Inherently Different

like a rolling stone

I love me some blues. As illustrated by this post. When I write, I gather up music that puts me in the mind of the character I’m writing for. In most instances, I use blues to find the moral center of a character. What do I mean? Let’s say my character is looking at a woman in a carnal way, I might choose John Lee Hooker’s Shake It Baby


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Maybe my character is desperate, alone, broke and consistently makes decisions that lead him down the wrong path… I might choose Poor Boy by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters.


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Let’s say that I’m writing a female character. A vicious, low down dirty skirt with an agenda that might bring, ultimately, harm to another male character… I’d choose How Could One Woman Be So Mean? by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells


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Blues are a musical history of human emotion. Love, hate, scorn, happiness, sadness, desperation, and perserverence can all be found in the complex tapestry of a blues song. In case you’re at all interested, Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey is one of the best collections of blues music for beginners. It brings together the most notable styles, eras, and names in the world of blues and ties it all together in a neat little bow.

6 thoughts on “like a rolling stone”

  1. as far as I know I’m not a blues fan — but they won’t play for me so i guess i won’t find out for sure today.
    but that is great that you use music to help you write – sounds kind of like an actor getting into character.

  2. Dude, seriously, I’m not joking here. I have been on such a blues kick for the past year. Now more than ever. In fact, I’ve been thinking of teaming up with a very talented guitar player I know to start a bluesy kinda thing going. Damn dude, did your post ever come at a good time for me. Thanks! HA!

  3. yeah I do the same thing from time to time, but I can’t listen to music and write at the same time – or if I do it can’t have lyrics or it puts me completely off.

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