Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Alex J. Cavanaugh's #5Reasons to Write to Music

Please welcome Alex J. Cavanaugh!


Five Reasons to Write to Music

1 – It drowns out distracting background noise. (Like people. Especially if you’re using earphones.)

2 – Music can set the tone for a scene, making it easier to write. It can inspire. Battle scene? Hard and fast music. Magical scene? Something flowing and rhythmic. Sex scene? Well, I guess whatever does it for you!

3 – Music reminds you to engage all of your senses.

4 – People will think you are singing when you’re really talking to your characters.

5 – Finally, who doesn’t look really cool when they’re jamming out to tunes? It will hide the fact that inside you’re having a writer meltdown because your manuscript is a mess.

Music provided inspiration for all of my books. In fact, a single song’s storyline inspired Dragon of the Stars.

Now, ready to be inspired? Start rocking!


Alex J. Cavanaugh
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, comprising of a website, monthly blog hop, and Facebook groups. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm, and Dragon of the Stars. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Dragon of the Stars is Alex's lates book, and it's a beautifully written, poignant tale of redemption and humanity set among the stars. 
I highly recommend giving it a read! 


Some bits of news: (I'm sure there's more - this is just what I know)
Karen Walker, a member is IWSG, is putting together an anthology on aging. More details found here.
Two IWSG members, Madeline Mora-Summonte and Michelle Wallace, just had hint fiction published in Nail Polish Stories.
I had a few bits of fiction published at Seven by Twenty and Between Worlds last week!

I have a crazy hope to publish other authors' writing . . . check out Wing's Edge: Call for Submissions.


C. Lee Mckenzie's latest book, Sign of the Green Dragon is out!

Three plucky sleuths. A crumbling skeleton. A buried treasure.


Buy now and jump into the adventure.

29 comments:

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Thanks for the shout-out, Tyrean! And congrats to everyone with new publications!

I don't listen to music when I write. I like the quiet, or some kind of white noise also works for me.

Cherie Reich said...

I can see how music can help with writing certain things, although I tend to prefer a quiet area (and I say that, even though I write while watching TV when at home).

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Cherie, I also have the television on, but it's muted because that would be overkill.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, Tyrean!

Annalisa Crawford said...

I love the last two points - they definitely both describe me!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hiding the meltdown - love it!

Tyrean Martinson said...

I'm with you, but sometimes I like a good non-lyrical movie soundtrack.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I've done that once or twice to get into a particular "mood" for a scene.

Tyrean Martinson said...

You're welcome, Alex!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Me, too. I might need to start writing to music. :)

Denise Covey said...

I did a writing exercise once where we wrote to different types of music and it was amazing how our writing changed depending on the music.

Chrys Fey said...

I like to listen to music because it sets the tone for a scene. That's why I listen to a lot of rock music for action scenes. It also inspires me. :)

Christine Rains said...

Great reasons! I don't know if I'll ever be able to convince anyone I'm not a little nutty when I'm talking to my characters, though. Even the cat thinks that!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I admire anyone who can write to music, noise or people talking. The only place I've found I can write that is noisy is at the airport.

Misha Gerrick said...

Yup, those are pretty much the reasons why I write to music as well. :-)

Murees Dupè said...

I usually write to music. It definitely does inspire me. Congratulations on publishing more of your stories, Tyrean! That is fantastic!

Nicola said...

I get ideas when I listen to music, which is generally in the car. Dictaphone is always at the ready :) Great post!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

It does, doesn't it? That's why it's important to pick the right tune.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You are so cool...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Because you don't want to forget those ideas!

Anonymous said...

Ha, ha, #4 cracked me up. I love to listen to music, though not when I write. Listening beforehand pumps me up and gets me in the right mood.

Congrats to all the new publications, and good luck, Tyrean, with your new publishing venture!!

Stephanie Faris said...

I can't really listen to music and write...but I can watch TV while writing, which makes little sense, I know! I usually go to the gym and walk to music, come up with great ideas, and come home and write!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I watch television as well. Sound down though, because it would compete with the music.

Fundy Blue said...

LOL! Especially at #5! I often write to music because it is powerfully emotional, and emotion fuels my writing. I rarely talk out loud with my characters, because we're telepathic. I'm not sure how to describe it, but we talk inside my head and I can hear my words and theirs clearly. Have a good one!

cleemckenzie said...

Laughing with you Alex. I can see you looking cool, jamming.

Thanks so much for the shout out, Tyrean!

Tyrean Martinson said...

My dog thinks I'm a little weird, too. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

It all depends, but I can definitely write to white noise and movie soundtracks.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

I can brainstorm with music and have been inspired by lyrics. But sadly music distracts me while I'm writing so that's a no for me. But yeah jamming is great and do what works for you Alex.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

When it comes to music, I can only look cool...