Top Ten Songs I Write to

Often times I write while listening to music. I have talked about this in the past, you can check out that post here: Music and Writing: Songs that Evoke Emotion. I love music, though I don’t play any instruments and I’m not a great singer. It gets me through hard times and makes fun times that much more enjoyable! It also brings me inspiration. Here are the top ten songs that I write to.

1. Someone you Loved — Lewis Capaldi

I had to make this my first of my top ten songs to write to! Let’s be honest, his voice is just BEAUTIFUL. I love the lilting sound he has, it is so captivating. This song provokes so much raw emotion and it is great for writing a sad or heartbreaking scene in a story. It makes me feel like I’ve just gone through a bad break up — even though I’m happily married. I have quite a few of his songs on my writing list, but this is one that I never tire of.

2. you should see me in a crown — Billie Eilish

This song makes me feel fired up. It is one of my favorite songs by Billie Eilish. The bass is incredible and makes it hard not to bob your head when you listen. I use this song when I am trying to create a bad a** character. This is for a character who doesn’t take crap from anyone and they either do, or should, belong on a throne. The character this song depicts is someone who is going to kick some butt.

3. Ashes of Eden — Breaking Benjamin

This is my all time favorite Breaking Benjamin song. It is also one of their most mellow/slow songs. It is very calming and helps me to center myself. I think of someone searching for a lost loved one — either on Earth or in death, and yearning to be with them. It is truly a gorgeous song and I could listen to it a thousand times without getting sick of it. Honestly, every song of my top ten songs to write to I could listen to over and over — they are just that powerful and good.

4. Heaven — Julia Michaels

This selection is a little different from all the others. This song is good for writing a fun, flirty, or sexy scene. It is actually from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack. Julia Michaels has a great voice, though, and she has a lot of songs I enjoy. This one in particular is the only one of hers on my writing playlist, though. Even if I’m not writing a romance scene, I still have fun singing along with this one while I write.

5. Haunted — Taylor Swift

There are two versions of this — acoustic and the normal version — and either works well for inspiration. It is another great song for writing a break up scene, or heartbreak. This one would be for a character who thought she/he knew the person they loved — but it turns out they’ve been hiding things. The non-acoustic version is definitely more powerful and jarring, good for evoking those chaotic feelings. I picked out this particular Taylor Swift song because it was one of the first songs that really inspired my writing.

6. Hate Myself — NF or Paralyzed — NF

I chose two of NF’s songs because it was too hard to pick just one. He has so many great emotional songs that evoke so many feelings from me. Which ironically, Paralyzed is about not being able to feel. Hate Myself is about struggling with self-acceptance. Both songs can really bring you down if you sink into them, but they can also give you some insight into a character that is dealing with some traumatic events or anxiety.

I discover NF when I was first experiencing anxiety, so the fact that a lot of his songs deal with that topic really resonated with me. Every since then, I have been in love with his music. It’s real and raw. The perfect writing inspiration.

7. Daisies — Katy Perry

This is the most recent song on my list (if you don’t count the remake of Iris). When I first heard it, I thought it was okay, but then the second time around I actually listened to the lyrics. I absolutely love the message in this song. This one is not so much inspiration for a certain book or character, more for just writing in general. If you ever doubt yourself, or think you should quit — just listen to this song.

8. Not Afraid — Eminem

This goes along with the last song a little as far as being an inspiration to keep writing. Not Afraid is more coming together and knowing your not alone. Eminem is one of my favorite artists for similar reasons as NF. I do have some issues with some of his lyrics — as would be expected. Anytime I feel beaten down or fed up, I put on this song. It helps me recover some strength and put up a fight.

9. Iris — DIAMANTE, Breaking Benjamin

I always loved the song Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, but this remake is just phenomenal. The combo of voices is so perfect. This inspires me to write about a misunderstood character — someone struggling to find their way in the world. It also inspires me to belt out the lyrics and lose myself for a few minutes — which we all need every once in a while when we spend so much time writing.

10. Hear you Me — Jimmy Eat World

I chose this as my last song because it was the first song that I can remember that inspired my writing. My book Haunting Memories stemmed from the inspiration that this song struck. A song about someone who lost a friend and is continually thinking of how things are different now. Just as my character, Zac, lost his best friend and now has to figure out his life without her in it. (Haunting Memories is currently under construction — hoping to rerelease by 2023.)

Let me know what kind of music you listen to while writing! What are your top ten songs to write to?

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