Reading and Writing Prompt for 10/1

There's a reason they call it "mood music." Music can not only affect your mood as you write, it can add depth, emotion and atmosphere to a story.

Writing prompt for this week: in class, we listened to "Grapevine Fires" by Death Cab for Cutie. (If you missed it or want to hear it again, here's a link, but don't watch the video until after you do the exercise, or images from it will creep into your writing.)

Listen to the song and jot down words that resonate for you and ideas and images that strike you as you listen.

Then, do a 15-minute free write, taking off from these words and images. Try not to overthink or edit yourself as you write--just stay with the mood.

You can also do this same exercise with any song of your choice.

For class discussion next week, we have a story that Tom posted and Michael Cunningham's classic short story "White Angel" in What If? You'll see how he uses music references and other details to evoke the mood of the 1960s.

Also recommended (not an assignment, but just for fun or extra credit): If you haven't already seen it, or even if you have, watch the film Across the Universe, then try this exercise from Meg Pokrass's writing blog.