TVD's Parting Shots

I think it bears repeating that this Friday feature, the newly re-christened 'Parting Shots' is YOUR forum, TVD reader. It's the spot where you get to talk back to us and to the world at large via ye olde internets. A mere mention of this to Ms. Urban Gypsy--she of the almost brand new Retro Kino--had my in-box almost immediately abuzz with Mp3's and:

"This has been an amazing week. Two of my biggest dreams have come true. One is making a guest appearance on TVD (thanks, Jon!) and the other is finally finishing my novel. After ten months of agony, I got my first draft printed up yesterday. Jon said I could write about what I'm into these days, and what I've got on my mind is the intersection between music and literature. At first glance, there may not seem to be much. Music requires instruments, a playback device, a venue, or a live audience. Literature requires a pen or word processor and lots of solitude. But there is more cross-pollination going on between the art forms than first meets the eye.

For myself, I can say that when I'm writing, I rely on my music collection far more than on my thesaurus. The right song at the right moment is the greatest form of inspiration a writer could hope for. It tickles the cerebrum and opens up the soul. Putting my mp3 player on shuffle and waiting to see what comes up could yield a long-buried memory, the perfect word to describe an image, an interesting name for a character, or just the right title. Music literally transports you out of your surroundings and deposits you in a different place and time, an invaluable help when constructing fictional worlds. Best of all, my headphones keep me company when I'm typing at four o'clock in the morning and my house starts making creepy noises.

Here is a mix of ten songs which run the gamut of my writing experience, from faltering beginnings to the glorious finish. Without further ado, please join me in saying goodbye to my summer of typing and welcoming me back to the real world."

Voxtrot - The Start of Something (Mp3)
Spoon - The Book I Write (Mp3)
Shankar Jaikishan - Typewriter Tip Tip Tip (Mp3)
Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-On (Mp3)
Knights - The Words Don't Come (Mp3)
Teitur - All My Mistakes (Mp3)
The Smiths - I've Started Something I Can't Finish (Mp3)
Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short (Mp3)
Peter Schilling - The Different Story (Mp3)
The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends (Mp3)