New Musical Inspiration

If I’d known about Basia Bulat when I was writing QotA, she would have been all over my playlist. Especially “I Was a Daughter,” which you can listen to:

I love when songs remind me of a character or capture the tone of something I’m writing. What songs connect with your work?

Previously about playlists.

Let It Stand

Yesterday, fellow 2014 debut author Michelle Schusterman posted some editorial trivia on Twitter:

Screen Shot 2013-05-09 at 5.18.35 PM

So of course I needed to write a stet parody song based on the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” I would sing it for you, but a) I currently have bronchitis and b) I have a terrible singing voice even when I don’t have bronchitis. So for your reading pleasure:

Let It Stand 

When I find my draft in times of trouble, my editor will take my hand,
Speaking words of edits, let it stand.
And in my draft’s revision, she decides against her first demand.
Write down words of edits, let it stand
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, let it stand
Write down words of edits, let it stand.

And when the copyedits come in, asking me to please expand
There will be a respite, let it stand.
For though there may be edits, my draft still shows what I had planned.
There it is on paper—let it stand.
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, let it stand.
There it is on paper—let it stand.
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, yeah, let it stand.
Write down words of edits, let it stand.
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, yeah, let it stand.
Write down words of edits, let it stand.

And when my draft is choppy, there is still a phrase that sounds so grand.
Say again in Latin, let it stand.
When I read through my copyedits, there’s a word I understand.
There it is on paper—let it stand.
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, yeah let it stand.
There it is on paper—let it stand.
Let it stand, let it stand, let it stand, yeah, let it stand.
Write down words of edits, let it stand.

I know. Paul McCartney is really worried that I’m going to surpass him as a songwriter. (Also, they say “let it be” a LOT in this song.)

Links Galore

Got a case of the Mondays? These links will help you power through:

Links Galore

A few more links to get us through the middle of the week:

Links Galore

A few more links to get you through Monday:

Links Galore

A few more spooky links for Halloween:

Song Books

I’ve mentioned before that I like creating playlists for my writing projects, but I never thought of making playlists for beloved books. Fortunately, Tapes on Books is on the case. What a cool way to delve deeper into classic novels and discover new music.

One suggestion from their take on Lord of the Files is (I’m) Stranded by the Saints:

http://youtu.be/eFvhd–qDDU

The boys might have fared a little better if they’d had some tunes and rocked out.

(H/T Doubleday)