Writing fiction requires that you dive into your character’s mind, heart, and soul. Lots of writers talk about the best material coming from a trance state, when you feel as if your character is talking/acting through you.

Choosing music that reflects my character and/or the themes in the book helps me to get into my trance state.

I carefully choose a different soundtrack for every book that I work on. The music that is inspiring me for the novel that I’m writing now (which is about two musicians) is the gorgeous guitar playing of Andy McKee.

The Art of Motion CD is the first thing I turn on when I sit down to work. If you’re out there, Andy…thank you!

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Mary Amato recording the dulcimer

Mary Amato recording the dulcimer

In The Naked Mole-Rat Letters, the main character, Frankie Wallop, sings and plays dulcimer in a folk band with her dad called The Red Beet Ramblers. Johnny Nye, another important character in the novel, also sings and plays guitar. After writing the book, I teamed up with my musical partner, Pete Looney. Together we wrote and recorded three songs from the book. You can hear the songs at http://www.myspace.com/thenakedmoleratletters

Pete Looney recording vocals

Pete Looney recording vocals

Teachers: you can make the connection between poetry and song writing. Encourage your students to write songs in addition to poems.

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