Let Your Story Move to the Music

Generally speaking—and maybe stereotypically, writing is interweaving letters as well as punctuations to create something that conveys writer’s ideas and also viewpoints on those particular matters. It is challenging for a storyteller to conceptualise our thoughts and subsequently convert them into forms of writing. 

Internal Interactions

On one hand, the ideas are so important when one starts writing, as Pitch recently discussed this issue. Meanwhile, many elements of fiction such as character, plot, setting, point of view, theme, and so on are also crucial as all of them integrate and also intensify the story.

To keep your eyes on the alphabet trains of words and then visualise pictures in your mind, sight is not the only mean people appeal to, but also other senses: smell, hearing, touch, and taste—in terms of internal interactions. For instance, in these scenes when:

• A mother of a protagonist sniffs at a mushroom soup she is cooking for her family for a dinner
• The author depicts a party scene where people are packed and dancing along with EDM playlists
• A character feels his pain as he is stabbed in a stomach by a thief on his way home after going to the supermarket

Thus, the way you put every element into your work to let them interact with the reader’s senses is one of the major tasks writers need to consider. In this blog, I will let you guys take a look at this sense of hearing through the music.

Like Music Videos & Films

Like music videos and films, writing is another form of storytelling. In the first two, we can physically ‘see’ and ‘hear’ what is going on—even Easter eggs ones. However, by writing, you only have what is ever written and sometimes pictures as the instruments.

So, how could you make the most of your writing to play with the readers?

I would say that music, one way or another, can enhance the way people experience your works—not physically, but mentally or internally.

But how?

It is straightforward. You don’t have to compose anything. Just by taking the music as an allusion, like a soundtrack or another instrument in a fiction. You can incorporate a song(s) with the narration to set the mood and tone of the particular scene. Below are some examples.

Veeraporn Nitiprapha’s The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth is an exquisite example of how a writer applies music to amplify the story. The collections of classical music and some legendary hits she put into her debut work intensely convey several vibes and sensations of the characters throughout the novel. (I do really love this book. I even highlighted song titles in each chapter—even if it has a bibliography of the music at the end of the novel—and listened to the playlist.)

In a much easier way, you can just mention the song your protagonist or any other characters are listening to. Like clothes you are wearing, stuff you buy in supermarkets, the food you are having, film genre you are watching, etc, that kind of song you are listening to can more or less indicate their characteristics. So, rather than telling or showing what your character is like, you can do that by referring to what he or she is listening to.

In David Levithan’s and Rachel Cohn’s Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, which was later adapted into a film, the music tastes of the two protagonists play a significant role in bringing about development in the story as they are the only things they share in common.

Another novel that music is blended into the story is Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Charlie, the protagonist, is so passionate when it comes to music and books. As of the time when cassette tapes and pieces of vinyl were still popular, he recorded many songs as well as gave a piece of vinyl of The Beatles’ Something to Sam, (his crush) one of his close friends. It could be said that the music mentioned in this novel has a great impact on many characters, especially Charlie as it represents and is associated with his experiences.

Put the Right Song on the Right Scene

Okay. Now, let’s get that idea into practice.

Suppose I am writing a scene in which my two teenagers are struggling to find an answer for their existential ennui, I might start with…

After Apple Maps suggested we should turn left, Phil and I decided to take a shortcut, so we could arrive in the town before midnight. The road was blackened and covered with a mist like The Mist. There was no such traffic light or any car around us even if it was just half-past ten at night. Our high beams from Phil’s dad’s old black Cadillac were the only light we had.

“Your dad’s gonna kill me for sure. It’s his favourite,” I said after Phil gave me his dad’s car key. He stole it the last time we had dinner at his house. What was even more terrible than this was that we both had no driving licence as we were just seventeen.

“Are you sure this map is gonna take us to the right way?” Phil asked while searching for a radio station. But there was a mere, perpetual noise coming out.

Honestly, I did not know how accurate this navigator was and whether it could finally lead us to the destination or not.

“I still doubt it.” I did. I was like…could I really trust it? Actually, in an unfamiliar situation like this, I still did not even trust myself as well.

“How freaky it is…,” still, he was searching for the radio station. It was difficult to grasp what he was saying. “…only a couple on this road. Like…how scary it is.”

“Exactly!”

“Here we go!” He finally found the station.

I could partially recognise the melody, but it was on the tip of my tongue “Whose song is that, though?” I began to shake my head during the song

“It’s Lorde.” He replied. “Called Perfect Places” The song was still circulating within us and this vehicle. “What the fuck are perfect places anyway?” I was not sure whether it was the lyrics or what he just thought but did not dare to ask.

He repeated this same line. In front of us, around three hundred metres away, was a tunnel with orange light. At least, we got another illumination. I determined to speed up this Cadillac with the lyrics stuck into my head.

Your Story, Your Choice

How was it? Actually, I believe there are myriad songs that could be put in the above scene. Furthermore, there are still many chances you could choose a song(s) for your fictional works. I do hope my advice would, more or less, help polish your writing. I look forward to reading your works. And if you have other interesting ideas concerning this, please feel free to share your thoughts.