Wednesday, February 7, 2018

#Music, My Muse: part 4 by Toi Thomas #OurAuthorGang

from Pinterest via rachelbananas.com
Forgive me if I quote, or more accurately, paraphrase from a very cheesy, often misunderstood, and highly underrated spoof film (I’m Gonna Git You Sucka) as I consider one of my heroic characters walking into the sunset. One man asks (looking at a group of men with instruments) to the other, “Who are these guys?” and the other responds, “They're my theme music. Every hero needs to have theme music!”

So, today, in part 4 of the Music My Muse series, I’ll be sharing some thoughts on character theme songs. (see part 1, part 2, and part 3 here).

Hero is a word of many meanings. As a lover of great stories, I know that the hero is the main character or protagonist of the story. If said character should also be ‘a hero’ as in one who saves the lives of others, well, so be it. Much in the same way that mood music helps me imagine a scene or evoke a feeling or emotion, theme songs represent the broader aspects of a story or character. When you hear a theme song, you don’t always recall minute details, plot points, or specific character traits but instead, you immediately identify the story or character without question.

The idea of a theme song seems to work best when it comes to TV programming, but it can also be quite compelling for film. If I start to sing, “Thank you for being a friend,” four grey-haired women automatically pops into the minds of many who only sporadically watch the 80s TVs show, while singing the words, “So no one told you life was going to be this way,” will have most thinking of six friends from New York. Think of all the movies in the James Bond franchise and then consider how easy it is to identify each one by their theme song.


For me, I imagine that each of my characters has a theme song. When I hear it, I automatically think of them without question or consider how the character may or may evolve over the course of a story or series. I think, though, that’s the toughest part about applying a theme song to a character. Characters change, grow, and evolve over time, but the message, feeling, and theme of the song stays constant. If there is a song that can represent a character through all their development and evolution, then that should be their theme song

For heroes of my Eternal Curse Series, I imagine they each have very different theme songs. For the powerful, yet sometimes self-loathing character of Giovanni, I hear the song “Loser” by Beck. For the science-minded, yet spiritually curious character of Mira, I hear the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae. In the second installment, Eternal Curse: Battleground, I hear the song “I’m Just a Girl” by No Doubt when I think of the character Tori(Victoria), and so much more.
Amazon.com

If you’d like to experience more of the songs and other inspiration for the characters, setting, and themes of the Eternal Curse Series, please visit these two Pinterest story guides: BOOK 1 | BOOK 2.
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Now for something a little different. In this section, I’ll be sharing quotes from other authors and bloggers, I’ve collected in over 200 interviews, when asked, ‘When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?’

“I love all music.  I especially love old time jazz.  I sing… My dad was a trumpet player, so he taught me to love music. There was always music in my house growing up, and now I am making my own music.  To me, even the musical scales are music!” ~ Penelope Dyan

“Generally, I look for uplifting music.  Right now I’ve got ‘The one and only’ by Chesney Hawkes stuck in my head, and I’m liking it.  I also like ‘No myth’ by Michael Penn and ‘The promise’ by When in Rome.” ~ Arthur Daigle

“I love jazz and old school R&B (like back in the 80s). I can’t stand Alternative or Heavy Metal. I’m sorry.” ~ Emeka Iwenofu

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Find out more about me, my work, and my inspiration at the following links:

Amazon Goodreads The ToiBox of Words | YouTube |  See a list of my other posts here.

#themesong #character, #personality, #music, #authorquotes, #Pinterest
COMMENTS

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Erika M Szabo via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
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Erika M Szabo

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post! Now that I think about it, unintentionally, I chose "team songs" for my characters in the form of choosing phone alert music for them. Interesting!
 
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Team songs as phones alert music, that's pretty cool.

Rebecca Tran

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I used to do this but I just can't write to music anymore. :( I do have music I like depending on my mood though. Great article Toi.
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Thank you.

Rebecca Tran

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Toi Thomas talks about giving your characters theme songs when writing. It's a powerful tool to help define a characters personality.
 
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Toi Thomas via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today in part 4 of my music series I'm talking about character theme songs.
 
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Toi Thomas shares the theme music that helps define her characters.
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Ruth de Jauregui

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
My main character has a sound system in the backyard, so jazz fills her garden...
 
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That's so cool. I bet your character has major relaxation skills.

Grace Au

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I love this! My characters have specific songs, too. Glad to know I'm not alone in this.
 
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Yeah, it totally helps to visualize them and connect with them.

Joe Bonadonna

11 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
 
This s very cool, Toi. Never really thought about theme songs for my characters, although I have several for myself, lol!
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I'm with you. All my theme songs make me seem a bit crazy, but maybe it's not the songs (it's me).

Joe Bonadonna via Google+

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Toinette Thomas​ continues with her discussion about how music is her muse, and gives us some pretty cool ideas, too.
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Nikki McDonagh

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great way to get to know your characters.
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Thanks. I think a theme song says a lot about a character.

Mary Anne Yarde

11 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I have a playlist for each of my characters! LOL!
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I try to come up with a playlist for each book, but maybe I should try doing one for each character.

Rich Feitelberg

11 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
 
I often imagine movie music for scenes in my novels but I'm sure that's nothing compared to the music that a professional would write. I really need these books made into movies!
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You know, as much as people (I too am guilty) complain about book-to-screen adaptations, sometimes it's just wonderful to see visual representation of a good story.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Inspiration. Part one - People #ourauthorgang





I am often asked where I get my inspiration from to write stories. It’s a good question. It’s also a very complex one.

I suppose it all depends on where I am and what I want to achieve. My fellow man can be an endless source of inspiration. Sometimes I overhear a conversation that triggers an idea.

For example, when I was in a charity shop looking for second-hand books, a woman came in with a large reproduction of Picasso’s painting ‘Cat catching a bird’ and asked if the shop would like to sell it.



The assistant was not impressed and thought the painting was by a child and declined her offer. The woman stormed out mumbling something about philistines and uncultured people etc.

I thought it was quite funny and used the incident as the start of a short story about a disabled woman trying to get back her life by beginning to paint again. Here is an extract from the short story 

‘Rousseau’s Suburban Garden’ from the anthology-Glimmer

“The assistant mumbled her way to the window display and dragged the picture towards her. She picked it up as though it weighed more than she did, and carried it, huffing and puffing to the counter. Esther leant heavily against her walking stick as the woman spoke, ‘It’s a funny old picture. Is it from some children’s television programme?’

‘No, it’s a painting by Henri Rousseau.’

The elderly lady chuckled and began to unclip the metal clasps that held the cardboard back onto the frame. ‘Sorry dear, but I think this is just a print. Not a painting.’           

Closing her eyes tightly, she flared her nostrils and took a deep breath. ‘I know, but the print is from a painting by Henri Rousseau.’     

‘Never heard of him,’ the woman said and stared at the picture before her. She squinted and held it up, turning it left and right as though she could not make out what it was.

‘The colours are very garish. Not really my thing. Too cartooney for my taste. What kind of animal is it anyway? A giant kitten? Funny colour hair it’s got. Not sure about the teeth. Is it supposed to be some kind of circus act? Are they midgets riding it? All looks out of proportion.’

Esther stared into the woman’s watery eyes. ‘The lion’s mane is the colour of ripened wheat and it is smiling. Two children sit upon the animals back as it walks amongst long yellow grass. There is a moon and dove above their heads, and the sky is darkening. The girl’s untamed tresses fly out behind her in an imitation of the big cat’s shaggy hair. It is titled, ‘The Infants and The Lion’. It was my favourite painting as a child.’

‘Oh, well, I can see how a child would take to it. An adult, though?’”

I thought it was a good way to begin my story of an artist trying to find her inspiration after giving up.

Then there is people watching. I confess that I have used friends, family, and strangers as a basis for a character or two. Their quirky habits, use of words and how they react to problems and the drama of life, inevitably end up in a narrative. Memories of past loves and hates will emerge in a character, often without me being aware of it. When I do, I realise that I have the chance to re-enact moments of humiliation and sadness by rewriting what I should have said and done, so ridding myself of all those inner beasts that have haunted me for years.

This can be very cathartic and often produces charged, emotional passages that bring the narrative to life. But I don’t base characters on actual people very often, honest!

In part two, I look at how nature has, and still does inspire me.

If you enjoyed my short story extract, you might like to check out my books on Amazon: 


All images royalty/copyright free

Monday, February 5, 2018

Plotting and Planning – How quickly things can change

By Ruth de Jauregui


Flexibility is key when outlining nonfiction books and articles. You may think you're working from a nice, neat, well-researched outline -- and then it takes an unexpected turn.

Your original outline can change as you research the individual items and/or chapters. For example, when I was compiling the list of 50 tomatoes for 50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden, I incorporated varieties I was familiar with as well as those recommended by friends and family. However, as I began writing the book, I found that some tomatoes were simply not available, some had poor reviews and some had no information on their origins. In some cases, I found conflicting information. Thus, I had to make changes to my plan.


Don't be afraid to make changes, even if it changes the course of your project. Better to do it right than to have misleading or incorrect information – your name is attached to it!

My next series of posts will focus on the classic authors of speculative fiction – my all time favorites! See you soon!

#RuthDJ  #ASmallGangOfAuthors  #50FabulousTomatoesForYourGarden  #Plotting

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