Like many authors I only wish I could measure up to, I find lots of inspiration in music. And to aid me in this inspirational process, I have found a wonderful tool.
Here's how to do this: Register with the site (sorry, but yes, you have to register to make it work), then type in an artist or song that fits with what you feel in your head matches a character or a setting. It won't necessarily play that artist or song (in fact, it probably won't), but it will play something very much like it, and the idea here is ambiance. This isn't music for listening to, it's music to be inspired by while you concentrate on writing. After that, rename the station you created after the character or setting so that it's easy to switch to later. Find the button for "Create a New Station" and repeat process.
The only drawback is that you need to interact with it every once in a while. The idea of this service is that you tell the station that you do or do not like the songs it plays for you so that it can bring up more music that you probably will like and avoid music you probably won't like. If you don't, it will think you went to sleep or stepped away from the computer and it will stop playing music for you. Still, instead of asking if you like the song and answering accordingly, answer whether it fits the idea you assigned to the station. Place headphones on/in head, crank it up (or spin it down, wither way) and let the creativity flow.
Currently, I have two stations assigned to the concepts of my characters; one for the fourteen year old girl that was seeded with female techno artists, and one for the corporate mercenary that was seeded with apocalyptic post-rock instrumentals. The shaman is likely going to get some kind of techno-folk fusion, but I'll get to him later.
Just an idea.
----------
9,838 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 09 09
I heart pandora. That's where I listen when I write.
17,310 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 10 20
Sadly, we can't access it in Canada. (And if you're wondering why I am here, in the NOLA group, it is because I spend as much time there as I do here and feel it is more 'home' than my birth-place here in Canuck-land :)
But I do have an absolute need for a soundtrack while I write. Currently, I've been vibing on K;s Choice, Sia, and Muse but I have an entire music bank that I pilfer for inspiration.
Anyone in particular that gets your creative mojo flowing?
45,139 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 13 38
I just ripped all my paul simon and green day CD's to my computer... sooo worth the time.
37,849 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 21 18
Your story sounds interesting.
That's a great idea--I'm going sign up ASAP.
Would you like to do a write-in?
If so, please comment here:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3398323
Thanks so much.
Simone:)