Elliot Kessler

When I work on my stories or read through my drafts, I often do so with earbuds in. Either that or I go back to the piano in our house and play a few songs before sitting down to write. Why? Because two reasons. One, I love music. Two, I feel much more immersed in the world of my story. I feel the atmosphere and the moods that I’m trying to create. It helps me to feel what I want my audience to feel, which gives me the adjectives needed to provide that mood.

Music is a very creative, flowing, and inspiring medium of entertainment. I love playing music. It’s super fun, no matter the instrument. But why do I think it’s important to creative writing?

Music always creates some kind of atmosphere and mood. Or, as the kids say these days, “vibe.” (Yeah, you can boo me for this one, too. I haven’t been at the top of my game lately.) It becomes immersive, and you feel any emotion the musician wants you to feel.

I’ve heard many people talk about how classical music helps them to focus when reading, but that usually doesn’t do it for me. I enjoy classical music, but I don’t love it so much that I can name more than three songs off the top of my head. It’s enjoyable, relaxing, and easily sets the mood, but it’s usually not the mood I’m shooting for. That’s why I use movie scores instead of classical music.

I love movie scores. They are brilliant, satisfying, and even stronger emotionally than classical music because they are already closely tied to a story. You can find any mood you want with movie scores, whether it’s the energetic, electronic synths of “Tron: Legacy,” or the dark, moody piano and violins of “The Batman.” Movie scores have so much to offer; they always help immerse me into a story, whether it’s one I’m writing or experiencing.

Getting immersed in a story is an important step in my writing process. If I don’t feel as connected to my world as I do to the real world, then how do I expect my audience to jump into the pages of my work? I want my readers, you guys, to feel immersed in a magical, enchanting way. I want you guys to feel like you are a part of the world. I want you guys to have fun.

Thank you for reading! Have a fantastic day.