday because I started a playlist for Book 3. It's completely psychotic, right?? I haven't finished editing Book 1, haven't written Book 2 yet, but here I am picking songs for inspiration for the third book. Why? I don't even know. There have just been a few songs that make me think about it, and I'm sort of addicted to playlist making.

I'm sure part of this is just because I'm in love with the idea for Book 3. I also don't think I'll ever be able to come up with a playlist for Book 2 (it gets a bit dark and also focuses more on family issues than romantic relationships). So I don't know. It's just a lot of fun, I guess. And it gets the inspiration going. I guess I'll take any inspiration I can get if it eventually leads to words.

So am I completely nuts or just having fun? When do you usually make a playlist for your books? 

16 comments:

  1. Whatever works to get yourself in that zone, I say go with it. I don't have any playlists, I'm inspired by music but can't listen to it when I write. Off to check out the interview!

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    1. Yeah, I can't listen to music while I write, either. Too distracting. But I love to listen to it to get inspiration before I start writing.

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  2. I know I'm getting serious about a story when I start compiling a playlist for it. I don't think it's insane to have started Book 3's playlist yet. I have playlists started for the first four books of my fantasy series, and I haven't finished writing the second book yet.

    Off to your interview!

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    1. Oh good, I'm not alone! LOL. I felt like making a playlist was a serious commitment to the book itself.

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  3. Hmm...for me, the moment of commitment changes with each project. Some stories I know I'll write when it's still floating vaguely through my mind, and others I can start writing and still never feel fully committed to (until it's, like, halfway written).

    I don't always compile playlists for my stories. The one I'm currently writing I have started a playlist, and it's so much fun. It doesn't always work for me, though (although I can't exactly say why, since music usually plays a role in my stories in some form or other!)

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    1. I think sometimes it's just hard to find songs for certain stories. For other ones it's a lot easier.

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  4. I agree with Nick, I say if you're in the zone---do it!! When an idea pops, write it down. I'm a total pantser, so when an idea hits I just start and hope for the best. I'm 12k into a story now and I'm rethinking it...I thought I was committed but now, IDK...that's how it goes for me...

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    1. I'm a pantser, too, but I'm trying to get more organized. Maybe having a playlist before writing the book will help me figure it out beforehand.

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  5. I write in series so I figure out the entire series and the characters before I start book one. So I think you're doing it just write to have the books down the line figured out.

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    1. It has helped out a lot! I know I need to make a lot of changes to Book 2's plot because of where I want Book 3 to go. It's nice to figure it out before I start writing.

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  6. It sounds like you're having fun! I don't usually create playlists and write in the hum activity around me as a soundtrack, but I have been creating pinterests boards - some for current projects, and some for future projects that haven't been anywhere but the idea stage yet.

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  7. Nuts or having fun? I'd say a little bit of both. ;)

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  8. You have to be a little nuts as you're having fun. :) I'm the odd person that does not make playlists for anything. Ever. The only music I listen to is what my five-year-old does. So you can guess that doesn't apply to my writing! Have a lovely weekend.

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  9. Hey Sarah,

    I was just over at Chrys' blog and now I'm over here at your site. If I clicked on your link, I'd be back over at Chrys'' blog and might think I'm in some sort of "Groundblog", um Groundhog Day situation.

    You're having fun at being completely nuts. A nice, relaxed balance, I reckon. Then again, I have a dog that takes over my blog..

    Very nice meeting you and I've taken the liberty of sharing your post, even on "Farcebook." I wont mention that I'm now following your blog because some might think that I'm trying to hint at following my shy, humble and obscure blog.

    Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Sarah.

    Gary :)

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  10. Any progress is progress!
    Just think of it as one less thing to do later.
    For book two, you can always give your followers (or others) your themes and ask for suggestions. Even if none are right, you'd have a starting place.

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    1. I'm referring to song choices, in case I was unclear.

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