Music questions for all the readers and writers out there…

Do you associate certain songs with a specific book or character? While reading, were you ever listening to a song that has now come to represent that book? If you were writing, do you let music guide you through the chapters?

The answer to all of those, for me, is yes. I have a playlist I’ve developed over the years that represents everything from scenes to characters, including one song that perfectly encapsulates the entirety of my main character’s struggle, Shake It Out, by Florence and the Machine. It was released in the US in October of 2011 and I’d begun writing only months before in May of 2011. My favorite part of all is that the title I chose was more or less one of the lyrics! I couldn’t believe it! So here is my playlist that encapsulates my story and characters:

1. Shake It Out – Florence and the Machine
2. Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
3. You Look So Fine – Garbage
4. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
5. Holocene – Bon Iver
6. Clair de Lune – Debussy
7. Arabesque No. 1 – Debussy

When I hear any of these songs (and in the case of the last two classical pieces), I’m instantly transported into my main character, Thalia’s head. I feel the emotions she would’ve felt in certain scenes and how that would’ve driven her actions. The whole process of writing with music is so much fun! A year ago, I discovered the author, Jenna Moreci, on YouTube, and even she’s done a couple of videos about her playlists while she writes. Hers are scene and chapter based, and they’re awesome. So is her sense of humor. I highly recommend watching her videos!

So readers and writers out there, do you have a playlist? Which songs are on it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!