Monday, November 16, 2015

Mood, Food and Music



Writing and reading have taught me a lot of things about myself that I hadn’t thought about.


One of them is that I’m somewhat suggestible. I’m even open to suggestion from myself. Who knew? I wrote a scene in Old Murders Never Die that involved chocolate. I couldn’t finish the scene until I opened a chocolate candy and ate it. I had to let it melt in my mouth, and I had to really think about the taste and how it made me feel. I even studied the color. I tried to tell myself it was all in the name of research, but truth be told, I simply had to have chocolate. I felt better when one of the women who critiques my work told me she had to have chocolate after reading the scene. By the way, the chocolate lifted my mood and brought a smile to my lips.

I read a book not long ago with some comments about popcorn. Do I even need to share that my next taste treat was buttered popcorn?

The Bogey Man Mysteries involve some slang words, phrases and references to music from the 1940s. So what do I do? I turn on forties music when I’m writing a Bogey book. I call it mood music and, again, research, but the fact is that I happen to enjoy it. I grew up in a household where my mother listened to forties music, and she hummed it to herself, too. I can remember my mother singing Three Little Fishies (Itty Bitty Poo) to me when I was a child. That’s not a reflection on my age, although it came out in 1939. Granted, I’m not twenty-five anymore, but I’m not that old. Forget it. You can hear that song and plenty of forties music on YouTube.

But I digress. So, I’ve got mood music and mood food. How much more is there? Fortunately, not much. How about mood pictures? When I’m writing a scene and I want to figure out how a character might react, I try to picture it in my mind. I want to “see” the character’s facial expression, how he or she might use their hands, whether or not they step back in fear, or step forward defiantly. Does the character nervously play with their napkin while they’re talking at a restaurant, or does this person systematically rip it to shreds? What are their movements and how does that relay their state of mind to the reader?

Of course, watching other people (as I’ve mentioned before) can be very enlightening. If I keep talking about that, at some point people will begin to avoid me. “Run for the hills! Here comes Marja, and she’s watching us again.”

As an author, have you ever thought about how much your writing might influence your audience? As a reader, do you find that you have a craving for some kind of food while you’re reading, or does your mood suddenly take a turn you didn’t expect?

While you’re contemplating that, I’m going in search of chocolate. I won’t have to look far, believe me.

Until next time, turn on some good music, find a chocolate bar (to be followed by popcorn), and either sit back with a good book, a good movie, or just spend some time daydreaming.

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20 comments:

  1. Ah, yes. It was music on the radio, wasn't it? Marsidoats? Kay Kaiser? Altogether a happy time, up until 12/7/41. No more light-hearted music.

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    1. The Andrews SIsters, Dac. They kept things light-hearted, even the songs that had to do with the military. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. : ) Maybe there weren't many light hearts, but the music kept people going, or at least the musicians gave it a good try. Thank you so much for commenting! (Ah, Marsidoats.)

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  2. Running for the hills to avoid you would not be productive. You have had too much time for observation. Very insightful post made for excellent reading. Appreciate your honesty.

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    1. Thank you, Jake! I think you love observing people, too. Right? Thank you so much for commenting!

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    2. People watching and eavesdropping are two of my favorites. I don't think I'm susceptible to what I'm writing though. I love the music that came out during WW II. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else but Me! I can still sing all those old songs, and can't any new ones.

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  3. I love music and it has a huge impact on my mood. Although I prefer total silence when I'm writing, I use music every day in one way or another. For example, when I'm cleaning house, I like to listen to good ole rock and roll because it gets me motivated and moving. When I want to relax, I listen to classical music. You will probably never find me listening to whiny romantic or sad songs because they tend to dampen my spirits. And who needs that?
    As to chocolate, bring it on! LOL

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    1. You have a good point, Pat. It's amazing how much music can alter our moods. Rock and Roll and music even older than that was fun. I don't find any fun in today's music. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  4. Well, I'm a chocoholic also and a music lover until about the late 70s when music seemed to die. The music of today just sounds like irritating noise to me. Like Patricia I must have total silence when I'm writing. And like Marilyn I people watch and eavesdrop--a lot! And subconsciously they may end up in a novel.

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    1. LOL If people only knew how close they're being watched and listened to, Pat. Have you noticed that for some reason people seem to speak louder when they're on their cell phones? They share a lot of personal information without meaning to. Time to find some chocolate. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  5. I'm with you, Marilyn. I love the old music. I even enjoy some of the thirties music, and maybe a little from the twenties. I once had a Tea Room, and all I played was old music. The customers loved it, even the teenagers. Fun stuff. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  6. I use both music and food (especially fragrances) to go deeper into the mood of the scene I'm writing, especially in the Anita Ray books, which are set in India. I could probably write the books without those aids, but I love Indian food and Indian music, so why deprive myself? Fun post.

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    1. Thank you, Susan! I never thought about fragrances. I'll have to try that. I turn the music on in the other room, so it's not too close. Otherwise it's distracting for me. No, don't deprive yourself. Little things make us happy. : )

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  7. I think we're all pretty suggestible. Whenever I'm writing about my characters having a drink, whether it's a soft drink or a cocktail, I always feel like I have to have that same drink. Silly, but true. And when I wrote about them eating chocolate whipped cream cake, well you can just guess. I listen to 40's music on the radio when I'm driving. We subscribe to Sirius FM.

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    1. Chocolate whipped cream cake, Evelyn? Really? Now I need some chocolate. I'd prefer cake, but the pickin's are limited since I'm packing to move. Our characters do have more impact on us than we're sometimes willing to admit.
      Thank you for commenting!

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  8. Food, music, eavesdropping -- I'm into all of that, and I know it affects what I'm writing, from ideas right down to putting it on the page. You just inspired me to reach into my desk drawer and pull out a bag of M & Ms. Yum. A fun and thoughtful post, Marja.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. No one is safe around writers. We take in everything. : ) Thank you for commenting!

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  9. Okay, Marja, off to eat a chocolate cupcake calling my name from the refrigerator...you are dangerous, even on your blog! As always, enjoyed your insightful (and in this case suggestive) thoughts!

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    1. LOL Hope you enjoyed your cupcake, Madeline. Since I'm packing to move, I don't have as much chocolate in the house as normal. It's soooo sad. : ) Thank you for commenting!

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  10. You just had to mention chocolate, didn't you? I think chocolate makes writing mysteries better; it makes the murder more mysterious, the clues more enticing, the resolution more satisfying. Chocolate just goes with everything I do. I'd eat it in the shower if I could.

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    1. A woman after my own heart, Lesley. : ) And, yes, I've even thought about a mystery that takes place in a chocolate factory. But I probably won't go that far. Thank you so much for commenting!

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