Think Outside the Lyrics: Nonfiction
Music can be your muse when it comes to getting nonfiction writing ideas
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Sometimes, when listening to music, you just have to think outside the lyrics. Seriously, let your mind go free, and you will be surprised what might come to mind. Some examples off the top of my head:
Moon River
A popular science article about water on the moon. What that means for the future of lunar colonization?
Building a reflecting pond in the backyard so you can watch the moon in it.
Green, Green Grass of Home
How to grow a lush lawn
Marijuana use among Baby Boomer yuppies
Greening your house. Ecologically sensitive ways to do everything around the house
I left my heart in San Francisco
A Tony Bennett Tour of The City by the Bay highlighting the landmarks in the song.
An essay about music of cities and what they tell us about the residents.
A profile of Tony Bennett at 80.
It's only a paper moon
Making Dioramas with your kids to teach them about the Bible.
An essay about the trend toward the artificial in the modern world.
Well you get the idea. That was about 10 minutes of work. Now, you try it.
Think Outside the Lyrics: Fiction
I know that some authors have a "sound track" for their writing. Their sound track is a collection of songs that reflect the various themes of the novel. I'm going to suggest that songs can also stimulate your creativity in other ways. Songs can give you ideas for writing. Let's take a song like Scarborough Fair. The refrain goes:
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
There are many possibilities with a ballad like this. One is to imagine the 'backstory' of the song. Who is the singer? Who did he know? She was his true love. How did that love affair go? How did it end? Why did he leave? Why does he still remember her? Write a story about that experience which leads up to the song. You could also write one about what happens after the song. What happens when this person goes and "remembers" the singer to his former love? Does she return to the singer? Does she fall in love with the messenger? Lots of ways to go.
So, listen to songs, not only as a background for your writing, but stay tuned to them, and they may become your inspiration as well.