I sometimes wonder what my neighbors must think on warm days like today when every window in my house is open and my iPod is jamming. They’ve only recently come to know me as the writer of horrifying tales that lives next door. For several years I was merely the man with the beautiful family who works in advertising. That changed when local newspapers and tv stations started promoting my novel Asylum Lake. Suddenly I was the author of this dark and chilling tale set right in their backyard. I became “that guy”. You know, the one that neighbors will one day claim, “Was just an ordinary guy – I had no idea he had a collection of feet and hands in his basement freezer.”
Anyway, I digress. The windows are open and the music is jamming and here I sit completely immersed in my current project – FLIGHT (think snakes on a plane but with Zombies, and without Samuel L. Jackson). The first draft is done and I am merely revisting one of the more more disturbing chapters. It’s the big reveal – when U.S. Air Marshall Liz Downey finally realizes what’s lurking within the cargo hold. I’ve never been completely satisfied with this chapter…until today. I’ve nailed it – the tension is high and Ms. Downey is sufficiently freaked out. All is right with the world once more.
That being said, my neighbor has walked by twice in the last forty-five minutes. My desk has a wonderful view and I’ve waved each time she’s passed. I’m not sure what’s she thinking, but I’m fairly certain that the sound of Neil Diamond’s SWEET CAROLINE through my open windows is causing her some confusion. She sees me typing and knows full well what I am capable of. But who would ever think good ol’ Neil could be the soundtrack to such darkness.
So now you know my secret. Although I’m a huge fan of Pearl Jam (as those of you who have read Asylum Lake know first-hand), only Neil Diamond can lead me to the dark places I need to go to really write the messy parts of my novels.
It all makes me wonder where other authors get their inspiration. Surely I can’t be the onlyone who believes every Neil Diamoind song is based on some dark secret he is harboring. In fact, I believe I have proof. CLICK HERE and witness the darkness that is Neil Diamond!
I may be one of the few authors that can’t write with music playing! I get distracted by the lyrics and can’t focus on writing. However, I totally agree that Neil could be hiding something…
Hadn’t seen that sketch. Will Ferrell nailed it! Very funny stuff. There’s a video out there where Stephen King talks about being the ‘Halloween Santa Claus’ at his house and how he had to stop with the Trick or Treating because of how surreal it was all becoming.
Switching camps, Ozzy Osbourne is another guy who people have this perception as a bat head biting maniac when The Osbournes TV show revealed him to be a regular bloke who’s lucky after all that partying and boozing and drugging to still be alive.
I understand the need for certain singers to release the inner writing beast. For me it’s The Killers, All These Things That I’ve Done.
Jason -
I enjoy The Killers, too. I’m really all over the map with my musical tastes.
I get odd looks with my collections I enjoy as I write. I’ll be listening to The Killers’ Jenny Was a Friend of Mine before humming along to Pennsylvania 6-5000.
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I dream of the day (not too far in the future) when neighbors look at me with that “SHE writes that stuff” stare.
I just posted on my site a piece called the Music of My Muse. I find that music is often associated with a particular character. In fact on my character worksheet, (also on my site) I include “Music on the MP3″.
Thanks to you I have a whole new perspective on ND.
Great post
I get the looks… and I love it! I have various writing tunes in catagories labeled Dark, Darker, and What’s Wrong With You?
I, like Shay Fabbro, cannot listen to music while writing my book. On the other hand, while I’m developing a story I like to rock out to… Katy Perry, Christina Aguilara (her newest, Bionic), and Paramore… I will also admit to a little Black Label Society and all of the Twilight Movie Sountracks (the first is the worst of them). It’s not about what song fits with what character; it’s about what music tickle’s my imagination.
I usually write to soundtracks or instrumentals so the lyrics don’t distract me but I definitely need music for writing. However, now I’m tempted to put on some Neil Diamond. I definitely see the evil possibilities of “Sweet Caroline!”
Neil Diamond certainly spurs up murderous feelings in me – as does Phil Collins, Bryan Adams and Coldplay. Give me some blues any day.
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