Clinton D. Harding - Fantasy Author

Author of young adult fantasy and science fiction

  • Blog
  • Articles
  • Clinton’s Works
    • Our Monsters Chronicles
      • “Our Monsters” (Our Monsters Chronicles #1)
      • “Bad Monsters” (Our Monsters Chronicles #2)
    • Conduits – A Weekly Series
      • Conduits
  • About Clinton

Musings | Setting the Mood

April 21, 2013 By Clinton Leave a Comment

Share

I hate silence when writing. When I write I need noise. Nonsensical background noise is best. Classical music. A little techno. Film scores even. You can say I create a unique soundtrack for the novels I’m working through. The rhythm and beats of the songs help the story to flow from my fingertips, almost like I’m in a trance. That trance keeps me from thinking too much and allows me to ride the flows, the weaves of the story. I can worry about cleaning up the spelling, the grammar, doing the touch ups after the first draft is complete. Do the specific songs influence the narrative? I’m not sure. Maybe.

Reading I do the same thing. There are moments when reading a novel that music plays in my head. Nothing that distracts, the opposite really. The music compliments the emotions in a scene… just like in a movie. Certain tracks in a film  take the audience to highs when the action is ratcheted up and the blood is pumping, these the are fast tempos, the percussion, the deep boom of the drums. Then you have the eerie string music, the warble that pulls the emotional strings tight bringing you to that moment, when you’re at the edge of your seat, seconds before the killer strikes or the monster pounces. Slower pieces bring the audience down to dark basements, no emotional lows, tugging at the heart string ever… so… gently. These film soundtracks/scores are available to all as readily as the films themselves, another way to relive those emotional highs, lows, thrills.

What it not be awesome if novels came with soundtracks? It is the one thing missing in the reading experience. Our minds project the scenes, we see the characters and the action play out with the biggest effects budgets Hollywood would never invest in. Many readers go as far as to cast the characters with familiar faces–actors and actresses, family and friends. What’s missing from this budget-unlimited production is the music. The book score.

One day I want to find a way to offer soundtracks with my books. Certain scenes could have a special note to indicate when a track can be played by the reader. Once the novel is completely read, replaying the music would take the reader back to those particular moments.

I for one would enjoy listening to music my favorite pick to enhance and represent scenes in their stories. To relive those moments would be amazing.

What do you think?

Filed Under: Musings, The Craft Tagged With: Reading, Soundtracks, Writing

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Free Short Stories from Clint

Merit Badges – a short story from the Our Monsters series

Three high school teens in the woods on a Friday night… some beers… skaters with a grudge… what could go wrong? Add in a couple of genetically created … Read More...

That Little Girl

A dark short story about one man’s oversight concerning his death.  Since dying was just not part of his daily routine, the man just went on with his … Read More...

Follow Me

Follow Me on FacebookFollow Me on Google+Follow Me on TwitterFollow Me on RSSFollow Me on Goodreads

Want to know what I’m reading?

Clinton's Bookshelf: Currently-Reading

Kinslayer
Kinslayer
by Jay Kristoff
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
by Robert Jordan

goodreads.com

What have I recently read?

Clinton's Bookshelf: Recently Read

Steelheart
5 of 5 stars
Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson
The King's Blood
5 of 5 stars
The King's Blood
by Daniel Abraham
The Last Stormdancer
5 of 5 stars
The Last Stormdancer
by Jay Kristoff
All Our Yesterdays
5 of 5 stars
All Our Yesterdays
by Cristin Terrill
The Fall of Five
4 of 5 stars
The Fall of Five
by Pittacus Lore

goodreads.com

Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2023 Clinton D. Harding