Writing Prompts: Music

Image by Michael Gaida, Düsseldorf/Germany

Writing Prompts

Use music to get at your guts and hearts  less intellectually today. Don't look at a mentor poem before writing; just listen and wait for a connection.  Then, write from there. 
 
Here's the approach I suggest.  The music prompts are about 6-10 min, with at least three interesting shifts in each piece.  Close your eyes and listen to everything: musical instruments, harmonies, dissonance, lyrics--don’t worry if you don’t get all of them, voice, timbre, tone shifts.  Whatever information, instincts, images come to you, write them. You could even listen and write afterwards.  Write for ten minutes.  

"Pulled by the Weather" Valley Queen

"Morning Sun" (live) Melody Gardot 

Talk Back

What appealed to you?  Words as a tool, how you sling words to hurt someone, words and being bruised, being pulled by the weather, hanging on, numbered days?  Or is it that morning sun waiting on the work, how she shines down on all your troubles,  how the world is made for you--made for believin--made for dreamin'.  As in a poem, where are the tone shifts in these two music pieces?  Tell us your experiences in the comments section below.

Something Extra

What is it in this poem that goes against the natural order of things? Or is that natural, too -- an upset in the order of things?  How is the outer landscape reflecting the inner landscape?  How are the main characters in the poem moving about?  What are their stories? How is the house a character.  Which of the little details are poignant to you in telling the story?


More Valley Queen:                                 And Melody Gardot:

Valley Queen's Tiny Desk Concert, NPR

Melody Gardot's rendition of "Ain't No Sushine" by the late great Bill Withers