Adele and the Influence of Music on Writing

Adele’s new album 25 has been a source of inspiration as I continue with my next novel. The lead track “Hello” is a glorious song. It is the powerhouse on a record that delves at the core of love, loss, pain, sorrow, compassion, and forgiveness. 25 is a somber record, but Adele explores her emotions and handles her content with great dignity and grace. She is honest, humble, vulnerable, and ultimately hopeful. I can only keep working as hard as I know artists such as Adele do to reach the heartfelt essence of their subject matter, a point we’re all striving to capture and convey.

The challenge for writers is that language can feel like an obstacle. How do we take the words we use every day in speech, communication, and interaction and make that language beautiful, unique, and original in our literary endeavors? I believe language becomes literature when we’re striving to create emotional impact. Music is the higher language. Music achieves pure emotion, which becomes the elevation of language. That is why when I’m writing I rely heavily on listening to my favorite musical artists as much as I do on reading and rereading the authors I admire. It’s a commitment to immersing myself in the creative process. Music helps me focus on the emotional bearing and mood I’m seeking to create with the reader.

Roger 8-)