NaNoWriMo Series: Writing Tip #27

I'm a huge music lover, so I have many different playlists on Spotify to suit all of my various writing moods. Sometimes I'll become obsessed with just one album and other times I just click one song in a playlist with 1,000 songs in it and hit shuffle. Just like creating a vision board can give you a visual representation, music can give you a deeper meaning to each scene. When I was at the peak of my fanfiction writing, there was a specific story that would have a song in almost every scene. The song would fit the mood and move along the overall arc of the story. Why do you think musicals are a fan favorite? Nothing beats a song that matches the mood perfectly.

This doesn't mean that you have to incorporate the song into the story, although you totally can. I'm thinking along the lines of setting the mood for yourself as a writer. When I'm writing a love scene, I play music that makes my heart swell and the sappiness just drips out of my fingers. Think of it as a soundtrack to your story. Ask yourself some of these questions to dig deeper into how you can use this fantastic tool:

1. What kind of vibe are you trying to go for in your story?

2. What song reminds you of your favorite part of your story?

3. What song depicts your main character?

4. If you could make a soundtrack of songs that depicted one song per main plot point, what would the lineup look like?

If you want to learn more NaNoWriMo tips, check out the 30 Days of Tips that will unfold this month. Can't wait? Then check out my mini-course on The Basics of Storytelling that's available for $1. I look forward to seeing you in whatever form I appear. Until next time.

About the Author

Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.