After a brief and unplanned hiatus (y'all didn't notice I was gone? Ha, I really didn't either), I'm back with a post to combine two of MY LOOOOOOOOVES.
Have you guessed it yet?
*grins*
BOOKS N' MUSIC, BABY!
*grins again* I'm sooo happy to be writing this post. 'Cause I get to take my story playlists and favorite podcasts and say HERE GO LISTEN! ('Cause that's all I've been listening to lately—if it's not my CD collection, particularly Joseph Habedank, then it's my Little Boy Blue story playlist or writing podcasts.)
Have I actually been writing and putting these media outlets? HA! I'm preparing myself for the day I actually sit down and write. *nods*
Besides, I actually have been writing a bit! I joined The Writer Games contest to see where I'd end up...and three rounds later, I'm one of the three finalists! It's been a super fun and challenging experience, and if you'd like to see some of my best writing (and a couple of other pretty fantastic entries!), we'd love love love for you to go vote for your favorite!
Anyway. On to the fuuuuunnnn part! *rubs hands together*
First up, I'll give you some songs from my Little Boy Blue playlist. I've got 40 songs on it, but to save you all the time that you would spend (so wisely, I might add) to listen to all of them, I'll just share a few of my favorites. ;)
In no particular order, 'cause I love all of these and choosing one favorite is like choosing a favorite book...
Brother - NEEDTOBREATHE
Here I Am - Bryan Adams
He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother - Glen Campbell
Stand- Rascal Flatts
Ceasefire - for KING & COUNTRY
Brothers Under the Sun - Bryan Adams
Even if it Hurts - Sam Tinnesz
Every Storm - Gary Allan
Welllll, whaddaya think? *bounces in my chair* I just love these songs.
So. Now, we get to the podcasts! I generally do not like to listen to anything but music, but I finally decided that if I'm not gonna write, I can at least try to improve my writing by listening to writing podcasts! 'Cause I can do this while I work, and kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. So, if you'd like to hear about a few of my favorites...
I've followed Emilie on Instagram for awhile, so when she and her friend Christen started a writing podcast, of course I had to check it out! It's so much fun to listen to these two interact with their various guests, and all of the golden writing tips inevitably sprinkled in!
I've enjoyed watching Abbie's YouTube channel, which is full of fantastic writing advice. But I don't have the time nor the phone battery to spend hours watching said videos. So when she and her sister Kate started a podcast, I was so excited! It's so much fun to listen to these two interact. Plus, I really enjoy their case studies.
I personally don't do a whole lot with Story Embers aside from listen to their podcast, but I have heard nothing but good about them as a resource for any aspiring writers...or published authors, for that matter! And listening to their panel of writers discuss various topics writing-related will really make you think about your writing.'
I can't tell you how many books have been added to my TBR because of this podcast! Listening to Tara and Rebekah interact with the authors that they host is so entertaining, and I love hearing about all the authors' experiences and fabulous advice. Plus, Tara (whose voice is ah-mazing, btw) always reads an excerpt from a book by the author they're interviewing!
So come, come, come, my friends, and tell me what you've been listening to lately! I'm always on the lookout for new fantastic tunes to become obsessed with (just ask my mom—she's sick of Glen Campbell *cackles*).
Do you listen to podcasts? What are some of your favorites?
CHRISTMAS IS SO CLOSE Y'ALL. Christmas Eve is a week from today. ACK. #mindblown
SO. Since Christmas is so close, I of course have to do some Christmas-themed posts! Today I'll be sharing some Christmas instrumental albums perfect for holiday writing.
Also, I'm joining in Faith Potts' Christmas blog party, 12 Days of Christmas! Click on the graphic below to be redirected to her blog, where you can find all the other 12DoC posts and a GIVEAWAY! Go check it out!
Lindsey Stirling—Warmer in the Winter
I especially love her version of I Saw Three Ships and We Three Gentlemen!
Craig Duncan—Bluegrass Christmas
If you know me, you of course know how much I love Craig Duncan's music . . . ;)
The Piano Guys—A Family Christmas
Who else loves The Piano Guys??
The Nativity Story Soundtrack
Is any explanation needed??
Eden Symphony Orchestra—Classical Christmas
For all my love of bluegrass music, I still have a soft spot in my heart for orchestras . . .
The Nashville Superpickers—Pickin' on Christmas
Mooooorrrre bluegrass!
Do you listen to music while you write? Do you have a current Christmas WIP??
YES, I actually do have more movie soundtracks for you! ;) They're so amazing—they just play in the background and stimulate your creative juices.
Note: I don't necessarily recommend these movies, as I haven't seen them all, but I really enjoy their soundtracks.
The Magnificent Seven
The Magnificent Seven's soundtrack tends to be more intense than anything, so listen with care. ;)
The Hobbit
All of you Hobbit fans out there should like this. ;) A mixture of playfulness, heartache, and nail-biting action!
Pride & Prejudice
Perfect for whimsy, rainy day writing!
Jurassic World
Again, more intense, but still fabulous. ;)
The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur was actually the soundtrack that first got me started on them, even though I only saw the movie for the first time a couple months ago. ;P
Have you seen these movies? How is your writing project going?
I so enjoyed writing last week's music post, I thought I might make all my Tuesday posts in November about music! (if you missed last week's you can find it HERE.)
Today, I'm going to share with you some music artists (and my favorite songs by them!) that have amazing instrumentals to write with.
Craig Duncan
If you know me, you know that I'm a HUGE fan of Craig Duncan. He has such a huge variety of music styles, from bluegrass to jazz to polka!
Andy Leftwich
Andy Leftwich only has a couple of albums (one of them is an instrumental hymns album) but they're definitely worth listening to!
The Piano Guys
Is an explanation really necessary here? ;) (if you don't know who TPG are, you're sorely missing out.)
2CELLOS
These guys have serious talent, that's all I gotta say.
William Joseph
I actually literally discovered all of William Joseph's music just today, haha! I was scrolling through my writing music and found one of his songs. Pretty cool!
Do you like these artists? Who are some of your favorites?
I don't know about you, but when I write, I like to have music playing. Not just out of the computer's open speakers, but through earbuds. There's just something about having the music transmitted directly into your ears that brings the music to life in a way you'd never imagined!
Anyway, sorry, I didn't mean to go on a tangent about earbuds, haha! If you're one of those people that can listen to worded music while writing . . . I envy you. But yet, I also don't envy you. Because if I could write with worded music in the background, I would never have been introduced to the amazing world of soundtracks.
Have you ever noticed that on super old movies, they don't generally have music for every scene? It's sad, really. But, having grown up watching said shows, I didn't even notice. Until I started watching movies that did have soundtracks. And I realized that music brings the movies to life. If the bad guy is about to attack the protagonist from behind, the viewer doesn't really feel the desired fear and trepidation until spooky, suspenseful music is played.
That is why I love listening to music while I write. Unless you listen for it, you don't even notice a movie's soundtrack. But, nonetheless, when it's there, it sharpens the emotions evoked by the scene. So when I turn on a soundtrack (Spotify playlists for the win!), half the time I don't even realize that it's playing; it just drowns out other sounds, and it helps me focus. I can't tell you how many times music has kept me intent on my writing and my fingers flying.
So, without further ado, I'd love to share some of my favorite movie soundtracks that I enjoy writing with! Warning: Most (if not all) have one or two songs that have words, so I'd recommend skipping them. Since I don't even know if the words are good. ;P
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Narnia soundtracks are a mix of intense songs and happy songs, so you might want to sift through them to find the ones you like. ;)
How to Train Your Dragon
I love the HTTYD soundtrack so much!! Again, it's a mix, but it's not quite to diverse.
War Horse
Honestly, I was kinda shocked at how playful the War Horse soundtrack is, haha!
Cinderella
The Cinderella playlist is actually pretty fluffy and light, haha! But it you're writing a fun story, this is PERFECT.
Fireproof
Alllllll the emotions . . . (If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about!)
McFarland, USA
The McFarland, USA soundtrack will get you in the mood for writing, no matter what genre you're writing! It makes you feel ready to tackle the world!
What music do you enjoy writing with? Have you seen any of these movies? Should I do another post with favorite soundtracks?
Welcome back to day 5! Today, I'm sharing the Pinterest storyboard that helped to inspire the writing of Beloved, as well as songs that fit the plot. So, let's get started, shall we?
Today's reason to live: music. If there's one thing I might love as much as books, it's music. I don't know why I love it; I suppose that's just the way God made me. I love dancing to happy songs, singing at the top of my lungs to songs I know well, but most of all . . . I love songs that give me chills. Songs that really hit me. For me, God speaks through songs. I feel His presence most when I'm listening to music. So when I spend time with Him, of course I pray and read my Bible. But I also listen to music. If you ever feel like you're in a spiritual rut . . . listen to music. Let the words bathe you in God's love and mercy. If you're not a music fan like me, find other ways that God can speak to you. Let Him remind you how much He loves you. That life really is worth living.
Now for the Pinterest board! Honestly, adding to this baby was almost as fun as writing the book! ;)
And now, for the songs. I've decided to share a few lines from each song that fit the story the best.
Jordan Feliz—Beloved
Head full of questions, how can you measure up? To deserve affection to ever be enough For this existence When did it get so hard? Your heart is beating, alive and breathing And there's a reason why You are essential, not accidental And you should realize You are beloved
Danny Gokey—Tell Your Heart to Beat Again
You're shattered Like you've never been before The life you knew In a thousand pieces on the floor And words fall short in times like these When this world drives you to your knees You think you're never gonna get back To the you that used to be
Tell your heart to beat again Close your eyes and breathe it in Let the shadows fall away Step into the light of grace Yesterday's a closing door You don't live there anymore Say goodbye to where you've been And tell your heart to beat again
For King & Country—God Only Knows
God only knows what you've been through
God only knows what they say about you
God only knows how it's killing you
But there's a kind of love that God only knows
Britt Nicole—Gold
So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved
And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough
Yeah there are days that we all feel like we're messed up
But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough
So don't be ashamed to wear your crown
You're a king you're a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are
This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
So hold your head up high,
It's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
Matt Hammitt—Tears
You've been, waiting a long time To let this, out into the daylight You're not alone, we all have days When the well inside needs to break
Just let 'em fall, like healing rain Watch the walls, start crumbling Let your heart beat, and feel the weight You've carried disappear Just let 'em fall, right down your face Hit the ground, in a pool of grace And feel the things, you haven't felt for years That's why God made tears
Zach Williams—Fear is a Liar
When he told you you're not good enough When he told you you're not right When he told you you're not strong enough To put up a good fight When he told you you're not worthy When he told you you're not loved When he told you you're not beautiful That you'll never be enough
Fear he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire Cause fear he is a liar
Stars Go Dim—You Are Loved
We hide pain in the weirdest places Broken souls with smiling faces Fighting for surrender For now and the after, yeah Just look around and you'll see that people Are scared to say how they really feel Oh, we all need a little honesty
You are loved If your heart's in a thousand pieces If you're lost and you're far from reason Just look up; know you are loved Just look up; and know you are loved When it feels like something's missing If it hurts but you can't find healing Just look up, know you are loved Just look up, know you are loved
Foster teen Cara Richards is unloved. With nothing left and nowhere to go, she is determined to find peace, no matter the cost. But despite her intentions, she’s tossed into another foster family and this time, there’s no going back to who she used to be. To make matters worse, one of her five new foster brothers is a Jesus freak, and she refuses to believe that God actually cares.
Her world is thrown upside down in a way she never expects. Though she prides herself on a resilient heart, her mind is lost adrift among a sea of questions: Is death really the answer? Does God care about someone as unworthy as me? Can everyone truly be loved, no matter what?
Having just returned to American soil from the desert sands of the Middle East, James Greene is done with his life. 'Double amputee' doesn't seem like a strong enough phrase to label the physical and emotional pain he bears. Add the lack of love and communication with his family members, the demons that haunt him day and night, and he can find nothing worth living for. Ending it all is the only way out.
Alexandria Lorance is a not-so-ordinary physical therapist, content with aiding in her patients' recoveries. Her work gives her fulfillment, but alone in the silence, she still endures the hidden scars of a past, unhealthy relationship. Reminding herself that true healing is found in Christ alone, she seeks to show kindness and love to everyone she meets.
When these two broken ones' paths intersect, the spark of friendship is ignited, bringing hope and joy to both. Can they step out of the darkness of suffering and into the freedom of grace?
A Marine, broken by war. A therapist, scarred by words. A chance meeting in a parking lot bonded them together. But can love grow in these two hurting hearts? Or are they truly too broken to ever find lasting happiness?
