John Williams Writes Novels With Me

November 23, 2010

Every year in November, John Williams writes novels with me. So do James Horner and Michael Giacchino. But this year, it's a lot of John. He sits beside me while I type out the story that unfolds in my mind, cheering me on. It's true. Well, it feels like it's true. 

As I look ahead to National Novel Writing Month every year, I prepare in two ways. First, I try to read a novel or two in November that have similar qualities to what I will be writing. For example, last year I read Jurassic Park and The Odyssey because my story was going to be about children who take a journey through various alternate realities, encountering many mysteries and dangers on the way. 

Second, I choose music to write to. Some of my friends write better in silence or surrounded by the sounds of conversations in a coffee shop, but as for me, music is essential. That novel I wrote last year was almost exclusively powered by Michael Giacchino's Star Trek soundtrack because that movie dealt with the themes of adventure and meeting potential and alternate reality. This year, I'm listening to a lot of Indiana Jones music (courtesy of John Williams) that helps me get a feel for my archaeological type jungle scenes. Movie music also works really well for me because it doesn't have any words that get in the way of the words I'm writing.

Now that November is coming to a close, and I'm approaching my 50,000 word goal (albeit slowly), I can pretty much hear all of the Indiana Jones music in my head without a recording. I wonder if anyone ever reads my novel, if they might walk away from it humming the Indy theme to themselves.

Brian M.
Boardwalk Branch