So I've been working on a new "About Me" page for my author blog and for a new author website that I've been setting up, all in advance of RoboNomics becoming a featured story on Wattpad. And while I've written out my story, it has taken on a definite...hard-headed tone.
For some reason this made me think of the various Motivational playlists that I've shared with you in the past. And it also put me in mind of the very large blind spot that I intentionally had in sharing those playlists. That is, I didn't want to admit to listening to some of the most ridiculously corny songs when I need a motivational pick-me-up.
Maybe over-the-top songs about obtaining one's goals are required once you've decided to pursue a career in the arts. Reading, training, learning and practicing. Drafting and revising and line editing -- all of this takes time. So much time that it's hard to keep my 'eye on the prize'. And so once in awhile I have to indulge. I have to remind myself why I'm doing this. I need obvious lyrics and bad instrumentation to knock me over the head with my original intention.
This is how I build my own support system. In a world full of trolls and haters, I don't troll or hate back. I just listen to cheese-ball songs! :P
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Just for Fun Friday!
Currently loving on this song! :)
Maybe it's strange to feel this way about a song that so peppy, but I just love it. I love it for reasons of self-reflection: that reminder that I need sometimes of refining (and self-defining) what the "Good Life" entails. Does having "Mountains of Things" really mean that you have a good life? Are expensive consumer goods like cars and gold watches and diamonds, etc., just a way to distract me with bright, shiny objects from actually finding real fulfillment?
To heavy for a blog about inspiring music for writers? Bah! It got me to write about this questions, didn't it? :P
Maybe it's strange to feel this way about a song that so peppy, but I just love it. I love it for reasons of self-reflection: that reminder that I need sometimes of refining (and self-defining) what the "Good Life" entails. Does having "Mountains of Things" really mean that you have a good life? Are expensive consumer goods like cars and gold watches and diamonds, etc., just a way to distract me with bright, shiny objects from actually finding real fulfillment?
To heavy for a blog about inspiring music for writers? Bah! It got me to write about this questions, didn't it? :P
Friday, July 4, 2014
Just for Fun Friday
Well, despite my cold getting worse (ugh, summer colds. Be gone, illness!), I'm pulling a Proust. So I've got a Just for Fun Friday for you. Another musical friend from years returns:
It was probably a pal in undergrad who first introduced me to Meshell Ndegeocello. Or maybe it was Audiogalaxy. Anyone remember that? Anyways, her music is unlike anything I've heard before or since. Amazing, inspirational, what else is there to say? Okay, time to take care of myself. Also known as, sleep time!! :P
It was probably a pal in undergrad who first introduced me to Meshell Ndegeocello. Or maybe it was Audiogalaxy. Anyone remember that? Anyways, her music is unlike anything I've heard before or since. Amazing, inspirational, what else is there to say? Okay, time to take care of myself. Also known as, sleep time!! :P
Friday, June 27, 2014
Just for Fun Friday
I was sitting in my car the other day, waiting on my love who was running on errand. I turned on the radio to this song and instantly loved it. I Shazamed it and found out the track heralds the return of my old dear friends, Silversun Pickups. Wheeee!
So good. So happy. :)
I also love when I find bands that seem to evolve with me. When I first heard "Lazy Eye", I was obsessed with it. But I don't listen to that song much these days because I'm not in that emotional place anymore. But "Cannibal" just so corresponds with where my head is these days, I'm pretty sure it's going to become my new obsession.
So good. So happy. :)
I also love when I find bands that seem to evolve with me. When I first heard "Lazy Eye", I was obsessed with it. But I don't listen to that song much these days because I'm not in that emotional place anymore. But "Cannibal" just so corresponds with where my head is these days, I'm pretty sure it's going to become my new obsession.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Music for Journeying
Having recently completed a move that included a journey across part of this continent, I thought I'd focus on songs that make me think of journeying.
There have always been stories of traveling in all world literature. And much has been written about how journey stories are metaphors for a human's journey through life -- traveling from major life event to major life event rather than from place to place. I, for one, have yet to write my own big journey story that I have on my back burner. But in my life, I've always moved around. In 33 years I've lived in 9 different places. I haven't seen much of the world, but I have seen much of this continent we call America of the North.
So it might not be surprising that I am inspired by songs about traveling that have a definite folksy-country vibe. Here are just a few of these songs, starting where I started this journey: in the Wilderness of Manitoba.
And then of course there's Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" which is like a musical North American travel bingo. Of course, this move we crossed only a few of the places in the first verse off the list! Two provinces: Manitoba and Ontario. Six states: North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. And we passed through numerous cities: Winnipeg, Grand Forks, Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Baraboo, Madison, Chicago, Flint, Sarnia, London and Toronto. It was a long trip.
But I've realized that this enjoyment in travel, or rather, in moving from place to place is not a joy shared by many. I'm a rare breed: someone who likes moving. I've noticed that there are a couple members of my extended family who have that wanderlust, but beyond our family I don't know too many people who actually like the prospect of moving every few years. But it's something that has marked my adult life. The last time I lived in one place for a long time was between the ages of 3 and 17. Since then, I haven't lived in a city for longer than 3 years at a time.
So I've thrown in a few rambler anthems into this mix. If you're going to write a journey story, I hope you find that these songs give you some inspiration!
Also, be sure to enjoy the video for "Hopeless Wanderer." That one took me by surprise with its silly secret. :)
There have always been stories of traveling in all world literature. And much has been written about how journey stories are metaphors for a human's journey through life -- traveling from major life event to major life event rather than from place to place. I, for one, have yet to write my own big journey story that I have on my back burner. But in my life, I've always moved around. In 33 years I've lived in 9 different places. I haven't seen much of the world, but I have seen much of this continent we call America of the North.
So it might not be surprising that I am inspired by songs about traveling that have a definite folksy-country vibe. Here are just a few of these songs, starting where I started this journey: in the Wilderness of Manitoba.
And then of course there's Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" which is like a musical North American travel bingo. Of course, this move we crossed only a few of the places in the first verse off the list! Two provinces: Manitoba and Ontario. Six states: North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. And we passed through numerous cities: Winnipeg, Grand Forks, Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Baraboo, Madison, Chicago, Flint, Sarnia, London and Toronto. It was a long trip.
But I've realized that this enjoyment in travel, or rather, in moving from place to place is not a joy shared by many. I'm a rare breed: someone who likes moving. I've noticed that there are a couple members of my extended family who have that wanderlust, but beyond our family I don't know too many people who actually like the prospect of moving every few years. But it's something that has marked my adult life. The last time I lived in one place for a long time was between the ages of 3 and 17. Since then, I haven't lived in a city for longer than 3 years at a time.
So I've thrown in a few rambler anthems into this mix. If you're going to write a journey story, I hope you find that these songs give you some inspiration!
Also, be sure to enjoy the video for "Hopeless Wanderer." That one took me by surprise with its silly secret. :)
Friday, May 16, 2014
Just for Fun Friday
Hey kids! This week, I'm posting a super hit. Why? Because this song totally gets me super nostalgic.
I wasn't going to post the official video. Sometimes I'll avoid posting the official music videos if I think they are boring or just don't really adequately capture the spirit of the song. And in this video, there is definitely a lot to be bored about. Namely, random chicks with lingerie stuck in their butt cracks.
****TANGENT ALERT****
On the topic, I've never been quite sure why naked or half naked chicks is still in 2014 seen as edgy or pushing the envelope. Do you know how many naked chicks I've seen in music videos, in movies, on TV, on the internets in my lifetime without having sought those images out? Even time they cut to a scene of some girl in her undies, my vision actually blurred from the deep ennui I felt. BORING!!!!!
****TANGENT OVER****
However, I had to post this video. Because the particular summer that it reminds me of -- back when I was 21 ( don't ask me what year that was -- let's just tell you it was this millennium at least) -- one of the friends I went around with actually raced cars in his spare time. So on top of the song reminding me of that summer, parts of the video do as well.
It was a summer to remember. Of summer of dance clubs every weekend, of cottage parties, of unending parties. Sure, some really messed up stuff happened that summer. A couple things to me, but mostly really weird stuff around me. But more than the things that happened, it was the feeling of that summer. A long, hot summer between years of ungrad. Hasn't my entire life from that point to this been just an endeavor to recapture that feeling?
I wasn't going to post the official video. Sometimes I'll avoid posting the official music videos if I think they are boring or just don't really adequately capture the spirit of the song. And in this video, there is definitely a lot to be bored about. Namely, random chicks with lingerie stuck in their butt cracks.
****TANGENT ALERT****
On the topic, I've never been quite sure why naked or half naked chicks is still in 2014 seen as edgy or pushing the envelope. Do you know how many naked chicks I've seen in music videos, in movies, on TV, on the internets in my lifetime without having sought those images out? Even time they cut to a scene of some girl in her undies, my vision actually blurred from the deep ennui I felt. BORING!!!!!
****TANGENT OVER****
However, I had to post this video. Because the particular summer that it reminds me of -- back when I was 21 ( don't ask me what year that was -- let's just tell you it was this millennium at least) -- one of the friends I went around with actually raced cars in his spare time. So on top of the song reminding me of that summer, parts of the video do as well.
It was a summer to remember. Of summer of dance clubs every weekend, of cottage parties, of unending parties. Sure, some really messed up stuff happened that summer. A couple things to me, but mostly really weird stuff around me. But more than the things that happened, it was the feeling of that summer. A long, hot summer between years of ungrad. Hasn't my entire life from that point to this been just an endeavor to recapture that feeling?
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
RoboNomics Book II Soundtrack
Hey all! As promised, I've put together a soundtrack for RoboNomics Book II over the past couple weeks. From my perspective, it's as though you can trace the broad outline of the plot through these tracks. That's probably impossible, however. You will have no way of knowing what's going to happen in the story from just listening to this music.
However, might a fun exercise to try and guess! :)
At least it's not as long as the RoboNomics Book I soundtrack! Hope you enjoy it!
However, might a fun exercise to try and guess! :)
At least it's not as long as the RoboNomics Book I soundtrack! Hope you enjoy it!
Friday, May 9, 2014
Just for Fun Friday!
I've recently discovered St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Feel-good-down-to-your-soul music.
Sooooo good. Loves it. Happy Friday!
Sooooo good. Loves it. Happy Friday!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
RoboNomics Book I Soundtrack
So, RoboNomics Book I is complete! At least, it is completely posted up on Wattpad now, entered into the Wattpad Prize, and as I just found out, has made it onto one of Wattpad's reading lists. The list is entitled "Time and Eternity". So cool. When they sent me the email explaining that the book is on the list, they said that they 'love' my story! Yay! :)
Before I leave the story, at last, to the care of the world, and start work on RoboNomics Book II, I would like to give it a good send off. And so, I've compiled the very best and most inspirational tracks from all of my previously 'Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter..." playlists into a master list.
And so, here it is kids, RoboNomics the Soundtrack. A massive list of the music I listened to while imagining the plot, coming up with character foibles, and revising -- the endless revising that I put into RoboNomics Book I.
Stay tuned for another little goodie next week...
Oh, I can't not tell you! I'm planning on releasing a preliminary music taste of Book II in the form of a RoboNomics Book II Soundtrack! Can't wait! :)
Before I leave the story, at last, to the care of the world, and start work on RoboNomics Book II, I would like to give it a good send off. And so, I've compiled the very best and most inspirational tracks from all of my previously 'Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter..." playlists into a master list.
And so, here it is kids, RoboNomics the Soundtrack. A massive list of the music I listened to while imagining the plot, coming up with character foibles, and revising -- the endless revising that I put into RoboNomics Book I.
Stay tuned for another little goodie next week...
Oh, I can't not tell you! I'm planning on releasing a preliminary music taste of Book II in the form of a RoboNomics Book II Soundtrack! Can't wait! :)
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter 16!
Hey everyone! A little late in the week, I know. But it's a busy one. And now I have the last RoboNomics Book I inspiration playlist until I start posting RoboNomics Book II on September 1.
In the meantime, here's the inspiration playlist for Chapter 16. Remember to check out the story on Wattpad this coming Monday, April 28th at midnight EDT. Can't wait!
In the meantime, here's the inspiration playlist for Chapter 16. Remember to check out the story on Wattpad this coming Monday, April 28th at midnight EDT. Can't wait!
Friday, April 18, 2014
Just for Fun (good) Friday!
Hey! Do people have today off in North America? Europe? What's going on, is it a long weekend? Working from home means that you don't know these things. Plus I'm not exactly a Churchy Joe so Easter always seems to creep up on me and take me by surprise.
It's like: oh, it's April. Past my birthday, just sitting here waiting for May and summer...do da do da do...
AHHHH!!! Long weekend? What do you mean it's a long weekend?????
Oh well. We'll celebrate in our own way, shall we? With a visit from my sister (so excited!!!!), cheap chocolate bunnies after the fact, and a song:
So peppy and fun! Although the video ends up being a bit...ummm...of a downer? :P
It's like: oh, it's April. Past my birthday, just sitting here waiting for May and summer...do da do da do...
AHHHH!!! Long weekend? What do you mean it's a long weekend?????
Oh well. We'll celebrate in our own way, shall we? With a visit from my sister (so excited!!!!), cheap chocolate bunnies after the fact, and a song:
So peppy and fun! Although the video ends up being a bit...ummm...of a downer? :P
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter 15
Man, what a week this has been. So busy -- no time for blog posts. Okay, I had some time yesterday but after I wrote a post my piece of crap computer lost the whole thing. I was too tired to rewrite it. So never mind that. Onto the fun stuff!
The playlist of tracks that inspired the penultimate chapter of RoboNomics Book I!
In chapter 15, crazy exciting stuff happens to Andrea, our heroine. I actually did quite a bit of revising to the chapter this week -- so it's going to be a lot of brand spanking new material! Fancy that.
When we had last left Andrea, she had just lost Austin in the crowd in front of Toronto's Economic Relief Center. When chapter 15 opens, Elizabeth is trying to convince her friend to leave the place. But can Andrea trust Elizabeth, now that her former friend has joined Chris and his Anti-Robotists? And what happened to Austin?
Can't say too much about the plot of Chapter 15 without giving too much away. I guess you'll just have to head on over to Wattpad on Monday, April 21 at midnight EDT to find out!!!! :P
The playlist of tracks that inspired the penultimate chapter of RoboNomics Book I!
In chapter 15, crazy exciting stuff happens to Andrea, our heroine. I actually did quite a bit of revising to the chapter this week -- so it's going to be a lot of brand spanking new material! Fancy that.
When we had last left Andrea, she had just lost Austin in the crowd in front of Toronto's Economic Relief Center. When chapter 15 opens, Elizabeth is trying to convince her friend to leave the place. But can Andrea trust Elizabeth, now that her former friend has joined Chris and his Anti-Robotists? And what happened to Austin?
Can't say too much about the plot of Chapter 15 without giving too much away. I guess you'll just have to head on over to Wattpad on Monday, April 21 at midnight EDT to find out!!!! :P
Friday, April 11, 2014
Just for Fun Friday!
Okay, okay. I know. This song was part of yesterday's post: music that inspired RoboNomics Chapter 14. But this track has been stuck in my head for ages. And it's awesome.
Isn't that what fun Fridays are all about? Tracks that I just can't get off my mind!!
Isn't that what fun Fridays are all about? Tracks that I just can't get off my mind!!
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter 14
Hey everybody! Another week, another chapter, another playlist! I am very proud of the playlist this week. I feel like it's almost an encapsulation of the entire RoboNomics Book I story in five songs.
RoboNomics Chapter 14 comes out, funnily enough, on Monday, April 14 at midnight EDT. In this chapter, things for Andrea and Austin go from bad to worse to worst. However, just when our favorite couple along with all the other citizens of Toronto are ready to give up hope, the government swoops in acting as hero and opens "Economic Relief Distribution Centers." There's only one problem: the centers rely heavily on robots. Is another clash with frustrated, desperate citizens inevitable?
You'll have to read Chapter 14 on Wattpad to find out!! ;)
In the meantime, enjoy the tunage:
RoboNomics Chapter 14 comes out, funnily enough, on Monday, April 14 at midnight EDT. In this chapter, things for Andrea and Austin go from bad to worse to worst. However, just when our favorite couple along with all the other citizens of Toronto are ready to give up hope, the government swoops in acting as hero and opens "Economic Relief Distribution Centers." There's only one problem: the centers rely heavily on robots. Is another clash with frustrated, desperate citizens inevitable?
You'll have to read Chapter 14 on Wattpad to find out!! ;)
In the meantime, enjoy the tunage:
Friday, April 4, 2014
Just for Fun Friday!
Since I am still going through my music collection, I thought I'd indulge your patience and make this Friday about that as well. Yesterday I came across a certain song that I have just about a million versions of, and I just can't get it out of head today:
Must get out of my head!!
Must get out of my head!!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter 13
Hey everyone! So Monday, April 7 is the release date for RoboNomics Chapter 13!
After all the high-stakes drama that happened in chapters 10 through 12, this chapter is a step-back that deals with the aftermath. In Toronto, the city is dealing with the aftermath of the Queen's Park riot. After it's been decided to abolish obsolete labor unions in Ontario, the citizens are feeling abandoned and desperate. Meanwhile, Andrea has to deal with the aftermath of what happened between her and Chris. Not only does she have to worry about what he'll do with the incriminating information he has about her, but she also has to worry about her worsening financial situation.
What's going to happen to Andrea? Is she going to lose her freedom, her husband, the entire life that she's constructed for herself?
Don't forget to check out RoboNomics on Wattpad this coming Monday to find out! :)
After all the high-stakes drama that happened in chapters 10 through 12, this chapter is a step-back that deals with the aftermath. In Toronto, the city is dealing with the aftermath of the Queen's Park riot. After it's been decided to abolish obsolete labor unions in Ontario, the citizens are feeling abandoned and desperate. Meanwhile, Andrea has to deal with the aftermath of what happened between her and Chris. Not only does she have to worry about what he'll do with the incriminating information he has about her, but she also has to worry about her worsening financial situation.
What's going to happen to Andrea? Is she going to lose her freedom, her husband, the entire life that she's constructed for herself?
Don't forget to check out RoboNomics on Wattpad this coming Monday to find out! :)
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Spring Cleaning! (Musical Version)
So the spring cleaning this week continues. I'm just going to flat out ignore the fact that it's April 1st, since I fail at pranks.
Instead, I'll tell you about what I've been up to this week. Cleaning out my laptop for the first time since I bought it (which was early 2009) including my massive music collection. When I began the other day, I had 36 days (yes, you read that right) of MP3s. Now I've got it down under 34 days, but I've only gone through the numbered titles, and then all the way (backwards) from titles starting with Z to part way through S.
And I've uncovered some gems. Like this number, which my parents used to sing when I was little (my father especially used to sing any song about food including 'yes, we have no bananas' and 'when the moon's in the sky like a big pizza pie'). But I had forgotten about:
I'll have to let you know what else I uncover. In the meantime, how about you? Are you thinking of downsizing your music collection? I have to admit that since the advent of Songza and other streaming music apps, I am feeling less and less attached to having a digital collection of my own music. When I was younger I certainly used to horde digital music files. Now I just don't care. :P
Instead, I'll tell you about what I've been up to this week. Cleaning out my laptop for the first time since I bought it (which was early 2009) including my massive music collection. When I began the other day, I had 36 days (yes, you read that right) of MP3s. Now I've got it down under 34 days, but I've only gone through the numbered titles, and then all the way (backwards) from titles starting with Z to part way through S.
And I've uncovered some gems. Like this number, which my parents used to sing when I was little (my father especially used to sing any song about food including 'yes, we have no bananas' and 'when the moon's in the sky like a big pizza pie'). But I had forgotten about:
I'll have to let you know what else I uncover. In the meantime, how about you? Are you thinking of downsizing your music collection? I have to admit that since the advent of Songza and other streaming music apps, I am feeling less and less attached to having a digital collection of my own music. When I was younger I certainly used to horde digital music files. Now I just don't care. :P
Friday, March 28, 2014
Just For Fun Friday!
At any rate, every time I listen to it I feel inspired to write a poem...or something short but witty.
And because I'm a music nerd, I've included two versions:
So fun! Have a great weekend!
So fun! Have a great weekend!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Music that Inspired RoboNomics Chapter 12
Well, here it is: the music that inspired RoboNomics' next chapter.
Chapter 12 is a small chapter, but by no means lacking in action and excitement. There's a big reveal, so I don't know that I want to say much more about the chapter other than that. Instead, I'll let the music do the talking:
Hope you enjoy it! And don't forget, RoboNomics Chapter 12 comes out on Wattpad this Monday, March 31 at midnight EDT! Can't wait for you to read it! :)
Chapter 12 is a small chapter, but by no means lacking in action and excitement. There's a big reveal, so I don't know that I want to say much more about the chapter other than that. Instead, I'll let the music do the talking:
Hope you enjoy it! And don't forget, RoboNomics Chapter 12 comes out on Wattpad this Monday, March 31 at midnight EDT! Can't wait for you to read it! :)
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Literature Inspires Music Inspires...
This blog, so far, has been about songs that are inspiring for writers in general, writers of fiction more specifically, and me in particular.
But there are quite a lot of songs out there that have been inspired by literature. From epic fantasy or Western canon novels to poems to characters, these are just a few of my favourite songs that have been inspired by literary works:
And of course, in a full circle manner, I have to admit that I find some of these songs inspiring in their own right. The great thing about human creation, human specificity of situation and the human brain is that each and every one of these creations can inspire us all in different ways: calling up different memories and different associations, rearranging and melting together until something new, and sometimes unexpected, comes to light and reveals itself as a piece of art.
But there are quite a lot of songs out there that have been inspired by literature. From epic fantasy or Western canon novels to poems to characters, these are just a few of my favourite songs that have been inspired by literary works:
And of course, in a full circle manner, I have to admit that I find some of these songs inspiring in their own right. The great thing about human creation, human specificity of situation and the human brain is that each and every one of these creations can inspire us all in different ways: calling up different memories and different associations, rearranging and melting together until something new, and sometimes unexpected, comes to light and reveals itself as a piece of art.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)