First things first, I'm welcoming Annalisa Crawford to The Five Year Project as part of the blog tour for her new book You. I. Us. Take it away, Annalisa!
Do you like listening to music while working on your stories?
Hi Misha, thanks for inviting me onto your blog today!
I go through phases, when it comes to music. During my first drafts, I watch a lot of TV—repeats of Castle and Murdoch Mysteries mostly—I’ve seen every season of each of those programmes multiple times! It’s nice to have a distraction in those moments when the next scene just isn’t quite right, and on occasion, they’ve provided a little inspiration too.
Music comes later, either an old-favourite CD that I play on a loop, or a fantastic 80s radio station that has a no-repeat guarantee. Recently, I discovered a YouTube playlist of all the songs from How I Met Your Mother (another series I’ve watched repeatedly), which is brilliant, because some of those songs evoke immense emotion.
For my current WIP, I’m listening to Try Whistling This by Neil Finn (from Crowded House, and fantastic as a solo artist!) This track is Last One Standing https://youtu.be/1BZFrYcgeGs If my WIP ever got made into a film, this would be the title track.
What music do you like listening to?
You. I. Us.
Publication
date: June 10, 2016
Genre: Short Stories (Single Author)
Genre: Short Stories (Single Author)
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In
You. I. Us., Annalisa Crawford captures everyday people during
poignant defining moments in their lives: An artist puts his heart into
his latest sketch, an elderly couple endures scrutiny by a fellow diner, an
ex-student attempts to make amends with a girl she bullied at school, a
teenager holds vigil at his friend’s hospital bedside, long distance lovers
promise complete devotion, a broken-hearted widow stares into the sea from the
edge of a cliff where her husband died, a grieving son contacts the only person
he can rely on in a moment of crisis, a group of middle-aged friends inspire
each other to live remarkable lives.
Day
after day, we make the same choices. But after reading You. I. Us.,
you’ll ask yourself, “What if we didn’t?”
About the author
Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall UK, with a good
supply of moorland and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her
husband, two sons, a dog and a cat. Annalisa writes dark contemporary,
character-driven stories. She has been winning competitions and publishing
short stories in small press journals for many years, and is the author of Cat
& The Dreamer and Our Beautiful Child.
I can write, listen to music, and watch television at the same time! (The television is muted of course - that would be overkill.) For me, the music is whatever prog rock album I'm hooked on at the time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my first stop on my tour, Misha :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't mind instrumental stuff, but can't write if anything with lyrics is playing.
ReplyDeletegood kickoff to the blog tour. I tend to have quiet when writing or editing.
ReplyDeleteAlex - my sons can play games, watch YouTube and Skype with their friends, all at the same time. It's a completely new world! I'd find music and TV together a little too much.
ReplyDeletePatsy - the lyrics sometimes inspire the line. I like instrumental too, although I find myself 'singing' along!
Joanne - thank you. I can go quiet too, especially when the CD finishes and I can't be bothered to change it :-)
Karen - singing along helps me to think, otherwise I'd be staring into space for a very long time and forgetting to write at all :-)
If I have music going, it's mellow jazz or "new age", something without lyrics, which would distract me terribly.
ReplyDeleteHi Annalisa - I can't listen to things and write ... I can do that with comments - though I'm in silent mode at the moment ... good luck with the tour and nice to see you at Misha's ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI write in silence, but if I'm doing light editing, I love rock: Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots and much, much more.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what's happening around me I block it all out and write. I don't hear, see, or comprehend the rest of the world. I do that when I'm reading too. I love the full escape!
ReplyDeleteGreat start to the tour! I don't listen to music a lot, but I could do an 80s station myself. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Annalisa! Hi, Misha! :) I always listen to music when I write. Though sometimes I'm just listening to the TV in the background. I'm one of those writers who need noise.
ReplyDeleteBish - I've never got into jazz. I can see the appeal of no lyrics for some.
ReplyDeleteHilary - I sometimes realise everything's silent by accident. I don't usually like it, because it makes the house seem cold and unfriendly.
Tamara - you can't beat a good rock out, I find I type a lot quicker (and the ideas come faster) when I'm writing to some metal.
Yolanda - I'll sometimes start a film and then realise the ending credits are rolling without having watched a single minute, so I'm obviously pretty good at blocking things out too :-)
Christine - the 80s station is amazing, so many great tunes! I wonder if you can get it in the US... the station I listen to is Absolute 80s - you may be able to find it.
Chrys - noise works best for me, unless I'm writing something really creepy, then a silent house actually helps get me in the right mood!
I can't write in silence; my ringing in the ear drives me crazy. I also can't write as well with sports or TV as I can with music. The talking distracts me, yet somehow music with lyrics manages to blend into the background. I don't pretend to understand my brain one bit.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting premise... I'd like reading all the different perspectives and how it was handles. .. xox
ReplyDeleteJennifer - I'm writing with the football on at the moment (Euro 2016 competition). I have missed a couple of goals, but they replay several times, so I always manage to catch up. My cheers are just a little later than everyone else's. I don't write when England are playing!
ReplyDeleteLaunna - thank you :-)
I guess I'm odd in that I prefer quiet when working, but I can see how music would be soothing:)
ReplyDeleteCastle. Good choice:)
ReplyDeleteHi, Misha.
ReplyDeleteMark - I think there are a couple of commenters here who agree with you.
ReplyDeleteSandra - I'm watching it right now. It's a shame it ended, but I'm glad they didn't try to do another series without Beckett!
These stories sound fabulous, and I love that cover. Congrats to Annalisa!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Annalisa Crawford! You, Us, I sound intriguing!
ReplyDeleteTabatha and Romance Book Haven - thank you, both :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Annalisa! I like listening to music when I write too. It's so funny that you listen to 80's music, as we have a music channel on TV that just plays 80's music. That's where my mom leaves the TV most of the time. I also like watching some TV to escape my writing. Wishing you many sales, Annalisa.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Annalisa on her new book! I can't listen to music and write at the same time, but I listen to it a lot and I love 80s music.
ReplyDeleteMurees and Lori - the 80s was such a fun time for music.
ReplyDeleteEvery good writer needs their music! *waves at Annalisa* (Keep up this awesome tour momentum, woman! Loving the posts.)
ReplyDeleteMisha, I'm intrigued to hear how you're changing things up. Make sure you tag me when you chat about it.
Thanks Crystal, I'm having a blast so far :-)
ReplyDelete