Remember that killer idea for a novel that you came up with at 3 o’clock in the morning two years ago? Remember telling all of your friends about it? The hype was real, and so were your intentions on finishing it. But we know what happened — school got in the way, you started a new job, you really needed to finish that Hot Pocket. Life happened. Luckily the holiday break is coming up, and like most people you’re going to have a lot of downtime in between your Netflix binge watching and snacking. So how about you finally sit at that dusty deck that you bought solely to write that novel and do just that. To help you get into that writing mood, here are ten songs that will guide you on your literary journey as you finally finish, or at least start, that novel and prove all your friends wrong.
Spotify:
1. How Did It Get Dark… – Tall Tall Trees
Take a seat. Get settled in. Maybe crack your knuckles. This first track from Tall Tall Trees is going to mimic your plot arch, it starts slow, builds, explodes with flavor (yes songs can have flavor and so can your story) and then brings you down smooth.
2. Irons In The Fire – Marshall McLean Band
You’ve got to be at what, two whole pages by now? Keep going, you’re on a roll. You’re the next Tolkien!
3. Pale Sun Rose – Matthew And The Atlas
You may be hitting a wall — it happens. Listen to this little ditty by Matthew and The Atlas and suddenly be hit with creativity!
4. Toes – Glass Animals
At this point you probably feel like you’ve been writing for ages, but in reality you’re still on your first chapter. It might be time to get weird and really let the creative juices flow. What better way to do that than with Glass Animals.
5. Tethered Bones – Talos
The weirdness is wearing off, and you’re getting into the zone. You’re starting to pick up the pace, remembering all those characters you thought of and what you’re going to do with them. Can you maybe actually see the end here? You need something that will keep you focused but get your fingers grooving as well. Enter Talos.
6. Wasteland – The Gardener and The Tree
Okay, still in the zone? Are you sure? Are you really, really sure. Good. Continue said zoning with The Gardener and The Tree.
7. Hockey Teeth – Bahamas
Perhaps you’ve hit a bit of a wall, after all you’ve been in the zone so long! Have you maybe been grinding your teeth in frustration. If that’s the case then we hope you’ve been blessed with hockey teeth. If not, well then there’s this wonderfully harmonized tune by Bahamas.
8. Little Yellow Spider – Devendra Banhart
You’re amazing! Do you have a book deal yet? You could, but you’ve been in a writing coma and haven’t looked at your phone in quite some time. Don’t check your phone; keep writing. Let Devendra’s wonderfully worded tune wander through your pages.
9. Old Gowns – Mount Moriah
It’s high time for some home cooking and a rerun of The Office (it doesn’t matter what season, they’re all funny). But before you save your work nine times to ensure you definitely saved it, you should let Mount Moriah ease your mind.
10. Still Trying – Nathaniel Rateliff
You did it, well, maybe. Did you at least get a couple pages down, maybe a couple chapters? That’s all that matters, you started, you got over that first hurdle. The pressure’s off and maybe you feel a little brain dead but, hey, you’re still trying.
