Filed under: Music Inspiration | Tags: character development, Music, wanda jackson, Writing, Writing Exercise, Writing Inspiration
courtesy nashvillescene.com
The resurgence of Wanda Jackon’s music into the mainstream has gotten me really inspired. Granted, for many people she’s been an ongoing inspiration and I’m sure there are many old fans that never stopped listening to her. But, I obviously haven’t been around a long time and I grew up in a house of jazz, R&B and classic rock…no country or rockabilly in sight, ‘sides some Patsy Cline in the Catskills with gramma. So I think that lets me off the hook.
The first thing that grabbed me about her music was her voice. It’s hard, edgy and sexy. When I had Ryan listen to her, we immediately started comparing her to her male contemporaries like Jerry Lee Lewis, but Ryan pointed out that her sound might have been a competitive reaction to those boys, which made me love her music more. I also wondered which song was better – Presley’s Jailhouse Rock or Jackson’s Riot in Cell Block #9? Hm. Tough call for me.
Anyway, her style is so fun and old-fashioned, I thought it would be a great writing prompt to use her music to write a character.
Writing Prompt:
Listen to one of Wanda Jackson’s greatest hits all the way through on Grooveshark.
(my favorite collection is Queen of Rockabilly)
As you listen, think about an older man or woman listening to this record. Maybe they’re transported to the sixties, maybe they’re just doing housework. Either way, write a scene where he or she uses Wanda Jackson’s music to get him/her through his/her daily routine, sort of like a soundtrack. Again, you don’t need to stay in the present time frame; you can play around with memories, with objects and with expressions. Have fun!
And remember to rock your baby all night long,
H2I,
Alicia
