Jen Booth

Beyond the Writing Playlist—Songs for the Soundtrack of Our Lives

Most writers have a playlist for their works in progress. We covet songs that get us in the zone, ease us into the characters, or represent the themes of the piece—music that “makes” our stories. A writer’s playlist isn’t unlike the music that infuses our real lives. What if we each have our own soundtrack?

If you had to pick the top songs that represent who you are, seasons you have gone through, or events that made you, you, what would you choose? If you’ve never thought of your musical tastes as a window to your soul and life story, consider it. If this sounds far-fetched, stay with me.

I have a specific playlist for when I write in the Rensong series. Each POV character has their own tracks, and the styles run from Scottish Gaelic to epic orchestral to hard rock. Much of what I listen to is instrumental, but still encompasses my characters so well that if I find myself having trouble getting in the character’s head, or finding their voice, I play one of “their” songs and I am back where I need to be with them. The music varies with story beats, as well, like having a soundtrack to a movie.

My niece-by-heart takes this to a level I’ve never seen before. She has written several novels and composed original songs for her characters—even recording and performing them at local events. It’s every bit as awesome as it sounds, and I can’t wait until she’s a published author.

Just as a writer will listen to a certain song while writing a character fighting for her life or walking with a love interest, so we have music that we could probably link to events in our lives. Maybe you were in worship, at a concert or alone in the car, and a song pierced your heart with new awareness and sense that you were part of something bigger, greater—part of a larger story. Perhaps it ministered to you in a time of grief, giving strength and hope.

A year after my mother died, my oldest son was born with significant health issues that required him to stay in the hospital for almost a month. At the same time, my father had a devastating health crisis. My body did not recover well from the birth, but I still had to be everything I needed to be to both at once. It was an incredibly painful time, and I knew I couldn’t get through it all on my own strength.

Each day began with the agony of a broken heart, but God gave me a song. A few days into it, Matthew West came out with “Strong Enough.” The line that kept repeating, reminding me to lean on God’s strength, was, “I don’t have to be strong enough.” During the following years that saw both healing and further brokenness, when I was forced to face ghosts of my past and lay down my writing for a prolonged season, that song stayed with me. It became part of the soundtrack to my life story, exemplifying pain, purpose, and provision.

I have a song for when I begged God to rescue me from deep rebellion in my youth, a song from when I fell in love with my husband, a song that represents the vision we have for our family, and on and on. Recognizing the music of our lives helps us look back and see how we’ve grown and what we’ve overcome—or still must overcome.

In Scripture, most of the Psalms are David’s life song. From his young shepherd days glorifying God on a gentle hillside, to extolling God’s protection in battle, to repentance for horrific sin, David’s songs became the life song of a nation for centuries.

If my novel is published, I cannot help but wonder if some of my writing playlist makes it to my life song soundtrack. I can only imagine being able to say, “And this is the song for when I signed my first contract.” Ah, such dreams.

Do you have songs that have come to you at certain times of your life, just when you needed them? Have certain songs become a part of you and your life story? Or, just for fun, if you had to create a playlist to represent your life, what songs would you choose?

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We discussed creative burnout last week, but what is one to do about plain ole’ writer’s block? The words just won’t come, and the blank page or screen in your face is not a product of exhaustion, but a sudden, looming wall of nothing.

“I was just on a roll! Where did my words go? Where did my thoughts go?”

Perhaps the block is a product of sensory or creative overload. Too many ideas going in too many different directions refuse to be reined in and focused. I’ve wondered if this is more common for women, because our thoughts tend to be connected naturally. (I would claim it as a superpower, except separating ideas is like separating spaghetti noodles. Messy.) However, I expect every creator faces the monstrosity of too much mental action, men and women alike.

Perhaps the block exists because we’ve poured ourselves so fully into a particular character or scene, and our hearts are so full of feelings that our words begin to taper off, then cease. Or perhaps, the writer’s block is born of lack of planning. Yes, I’m talking to you, “pantsers”, because I completely relate. There’s a place for plotting, even for discovery writers. (We will discuss that in a future post.)

So, what do we do when the words won’t come and our inspiration is waning, yet we are still firmly in the creative zone? Are there strategies we can employ, or must we wait until the wall between us and inspiration crumbles beneath the force of our own willful staring?

Well, if you choose to stare, don’t forget to blink.

There are several strategies that writers across genres recommend. I’ve found them all to work for me at various times, depending on my specific problem.

For one, it helps to move our bodies. Get outside for a few minutes, take a walk, play with a pet, chase your children. Just move something, and vigorously. (Regular exercise is also helpful to keep the creative juices flowing.)

Write something different, especially something not part of the book. Expand a character’s backstory. Immerse yourself in the scenery, mood, and life of the place you are writing about. I once read advice on writing a modern-day conversation between three or four characters. The topic of their conversation? What constitutes a truly great pizza. What began as a silly exercise blossomed into a deeper insight of their personalities, and I wrote much more authentically for each of them from there, with fewer blocks.

Look up images of places that inspired your work or find new inspiration. Character images are also a good way to keep the story before you while opening your mind to new details. I have an extensive Pinterest board just for my stories.

A good playlist works wonders. I write much better with music than without, and have specific songs for each POV character, place, and circumstance. It helps keep a consistent mood and tone.

Go over your work with a peer and ask for their feedback. Let them read what you have of the scene so far. I know this is scary, but so worth it. You can also walk away and read someone else’s work. I usually choose poetry, or a book outside my genre. Filling my mind with others’ words helps my own words flow.

All writers face writer’s block from time to time. Overcoming and managing it helps us grow in our craft, and accepting it as natural is freeing.

Do you have a different strategy that helped you with writer’s block? Please share in the comments!

(Below, real-world images that correspond to the fantasy world of Ehlon. Do you recognize one or two?)