How Film Music Can Improve Your Writing

I love to write while listening to music. Everything seems to flow better: the words, the structure, even ideas for other pieces seem more prolific. But I found that it can't be just any music. It can't be my favorite radio station, or the latest release by my favorite band. Even an Opera or Symphony won't work for me. What I need is something inspiring, with a little "oomph". I'm looking for the emotional impact of Film Music.

Score vs. Soundtrack

When I say film music, technically what I am referring to is a film score and not a soundtrack. Soundtracks are usually collections of popular music songs that relate to the film, whereas film scores are a compilation of the underlying music that was written by a composer. Film Scores are created to emphasize the ongoing interactions between characters, enhance the emotional response, and provide subtle hints at plot line and motive. As such, film scores lend themselves to creating a perfect writing atmosphere.

Why doesn't a soundtrack work as well? For me, it has to do with words. Every time I listen to a song with words I can't help but sing along. When I'm writing, the last thing I want to do is have the words from the song dribble out of my pen and onto paper. So why not that rousing opera or symphony? I love classical music (I'm a recovering oboe player), but it doesn't have the emotional impact I'm looking for. There are a few exceptions of course (Barber's Adagio for Strings is a perfect example) but as I have found out, many of those classical pieces have found themselves tied to the big screen in one film or another.

Setting the Mood

Depending on what you are writing, you will want to choose a film score that matches the genre of your writing. For example, you may be writing a piece about travels through Italy - The Godfather would be a good choice. If writing on a sobering topic the minor keys used throughout the score to the English Patient could be a good choice. Writing an inspirational sports story? Then the scores to Rudy or Jerry McGuire may be what inspires you to write better.

The key to finding the perfect score to write to: When you're thinking about a topic, what films come first to your mind? Most likely, those film scores will trigger greater responses when writing about that topic.

Creating a Mix

The unfortunate thing about film score compilation disks is that there are usually several sections of what I like to call "filler" music. This music may not agree with the tone you are attempting to set. An example would be the score to Apollo 13. In this score, the composer has several sections that always remind me of a piano falling down stairs. It works in the movie... but it takes me right out of the writing mode and into an agitated one. Because of the tendency of film scores to do this, I highly recommend creating your own mix of music.

Using your favorite music management software, create themed play lists. For example, I have one called "Inspiration." On this play list I have a number of rousing scores that make me feel like I can write anything. It's a little campy, a little boisterous, and always makes me want to shout, "I'm queen of the world." It includes selections from Batman, Twister, Mortal Kombat,5^th Element and Pirates of the Caribbean. As you can see, campy... but very inspirational.

Another example is my "Creepy" play list. I love putting this one on when I'm writing a mystery. It's a mixture of 6^th Sense, Silence of the Lambs, and scores to a couple of Hitchcock films. In some pieces the music shocks you, but in many pieces the atmosphere created is subtle. Combined with intense writing sometimes the effect can be so good that I scare myself!

Find What Works for You

While film scores work well for me, they may not be what inspires you. I suggest that you check a site such as Amazon.com and look up some of your favorite movies - in the music section. Listen to some of the music samples they offer and see if that score inspires you. If it does, sit down with a pen and paper (or computer keyboard) and write, write, write. You never know, writing while listening to film scores could inspire you to create something amazing!