Writing prompt #27: SOUNDTRACKING YOUR STORY
Hi Everyone,
Happy Summer! I’m glad to be back and look forward to more exchanges, prompts, literary news, and so on.
Today, I spent the morning listening to as many ‘outsider perspective’ songs as I could about Berlin in the 1970s-90s for a novel I’m working on. Among them: Lou Reed’s “Berlin” (1973), David Bowie’s “Heroes” (1977), U2’s “Zoo Station” (1991), and The Ramones’ “Born to Die in Berlin” (1995), which was the last song on their very last album.
What are your characters listening to? Or, what’s playing in the background of their lives whether they’re paying attention or not? How can music help your story conjure an era, a longing, a love affair, a specific tragedy? What lyrics have gotten stuck in your characters’ heads?
YOUR PROMPT: Create a soundtrack for one or more of your characters. Play the songs over and over until you and your character(s) metabolize them. Then work in a bit of the songs’ magic into your future drafts.
Enjoy! And please feel free to post playlists and how they’re linked to your work-in-progress.
Abrazos,
Cristina
PS: Don’t miss a single writing prompt. Subscribe today!
I don't yet have a soundtrack, but wanted to recommend two titles that excel in the soundtrack dept.: Shrug and Mary Jane. You'll come away singing!
The playlist that fueled the project I just finished includes, but isn't limited to:
50 Cent: 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin’'
Kendrick Lamar: ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’
Lil’ Kim: 'Hard Core’
Lil Wayne: 'Tha Carter III’
Outkast: 'ATLiens'
Notorious BIG: 'Ready to Die'
DMX: ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’
Outkast: 'Aquemini'
Kanye West: ‘The College Dropout’
I'm so looking forward to using this prompt on whatever I work on next!