I collect soundtracks. I’d probably buy one every week if I could afford it. I’ve written about this before, so you probably know that I write to music. Every novel of mine has a collection of songs that define it and become its own soundtrack.
Sometimes it’s easy to find the accompanying music to a novel I’m writing. A movie might be “in the vein” of something I’m writing, so the music fits.
But sometimes–sometimes I surprise myself and connect an overlooked soundtrack with the story I’m working on.
This happened recently for the soundtrack of Lady In The Water. This M. Night Shyamalan movie came out in 2006 and never connected with viewers or critics. I read a book about the journey of this movie making it to the screen. I even wrote M. Night a letter that I never mailed on how I got what he was trying to do and I how I admired the guts to go with his instincts.
Anyway, tangent aside, I appreciated the movie though I can’t say I loved it. I did like the soundtrack, composed by one of my favorites, James Newton Howard. I bought the soundtrack but never really embraced it since it has a magical aura in its themes that never worked with any of the stories I was writing.
I have quite the variety of music that I’m listening to as I’m writing my current novel. It’s another supernatural thriller, yet it’s not scary. It’s many things, to be honest. Lady In The Water fits certain parts.
Sometimes I’ll find an old soundtrack like this (or as I’m listening to the endless clips on iTunes) and the connection will be there.
Hey–maybe this doesn’t work for everybody. Perhaps you need complete silence to write.
For me, I have music help me make an emotional connection. It helps me get to a certain place I need to go. Often times I don’t start out even knowing what that place will be or what music I’ll need to get me there.
I have this soundtrack and have used it as well to write parts of my novels. Like you, I enjoyed Lady in the Water while many people around me didn't. The Happening however . . .
For my current book, I'm listening to the soundtrack for The Dark Knight. Very intense and (ha) dark.
Good stuff.
Hey James. I have the soundtrack for The Happening as well. That movie was something else. Love The Dark Knight and its score! Happy writing.
Have you heard of Ludovico Einaudi? He is a brilliant composer/pianist. If you've never heard of him, look him up on itunes. I think you'd like him.
I recently read and loved Ghostwriter. I just picked up Sky Blue and Isolation. You've earned yourself a new fan!
Wow–just listening and discovering Ludovico Einaudi. What an amazing talent. Thanks so much for recommending him. Awesome. And thanks for picking up those books. Hope you enjoy them as much as Ghostwriter!