Art speaks with many tongues: language, imagery, and music. I often find the mix of two helps me create the third: for instance, the scores Ramin Djawadi wrote for Game of Thrones helped me shape the story arc of my YA fantasy Middler’s Pride. John Carpenter’s eerie synthesized melodies wracked up the tension in my short fiction “The Stray.” I listen to these compositions and stare at a landscape or portraits of those who inspire my characters, and find life moving forward: the characters speak, the land folds itself as a blanket Biff whips and bunches up to become a mountain.
Sometimes, though, a buffer remains: I can see the story, but I see it as an outside observer. Some stories can’t be told with that kind of distance. The narrator must be a character within the tale. Or, at the very least, the narrator must latch onto a character, out of sight from the others so as to catch all the unfiltered behaviors one flaunts when manners aren’t required.
In other words, I needed a more intimate point of view.
Enter Alan Silvestri.
Meredydd sees herself as a legend who only needs a chance to prove herself. She’s got skills and she sure as hell ain’t gonna keep quiet about’em. Here’s an excerpt from Middler’s Pride to show you what I mean:
Chapter 32
A day of sun did little to warm the river on their return back. It had been a gloomy wandering, with Tegan chattering like a squirrel, plucking plants and scribbling lines. Oh, she’d call to Meredydd for affirmation about the lushness of the bracken or mushrooms or apples, but that was about it. So Mer sparred the Beaumains in her mind’s eye, vanquishing the entire tribe in one fell swoop.
The trees cradled the sun by the time they returned to the fort, where the old gizzards from Blairlaid’s roundhouse leaned against the fort’s gate. Voices coughed at one another from inside.
Oh goody.
Stitchhead’s grin was infectious…seriously, Mer feared the breath coming out of that black-yellow mouth. “And a good evening, your ladyships. Care to dine in the roundhouse tonight?”
Tegan bit her lower lip. Oh for gods’ sake, she quivered, too. Lucky for her Mer stepped in front. “Only if you both can best me in a fight.”
Their laughs were just as disgusting as the captain’s the other morning, and more. Tegan’s eyes grew wider than Mer thought possible. Quivering with fear of disease seemed rather reasonable now. “Just you, m’lady, or your servant as well?”
What, like Meredydd needed help? “Certainly not. She needs a good rest after a long day of gathering.” There. Mer winked at Tegan. Not making her fight was surely a sign of friendship, right? So why did Tegan scowl so?
“Hey!”
A small huddle of peasants followed Elle and Wynne from the tumain’s gate. Wynne dropped her armful of bundled something-or-another and stalked up. “Tegan’s a Shield Maiden.” She puffed up her chest at Mer like some sort of proud bird. “And so am I!” Yeah. Shield Maidens swallow their fear real slow, just like you, you brood mare, when you see who’s actually at the battle line. “S-so if you insult one of us, you insult us all. Right, Elle?”
Sure, call for her help.
But Elle was deep in talk with the charcoaler. She waved in Wynne’s direction. “You tell’em, Wynne.”
“Yeah!” So Wynne re-puffed and pouted her lip, because apparently, Shield Maidens can win by out-prettying the enemy. “Apologize, Guard!”
“Just”—Meredydd put the back of her hand to Wynne’s breastbone and pushed—“what do you think you’re doing? Honestly,” the sigh couldn’t be helped, “stop embarrassing yourself.”
The old gizzards laughed again. Well, Wynne was pretty pathetic looking.
I am, um, not like that in real life. At all. I still say little to nothing about my writing life with family or friends because I want to keep my writing free of patronizing head pats.
So here I am, this quiet, keep-your-head-down-and-do-your-job kind of person, trying to write about this pompous jerk of a girl who can’t shut up about herself. How can I possibly see the world through her eyes?
Ramin’s theme for Game of Thrones wasn’t quite cutting it in terms of character. I could see the story, sure, and where I wanted it to go, but I couldn’t see the world through Meredydd’s eyes. Through a legend’s eyes. I mean, she’s got an ego that could rival Beowulf’s.
Say…
I snatched up the movie from the library, and knew inside five minutes I had it: Beowulf’s theme was a door into Mer’s head. The dropped beats, the heavy guitar. The choir’s harmonies pound and break like waves against a lone ship in the storm. And damn, that brass! This is alpha music. Power music. Legend music. I listen to this, and I feel Meredydd’s superiority over the common folk. I know her skills. When she imagines what the bards will sing about her, I can imagine the harmony. Mer and Beowulf are both bound in pride, a connection I would have never known if not for Silvestri.
Listen, and witness the legend’s rise.
Did you ever read The Book Thief where Death is the narrator? If not I think you would take to it.
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No, I haven’t, but it sounds like it’s right up my street. Will add to 2017’s To-Be-Read…
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Thanks for the audio, saving a dyslexic further embarrassment. I am privileged. The narrator must be a character, or be within the tale. I agree. That is a problem I have never got around when I have a protest lyric buzzing. I need to write those lyrics first person, and before the thing I’m writing goes out of date, as a sort of narrator, but most often, cannot latch always on to my target/targets.
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Indeed, sometimes we lose our footing and the voice runs away. Reminds me of catching a fairy, which is a thousand times harder than catching a firefly…
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The killer with a protest song is that if you picked current events without thinking the big picture, the song can be out of date before it’s even completed. Early Dylan usually got it right.
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Ooo, good example. I didn’t think of that.
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Does that mean I win 1-0, only my Arsenal lost massively the other night. Both father and I are in a state of depression about it.
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Oh gosh, yes, you win. Hands up. Defeated. 🙂
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Excellent post my lady, once again. What more can I say but keep up the good work and fighting the good fight. xxx
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Thank you, my Dear, I will. I better–writing’s been my little corner of sanity these days.
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Oh it is a vital corner that one. One to protect from all comers xxxxxxxx
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Kickin theme song for a kickin protagonist. Hopefully she finds a “Gwen learns to play nicely with others” theme somewhere along the line!
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Maaaaaaybe… 😉
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Ack! It’s killing me reading a serial so I can’t binge read like I normally do!!! (But probably good for me, I suppose.)
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It’s good for me, too–I’m not done writing it yet! 🙂
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I write non-fiction only, so it fascinate me how a fiction writer is able to conjure up the character, their traits and dialogue, the setting, the…the…the… My hat is off to you, and I’m glad that music and Beowulf are among your inspirations
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Oh thank you, Peggy! What’s been even weirder is studying what I do as I do it. I never put this much thought into the process before, you know? Just, did my thing, kinda hoped something good came up, and kept on doin’ it. Now I’m working on the actual process.
It’s been…illuminating? I think that’s the word. 🙂
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Perfect word.
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It’s great reading your thought process and how you arrive at the stages you’re at with your writing. That is some kick-ass anthemic, indefatigable piece of music. Listening to it is like plugging into a submarine battery. I’m ready for anything, after that!
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I know, right? Silvestri’s smart with that theme, too, mixing it in at major boasting and battle moments. But it was harder for me to work with those tracks because I could only picture Beowulf and not MY protagonist. It was relief to find the theme as its own track!
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This is one of the few blogs where I have almost as much fun reading the comments as I do the post. I related to what Peggy wrote: “I write non-fiction only, so it fascinates me how a fiction writer is able to conjure up the character, their traits, and dialogue, the setting,..” How I wish I could write fiction! While life is so crazy, it’s entirely possible I might want to give it a go later on, I doubt it. (I had one disastrous experience in a college creative writing class…)
Skillbey’s “That is some kick-ass anthemic, indefatigable piece of music. Listening to it is like plugging into a submarine battery” Those are some packed-with-awesome lines, aren’t they?
Re: Beowulf by Alan Silvestri
I’d love to record an answering machine message with his composition blasting in the background!
Hmmm, perhaps I could make up a faux business message:
“Greetings! You have reached the office of Lady Lydia’s Revenge Services, where we crush and destroy whatever you choose!”
You never cease to amaze me with your creations, you java-fueled mastermind!
I pray you’re having a good Friday night, and I fervently hope that you do something FUN over the weekend!
Your devoted kindred spirit,
Lady Spy Dy
p.s. did you know my middle name is Lydia?
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Hi Dyane, I have to agree, Jeanleesworld, is such an enjoyable blog! And I absolutely love your idea of the business message set to the backdrop of Beowulf.
That. is. Scary. 🙂
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You made me laugh, Skilbey – thank you!!!! Re: Jean Lee – I adore that gifted gal!
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(blushes in corner and grins)
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LOL!
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Oh, Dear Lady SpyDy, the weekend’s been, well, up and down, but your words always got a way of putting a smile on my face. 🙂 Thank you for this virtual hug, and yes–don’t be afraid to try a story for your own! I was just asked by my good friend Rachel to stand up in her wedding. She’s planning on a color theme, so people can find their own dress. We got to laughing about finding the right color, and the lengths a bridesmaid will go through for the right outfit. And I realized for the first time ever that would be a hilarious bit of comedic chick-lit to write!
And no, I didn’t know that was your middle name! xxxxxx
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I love the dissection of the process behind why you did what did to bring more out of your characters. Seeing the results of your introspection makes me want to do more of it with my own work. I’m sure my next project can be better because I made myself more aware of what worked or didn’t as I followed wherever inspiration led. Thanks for the post!
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Thank you kindly for reading!
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“I can see the story, but I see it as an outside observer” – Perfectly put.
I love the idea of using music to get inside a character. A very interesting read.
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Thank you. 🙂
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What a wonderful post, and the chapter, and music 🙂
Happy St Patrick’s Day tomorrow ! xx
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Thank you so much–to you as well! xxxx
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Reblogged this on authoraamir and commented:
Keep going strong dear friend. God bless. 😇
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Oh, thank you so much, Friend!
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Pingback: Writer’s Music: Ramin Djawadi II | Jean Lee's World
It is a perfect fit of two art forms. Love the music on its own, but it’s elevated by the film. No where near on your scale but my family have no idea I Blog. I told one of my sisters once and she just laughed – couldn’t believe it, she still doesn’t.
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Hey, I think family just aren’t always meant to know we write. We need writing to be a safe space, and that includes from the judgment of those who think they know us and make assumptions accordingly.
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I really hope you keep finding your safe place. I’ve got intention of sharing with my family. It’s something they will never see. Have to say that doesn’t really bother me. They have their own life’s to live. Need to make other connections.
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Yes, right. There’s only so much overlap one should have to balance, I think.
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