Novel Playlist

I'm writing the next great American novel.  Except I'm not.  I'm supposed to have turned in a new outline of my current YA novel (tentatively called Standing Quiet in the Rain after a line from a song by The Cure) by last August to my writing friend.  But I haven't.  The outline was supposed to inspire me to do the re-writing of what I have so far (around 25k-30k words) and move forward to finish it.  I'm not far from done but I'm stuck.  Because re-writing is harder than writing. 

And I also don't have as much free time as I used to since I'm working more.  And I've been working on this blog since August so haven't focused as much on my own writing.  But I figure, at least I'm writing something, even if it's not my novel. 

Last Sunday morning (since Mr Bookworm went back to bed), I thought I could focus on my playlist for this current novel.  I'm looking for a source of new inspiration and since one of my main characters (Henry/Hanry/Han) has a love for old school SoCal punk, maybe I'll start there. (Yes, I know that not all of these bands are from SoCal.  And, yes, the sound quality isn't great on some of these videos, but I prefer live versions.)

In my teens/early 20s, I saw many Big Drill Car and All shows.  So I can't take them out of the list.  I still love their music.

I have to include The Replacements "Bastards of Young" and The Cure's "Lovesong" because they are both mentioned in Standing Quiet in the Rain (working title).  If you don't think that The Replacements belong with the punk bands, then you haven't heard their early years.  My twin and I saw The Replacements at the Palladium last year--the same place we saw them in the 90s.  Though Paul Westerberg's voice hasn't lasted as well all these years--likely due to smoking as much as getting older--it was a good show.  If only because I love live music and spending time with my twin. 

"Lovesong" is included but I don't think of my novel as a love story.  Certainly not your typical teen/YA love story.  It's more about the aftermath of the death of Hanry's brother (spoiler alert!) and the wake he leaves behind.  I guess I need to work on my summary--much exemplified to myself when I applied for a workshop retreat a few weeks ago and I had to remind myself what my novel was about.  I hope I am accepted as the workshop focuses on writing 'cross-culturally' and Nicola Yoon is one of the guest speakers. (ETA: since first writing this post, I've found out that I've been accepted to the workshop!  Yay!  Though to be honest, I'm not sure if I can go--five days away from my family is a LOOOOOONG time.)  And my working title?  It comes from a line in "Pictures of You" in case you're wondering. 

Finally, I have to include "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies, if only because it's the song I was thinking about when I woke up at 5am and thought about revising my novel playlist.  No, it has no relation to what happens in my novel.

There you have it: my novel-novel playlist.  Get it? Now if I can only find my old battered copy of Steinbeck's Cannery Row, then I can Instagram a pic for the @reademandkeep contest by Juniper Books (The contest was extended two more weeks so you still have time to enter!). Cannery Row is the only book that may rival Pride and Prejudice in the number of times I've read it.  There are many reasons for that, not the least of which is my love for Monterey.  The very first novel I worked on (still unfinished, see my review of The Land of Forgotten Girls where I discuss the ghosts) has sections set in Monterey at the turn of the century.  Not this past century, but early 1900s before the Chinese were driven from their fishing village in the spot where the Stanford marine lab now sits. One day....one day, I'll get back to writing that one. 

Maybe this song list will save you from the Christmas music ear worms that are so prevalent right now?  Happy Holidays!