posted on April 6, 2021 by Maddison Michaels

Music and writing by Maddison Michaels – GIVEAWAY – $10 Amazon Gift Card

For me, music goes hand in hand with my writing, and is an essential component during each stage of my writing process. From the get go, even before I start plotting my novel, I firstly have to arrange a ‘playlist’ of songs that will inspire me when plotting and which I can then play aloud while I’m writing my book. I generally have one or two ‘theme’ songs (with vocals) that resonate with me as a representation of the book’s overall theme – most of the time these come from various movie soundtracks. Then once I’ve worked out which ‘theme’ song/s are the perfect fit for my story, I can then work out some other accompanying instrumental songs for my playlist.

Armed with my playlist I then set to work in plotting out the story (yep, I’m definitely a plotter), while constantly listening to my playlist over and over again. Most of the songs will spark ideas for scenes in my novel, which is so much fun. Then, when it comes time to actually writing my story, as soon as I listen to my playlist, I immediately get into what I call, my story zone. So in a way, by firstly creating my music playlist and then playing it while I plot out my book, I ’m essentially training my brain that it’s story creation time whenever I hear the playlist.

With my current novel I’m working on (edits on book 1 THE BACHELOR BARGAIN in a new series, ‘Secrets, Scandals and Spies’) I have about 20 different songs in the playlist,  with two main ‘theme’ songs that I felt best represented some of the themes and characters in my story. The first main theme song was ‘Rewrite the Stars’ sung by Zac Efrona dn Zendaya from the soundtrack of the movie The Greatest Showman (omg so many wonderful songs in that movie). The second song was ‘This is me’ sung by Keala Settle and also from The Greatest Showman soundtrack. Both songs really resonated with the forbidden love that my heroine Olivia and hero Sebastian experienced, as both were from two different worlds, with an expectation from society that they could never be together. In particular, though, the song ‘This is me’, really represented Livie’s journey, and how she’d always felt out of place and different from others in society, but that she was reclaiming her power and declaring that no matter the impediment she was who she was, and the song ‘This is me’ really reflect that, so it was just perfect for her story! Even now, every time I hear that song, I’m transported straight back to Livie and Seb’s story, and I happily remember how much fun I had writing it.

Here are some of the words of the song ‘This is me’:

I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts
I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one’ll love you as you are

But I won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come

And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

And here’s a pic of just the start of my music playlist (there’s 48 songs on it, so way to long to screenshot, lol):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, hope you’ve enjoyed my musings on music and writing. One person who comments will win a gift card. Take care!

Cheers,
Maddison

_________________________________

Constance Campbell, the Duchess of Kilmaine, once believed that all she needed in life was a duke. But everything unraveled when she realized her perfect husband was a perfect monster. Now broken beyond repair, she hides her misery behind a perfect Society mask…even from her childhood friend, Alec.

Dr. Alec McGuinness reluctantly finds himself back in Scotland, and checking up on the only woman to ever get under his skin, Connie. After she spurned him many years ago, he knows his humble life as a doctor could never be enough for her. But when the Duke of Kilmaine is murdered in cold blood, with Connie sleeping right next to him in bed, Alec knows he must protect Connie at all costs from those who would frame her for the duke’s murder.

Now on the run, Connie feels a freedom she only ever dreamed about before, and an unexpected attraction to the man who is keeping her safe. But even if they can win her freedom and clear her name, could she ever open her heart up to someone again?

Each book in the Saints & Scoundrels series is STANDALONE: * The Devilish Duke * The Elusive Earl * The Sinful Scot

Maddison Michaels

Maddison Michaels

Indoctrinated into a world of dashing rogues and feisty heroines when she was fourteen years old, Maddison Michaels is a prolific reader and writer of romantic suspense and historical fiction. She gets her daily dose of suspense from working as a police officer, prosecuting real-life villains in the Courts of Australia. A member of the RWA and RWA Australia, Maddison is as passionate about her writing as she is about her other two loves: her family and her cups of tea. Luckily, she gets a healthy dash of romance married to her wonderful husband, and her exercise regime is kept on track by her six-year-old daughter, who ensures Maddison is kept very busy chasing her around. Maddison's debut novel The Devilish Duke is her way of time traveling back to Victorian London to experience a cornucopia of intrigue, romance, and debauchery all from the comfort of her living room!

https://maddisonmichaels.com/

11 thoughts on “Music and writing by Maddison Michaels – GIVEAWAY – $10 Amazon Gift Card”

  1. Crystal says:

    Book cover is intriguing, romantic & colorful. Sounds like a great read. Would love to read and review in print format.
    Interesting play list. Barely new any of the songs. But always good to hear about new songs
    Hope I Win Giveaway.

    1. Hi Crystal – thanks so much, it is a pretty cool cover hey!! Good luck in the giveaway!

  2. Rachel Flesher (aka Raonaid Luckwell) says:

    I have had songs spark scenes or ideas that I “had” to write out. They never really went to a story, but the scene was so vivid in my head. I use to annoy my husband. They were role playing characters that I itched to write.

    Music helps block out noise whenever I’m writing (even when I write book reviews, I must have music to concentrate better).

    Most of the songs I never heard but I like certain bands and genres. There are certain showtunes and soundtracks I like (Mamma Mia, Grease 1 & 2, Spectacular, then anime opening and closing songs)

  3. Vicki says:

    I love this! The whole idea of making a playlist and letting it influence and inspire your writing is just so cool to me. I love music and reading but I’ve always enjoyed them separately, as I like to read in silence to really immerse myself in the book’s world. But I definitely can see certain songs reminding me of a book when I listen after I read. Thank you for that insight into your process

    1. Hi Vicki, yes music is integral to me too!! I love my Spotify for just that reason!! Good luck in the giveaway!

  4. bn100 says:

    interesting playlist

  5. GB says:

    I have heard authors mention playlists for writing their books. It makes sense to me, music and lyrics certainly inspire me and get me into the mood from exercise to cleaning the house. Not so wonderful as writing a book, but necessary things for me to do nonetheless.

    1. Mary Branham says:

      Oh my gosh .I love the music from the Greatest Showman.saw the movie and ran out and got the soundtrack Cd.told everyone I know to see it and have watched it many times.
      What a cool way to start work on a book.

  6. Ashley Fasolo says:

    I love playlists etc and it sounds awesome.

  7. Carol Cox says:

    I love it!

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