ISWG: Finding the Rhythm of a Quiet Story: A Playlist for Kindred Spirits

Spring is here! Time to listen to a playlist and write outside.

Do you listen to music while you create, or perhaps during your quiet homeschool hours?

 
When I was homeschooling, we had a monthly composer study. It was the one thing we always did "Charlotte Mason" style—studying the lives of artists and composers with a sense of wonder. We’d play their works in the background during lunch, a beautiful soundtrack for our daily lives.

More recently, our family has found a new rhythm at dinner. We each have a Pandora playlist that blends into a slightly chaotic mix. I love the Big Band 40s; my husband leans toward Django Reinhardt; my oldest prefers classical; and my youngest is all about Movie Soundtracks. When friends come to visit, we add their favorites to the mix, creating a tapestry of sound that belongs to everyone.

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

 

 

If you don’t already know, I am a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a wonderful community of authors who share monthly about the winding paths of the creative life. It’s a place to be earnest about our hurdles and celebrate our small victories together.

 

This month’s question is: If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

 

While I don’t often listen to music as I write—unless I need a gentle jump-start for my creativity—I had so much fun with this prompt. I decided to curate a playlist that captures the heart of the characters and themes in my middle-grade novel. It’s in final edits now, and I hope to share more details with you in early summer. I've included photos to go with some of my songs that capture the "feel" of my novel with links to the actual songs.

1. Start with a Dream

Every story begins with a spark of "what if." When I’m feeling stuck, I return to the La La Land soundtrack. My main character, Charlotte, is a grand dreamer who believes life should feel like a storybook, and I think she’d find a kindred spirit in that music.

 
•    The Song: Audition (The Fools Who Dream)

 

 2. Are You Brave Enough?

As I write, there is always a quiet struggle: Am I brave enough to write the hard, the beautiful, and the true? Will my characters resonate with anyone else? Charlotte is far braver than I am, yet it is just as difficult for her to step onto a ridgepole and dare herself to look out over the world.

 
•    The Song: Touch the Sky – Julie Fowlis

 

3. Searching for a Bosom Friend

We aren't meant to walk these winding paths alone. When I was a swimmer in high school, it was my teammates who pulled me out of the pool after a grueling race. Today, I am so thankful for my writer friends—online, in person (thank you, Oregon SCBWI!), and my dear beta readers who gave me a jolt of courage to make this book better.

 
•    The Song: Count on Me – Bruno Mars

 

Max on his own hero's journey

4. Even Kindred Spirits Have Their Own Dreams (and Fears)

Growth often means facing the things that terrify us. Maybe it’s submitting your work, entering a contest, or simply extending grace to someone across the street. In my story, Charlotte has to face her fear of rabbits to reach her friend Jo. This vintage gem felt like the perfect, quirky nod to that struggle.

 
•    The Song: Run Rabbit Run – Flanagan & Allen

 

The spring rabbits at our local pet store.

5. Real Life is Unscripted and Messy

We all hit those low points where the "script" for our lives—or our manuscripts—falls apart. Whether it’s a summer plan that isn't panning out or a story that needs a difficult rewrite, these are the valleys that shape us. I hope dear Charlotte eventually sees that the unscripted moments are often the most beautiful.

 
•    The Song: Vienna – Billy Joel 

 

How I feel after getting feedback...

  

6. The Happy Ending

Because I write "gentle" stories for children, I love to end with a sense of resolution. In the writing life, is there ever truly an "end"? We celebrate the milestones, then we begin again. This song is about appreciating the rainbow after the storm—something I hope readers feel when they close my book.

 
•    The Song: Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Fishing with my dad, my sister, and me (center), my happy endings often include water. :)

On The Front Porch

 

What song reminds you of your favorite childhood story? Do you have a playlist for your writing, art, or family life? Let's chat in the comments.

 

 

Max’s Bone-Rated Writing Tip

 

Of course, Max is one of my beta readers! :)

My favorite music is when one of my humans plays improv on the piano—it sounds exactly like a nap feels. My second favorite? The high-pitched percussion of a SQUIRREL in our plum tree! Keep your ears open for the unexpected melodies, kindred spirits.

 

I'm so grateful to be part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group community. 

 

A special thank you to this month's wonderful co-hosts: 

Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass

 

You can join us here.

 

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Photo Credits: La La Land (2016), Brave (Disney/Pixar, 2021), and [Jenni Enzor, Joanne Wheeler (fishing photo)]. Watercolor rabbit painting by Jenni Enzor