Words Like Music

In a recent (fantastic!) Writer's Digest article, the author instructed would-be bestsellers to "use mood like a scalpel."

Personally, I have to write with music. Nothing sets the tone of a scene or even a whole novel as much as the soundtrack that runs through my head. My ipod playlist is littered with bizarre names that are, in fact, the titles of my future books ( :D  ). Or 'Writing I, II & III.'  Even I underestimated the power of these carefully crafted playlist until recently, when I was listening to my most recent novel soundtrack. Big Sister, who is familiar with the novel, was also listening.

A particular Song from a particular Movie began to play and Sister looked up with a pained expression to ask "Does someone die...?"

I blinked and, as any saavy writer would have responded said, "You'll have to finish it to find out."

...okay, I didn't say that. I blinked and stammered, "Uh. Maybe. I don't know. I haven't decided."

Of course, someone does die. The song that played is one of mourning, and anyone who heard would know it was a song of mourning, no matter their culture or previous knowledge of the originaly movie soundtrack, story or anything else.

If you write in silence, consider music. If you write with music, consider silence - you don't know how powerfully the music might be changing your intent.

As for the words you choose, use them very consciously. A sweet, awesome and vivid description may  not convey the mood you meant to.

The clouds scudded overhead like broken, crumbling tombstones.

...is very different from:


The clouds broke apart in the brightening sky like gray pearls washed on a pale shore.

Be aware of mood...and use words like music when you write.