The Mood

So, I've been reading book after book after book to try and get myself in the right place to tell the story of Silver Bullets. It's not been useless, as it's filled me chock full of interesting little details and certainly my grasp on the overall history of the time is better. It hasn't, however, dropped me into the right place emotionally.

I'm not very surprised. Usually, I get inspired emotionally when major breakthroughs come in the plot, and also from the music I choose to have on as I write. Usually, I know when a song is right or wrong for my little soundtrack. I can't explain why, or what the criteria are, but they are there nonetheless.

For some reason the songs I've been listening to while I do the outline stopped being just pleasant background, and I began to really hear them. It's made all the difference. One of the songs in particular has brought me so totally into my book that it's like a kind of magic.

The song is called He Lays In The Reins. It's a collaboration between Sam Beam of Iron and Wine and Calexico. That last band makes several appearances on my soundtrack, but this song in particular has moved me.

Lyrics can be found online. A lovely live performance of the song can be found as well.

This song is so perfect that it almost means I don't need to write the book. That's the thing I hate about music of course. You can write a three minute song with the emotional impact of a full novel. It's not fair.

But I do love it.

And I'll take inspiration and assistance wherever I can.