Musical Inspiration by Amy Vastine

I am a huge music lover. Always have been. I was one of those teenagers with posters of every rockstar on her walls. I love a good rock song, bop along to the latest pop tune on the radio in the car, and still melt when I listen to a sweet ballad.
My first music crush
Music and lyrics have been fueling my daydreams since I was kid. I remember wanting to fall in love with a rockstar who would sing Journey's "Faithfully" to me on our wedding day. It's no wonder that the very first story I wrote was based on a song. The Counting Crow's "Anna Begins" was the title of the song and my story. The song tells the story of a guy who falls in love with his friend, Anna, but doesn't want to call it love because he believes everything will be ruined if he says the words. I absolutely love that song and created an entire backstory for the guy and crazy, drama-filled love story for him and his best friend/true love, Anna.


I tend to listen to music when I write. Maroon 5 has helped improve my mood when suffering from some terrible writer's block, and the song "Lunatic" by Andy Grammer was my theme song while writing The Weather Girl

Sometimes a song gives me an idea and sometimes I hear that perfect song that matches what I already have written down. I love creating a playlist for my stories. The Weather Girl didn't have any musical inspiration, but it does have its own soundtrack. Of course, there are lots of weather-related songs out there that make the cut simply because they have a weather theme. "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons.  I love, love, love "Rainy Zurich" by The Fray. But my favorite is "Brighter Than the Sun" by Colbie Caillat. It would definitely be Travis and Summer's song!


A good song can bring a scene to life in a writer's mind. It can set the tone for the book or create the perfect mood for writing in general. I am currently hooked on the song, "Say Something" by A Great Big World. It is the song for a new story I am getting ready to write. Every time I hear it, I picture a pivotal scene playing out like a movie in my head with this song playing in the background. It makes me that much more excited to write it!


Do you have a song that reminds you of a certain stories? Share your music inspirations with us!

Comments

  1. ZOMG don't even get me started on songs! I love this post sfm Amy. I always smile when I read your stories and even more so when I'm listening to the music that inspired a scene for you. The ones that remind me of mine are Mumford and Sons "Thistle and Weeds" and another good one was Florence and the Machine's "Shake it Out" - I don't know that I could write 1/2 the things I do with out music in my ears! : ) LOVE YOU! Thanks for the smiles this morning! xoxoxo

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    1. I love your playlists. You always find the perfect songs to go with whatever story you write!

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  2. I love listening to music when I write. It definitely sets the mood- especially when I'm writing YA. I played Bruno Mars' When I Was Your Man a gazillion times when I was writing through the 'black moment' in my last book! Great songs, btw :)

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    1. Oh, Bruno! I was stuck on "Locked Out of Heaven" for a long time. I can't wait to read the story that goes with "If I Was Your Man"!

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  3. I love music, too. For your book I kept waiting to read "It's raining men, hallelujah, it's raining men" which I believe is by the Weather Girls. Now I have to go look it up LOL

    I had a poster of Peter Frampton on my ceiling so I could look up at him in bed

    For a while my career goal was to be a backup singer for Bob Segar.

    I actually was in a band for a brief time. We did one carnival. I was second alto and basically sang All The Gold in California in this strange flat voice to help the leader singer

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    1. The Weather Girls did sing "It's Raining Men"! They always come up when I am searching the book title. It does not, however, fit this story. I love your singing story. I can't carry a tune or play an instrument to save my life, therefore I will always be the groupie instead of in the group!

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  4. Maybe editing is a more silent career than writing. I'm the one who freaks out if I can hear any kind of regular beat somewhere a mile away!

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    1. I'll even give you weirder, I can read while listening to music too. It flabbergasts my husband. The music is often more like white noise for me, it blocks out all those other distractions. I always did all my homework while blasting the radio. My parents loved that!

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  5. Amy, I love music and often listen to it while I write. I like really upbeat songs and those with a lot of drums. I don't think of them in terms of certain books. I like songs that don't repeat the same 5 words over and over.

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    1. I need a good beat, too, Roz. Sometimes it's what keeps me going!

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  6. Amy - your post is such an experience! As someone who hasn't a clue about what's out there musically, I so enjoyed it. It's wonderful proof that lyrics can be so profound. I noticed that almost more than the music. I work in absolute silence. I can't hear the voices in my head through music. When I'm cleaning my office, I listen to George Straight. (I know - even my contemporaries groan over that, but I love the lazy, love and loss lyrics.) I'm with you 100% on the Jon Bon Jovi poster, though.

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    1. Who doesn't love Jon Bon Jovi? He was the one rockstar even my mom thought was cute! I am glad I could keep you up to date on what's happening in the music world. I can't work in silence, it's actually more distracting to me! Funny how everyone is different.

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  7. I can't listen to music when I write, but I do still...er...react to Beatles' posters.

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    1. It seems like a split crowd - half need music and half can't listen to it and write. Interesting! I seriously go nuts if I try to work in silence. Then every noise the house makes or sound out my window distracts me. And the Beatles are an excellent choice ;)

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