you always written / worked to music?
Honestly, the iPod was the best invention ever, because before that I had to
make mix tapes and/or CDs and use them for playlists. So yes, I have always
used music while writing.
Do
you sing along with the lyrics when you are writing?
And sometimes I dance.
Do
you have playlists for certain types of writing?
necessarily for different types of writing, but definitely a different playlist
for each book. The songs can be pertinent or somehow relating to the book or
just what I happen to be into listening to at the time, but what’s so crazy is
that when I look back at what songs are on old playlists, I can really sink
back into how it felt when I was writing that book.
How
does music influence you? Is it a way to block distractions, or do you think
that the mood created by lyrics / music enables you to get where you need to be
emotionally for what you are writing?
If I’m trying to write in a public space (which I had to do a LOT when my kids
were smaller and I’d write in a coffee shop or the playground or whatever) the
music definitely is used to block out the distractions. But also, when I put on
something sad or happy or ethereal it really gets me into the spirit of the
book. I have a long playlist of songs that stab me in the heart, and I listen
to them to get where I need to be for the writing, because fortunately my
default emotional setting is not woebegone angstmonster. So I have to find a way
to dig into that, and music helps.
Have
you ever written lyrics, or considered writing songs?
read or write music, so it’s really not very productive! I wrote a song for a
story that will be out some time in 2015 and someone did write music for it,
which was amazing.
Do
you listen to different types of music when you are editing versus first draft?
really. Pretty much the same throughout.
Do
you listen to the same playlist each time you work on a project?
usually.
Does
the music suggest the story, or does the story come you and then the music?
comes first, then I find the music that fits. There have been a few times when
a song inspired something, or lyrics have prompted a scene, but usually the
music is backdrop.
What
of music do you detest?
I hate jazz so much. Jazz makes me want to stab out my ears. Modern jazz, I
guess, all the boopdeleeboopedeedoo whatever. Once I went to a modern jazz band
with my husband and I wanted to both die and kill everyone in the room at the
same time, that’s how much I hate it.
your favorite?
a harder question to answer. I love such a wide range. I love classical, pop,
hip hop, rock, hard rock, heavy metal…really, I love almost everything (except
modern jazz.)As a writer this is what I have learned reading Megan Hart:
locations.
dialogue.
extraordinary when they reach the tipping point.
them, not just the villains.
simple, don’t be afraid to show exactly how complicated they are.
social class conflict and social expectations, show just how deep and ugly they
can be.
Wild is out now: You can purchase the book here or your favorite independent book store
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