This is great. I enjoyed reading about Russell's musical choices, particularly his 'angry girl rock' playlist! Music is an underrated source of inspiration for writers. You asked people to share their own playlists. Here's one I built to help inspire my trilogy of novels - a dark fantasy retelling of the Robin Hood legends. Thanks for the invitation to share! https://tkhallauthor.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-jungle?r=359atp
This was so inspiring. Thank you Russell for your very thorough and vulnerable responses! I definitely see writing as a craft that develops more through revision than drafting. Currently I'm rewriting my novel, and while it's difficult, I see my writing voice coming through much more clearly on this draft than previous ones.
Music is an essential part of my writing process, so much that the inspiration I get from music is truly inseparable from my writing. I can't listen to music with lyrics while I write, since the verbal part of my brain latches onto the lyrics when I want to focus on the words I'm writing. I have a variety of instrumental and electronic music playlists to put in my headphones depending on my mood and the scene I'm writing.
My go-to is ambient electronic chill/future garage to stimulate my imagination and immerse my mind in the atmosphere (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/chillout). I also like cyberpunk, hardwave, and old-school trance music for writing sci-fi and action scenes - probably the same "aggressive" mood as your "angry girl rock," but EDM style ;) (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/cyberpunk). For more relaxing and emotional scenes I like peaceful instrumental music (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/relaxing-instrumental). I also curate playlists based on each project's mood, and playlists for specific characters, to get in the right headspace for writing in a character's POV.
Mostly it can't be anything with words (Enya doesn't count, kind of, almost). It's interesting to think of different playlists when editing and revising! I have tried to do that to Taylor Swift to get my energy up but just end up singing along.
The importance of finishing is so well described here. I appreciate that. It's a hard thing to get through to people, at least in an effective way. My kids both enjoy writing stories, and it's what I tell them all the time, that the important thing is to finish it even when you start to lose interest. But it's better if they hear it from someone who's not their mom.
Great interview. So much to resonate here, and I enjoy Russell's writing and Notes, so appreciate getting to hear from him a bit more about his writing life!
I think it was Lauren Sapala who first introduced the concept of book-specific playlists (for fiction writers) to help someone get into the zone for writing. And I realized that I had a particular group of songs on rotation around 2013 when some major life events were happening — I made a list and was gobsmacked at how a certain “voice” emerged in my mind to help me write down certain memories. Of course I can’t listen to them AND write. But they are like a runway. :)
Thank you for this -- so many things I needed to hear right now as a writer. Specifically, to finish the things you start, even if you hate them. And the books on copywriting. I agree there's so much we can learn from them.
Those playlists sound like absolute vibezzzzz. It’s so wonderful you give yourself such a range to experience.
I loved this interview because of how honest it felt. No sugar coating, platitudes or quick “fixes.”
I also personally appreciated the reminder to try it all to figure out what gels with us as humans. I just wrote this week about introducing new elements to my newsletter and I almost immediately felt self doubt creeping in, like “maybe I shouldn’t do that yet.” But hearing your words reminded me, this is a playground. 🛝 I’m figuring out whether I like the swings or climbing or maybe both (but definitely not the monkey bars). Thanks Russell 💛
I love it. There was an interview once with Jim Croce I think about all the time. In it, he talks about how the record industry was better before it was run by A&R men who "knew" what would sell. Rampant misogyny aside, I resonated with the idea that back in the day the heads of records knew they had no idea what would work, threw up their arms and said "IDK if this will work, but let's try it". I think about that all the time. There are so many things I thought I would love that I end up hating and so many things I thought I would hate that I keep coming back to over time. I would have no idea if I thought I knew how it would go.
I tucked a "Year 23(ish) Writer" subscription promo in Russell's honor inside this post. But in case anyone missed it ...
https://theeditingspectrum.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=c0797d98
This is great. I enjoyed reading about Russell's musical choices, particularly his 'angry girl rock' playlist! Music is an underrated source of inspiration for writers. You asked people to share their own playlists. Here's one I built to help inspire my trilogy of novels - a dark fantasy retelling of the Robin Hood legends. Thanks for the invitation to share! https://tkhallauthor.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-jungle?r=359atp
love it!
Awesome!
This was so inspiring. Thank you Russell for your very thorough and vulnerable responses! I definitely see writing as a craft that develops more through revision than drafting. Currently I'm rewriting my novel, and while it's difficult, I see my writing voice coming through much more clearly on this draft than previous ones.
Music is an essential part of my writing process, so much that the inspiration I get from music is truly inseparable from my writing. I can't listen to music with lyrics while I write, since the verbal part of my brain latches onto the lyrics when I want to focus on the words I'm writing. I have a variety of instrumental and electronic music playlists to put in my headphones depending on my mood and the scene I'm writing.
My go-to is ambient electronic chill/future garage to stimulate my imagination and immerse my mind in the atmosphere (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/chillout). I also like cyberpunk, hardwave, and old-school trance music for writing sci-fi and action scenes - probably the same "aggressive" mood as your "angry girl rock," but EDM style ;) (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/cyberpunk). For more relaxing and emotional scenes I like peaceful instrumental music (https://soundcloud.com/sgyawriter/sets/relaxing-instrumental). I also curate playlists based on each project's mood, and playlists for specific characters, to get in the right headspace for writing in a character's POV.
Awesome! Love it!
I am THE most boring music writer person. For many years all I listened to when writing was Enya. I've branched out a little now--I've got Erland Cooper's album "Do Birds Dream?" on repeat (https://open.spotify.com/album/5GxOU4aAndRvcHkFIIMUiu?si=jJoO28SvSJikEX2wsMY7Cg), and consistently go back to a playlist titled FLOW and compiled on Spotify by Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7i7umk5lRldgHGmLtXjmGm?si=261a5601b9fb4954).
Mostly it can't be anything with words (Enya doesn't count, kind of, almost). It's interesting to think of different playlists when editing and revising! I have tried to do that to Taylor Swift to get my energy up but just end up singing along.
The importance of finishing is so well described here. I appreciate that. It's a hard thing to get through to people, at least in an effective way. My kids both enjoy writing stories, and it's what I tell them all the time, that the important thing is to finish it even when you start to lose interest. But it's better if they hear it from someone who's not their mom.
Great interview. So much to resonate here, and I enjoy Russell's writing and Notes, so appreciate getting to hear from him a bit more about his writing life!
Yay!!!
I think it was Lauren Sapala who first introduced the concept of book-specific playlists (for fiction writers) to help someone get into the zone for writing. And I realized that I had a particular group of songs on rotation around 2013 when some major life events were happening — I made a list and was gobsmacked at how a certain “voice” emerged in my mind to help me write down certain memories. Of course I can’t listen to them AND write. But they are like a runway. :)
Also I love that Do Birds Dream track!
I vaguely remember reading about book-specific playlists somewhere, years ago. It’s a good idea!
That Birds track puts me in a good headspace. :) Almost but not quite verging on melancholy.
So intresting to read how writers work - everyone seems to follow the same path but in a different and unique way - if that makes sense.
I like that. More people should hear that line; it helps us all remember that there's no one right way to live a life, much less a creative life.
Yes, I think it’s like a choose you own adventure, where they funnel into certain key points but how you get there often feels random
Thank you for this -- so many things I needed to hear right now as a writer. Specifically, to finish the things you start, even if you hate them. And the books on copywriting. I agree there's so much we can learn from them.
Yay!
I never once considered reading a book on copywriting! Are there any in particular you'd recommend?
Russell Brunson has some good ones. Ogilvy on advertising, Dan Kennedy has good ones. Copyblogger is a good resource.
I found this a very rich interview, which gives me so much to think about as a "year 1 writer," to use Russell's term.
Yay!
Those playlists sound like absolute vibezzzzz. It’s so wonderful you give yourself such a range to experience.
I loved this interview because of how honest it felt. No sugar coating, platitudes or quick “fixes.”
I also personally appreciated the reminder to try it all to figure out what gels with us as humans. I just wrote this week about introducing new elements to my newsletter and I almost immediately felt self doubt creeping in, like “maybe I shouldn’t do that yet.” But hearing your words reminded me, this is a playground. 🛝 I’m figuring out whether I like the swings or climbing or maybe both (but definitely not the monkey bars). Thanks Russell 💛
I love it. There was an interview once with Jim Croce I think about all the time. In it, he talks about how the record industry was better before it was run by A&R men who "knew" what would sell. Rampant misogyny aside, I resonated with the idea that back in the day the heads of records knew they had no idea what would work, threw up their arms and said "IDK if this will work, but let's try it". I think about that all the time. There are so many things I thought I would love that I end up hating and so many things I thought I would hate that I keep coming back to over time. I would have no idea if I thought I knew how it would go.