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cynthia rogan

Novelist, Playwright, Doodle-ist

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Knowing your characters

August 8, 2011 by cynthiarogan Leave a Comment

Some of my writer friends listen to music while they write.

Not me.

The tune, the words, the meaning, the associated emotions–too much of a distraction. See, to me, each song is a story in itself. That story pulls me away from the one I’m working on.

But . . . on occasion, I’ll hear a song that reminds me of a situation or a character in my novel. That helps if I get stuck.

I had just finished the first draft of The Courier when The Killers put out their Sam’s Town CD. I originally bought it for the song “When You Were Young.”

I was sure it was a cover of a Springsteen song. I dug through all my Springsteen music. I couldn’t find it. I called my friend Chuck who happens to be an expert on that particular subject. “No,” he said. “Those words don’t sound familiar.” Sure enough, when I checked the credits, Springsteen wasn’t mentioned. That song was written by The Killers. I was a little embarrassed and a tad perplexed. For some reason, the first time I heard it on the radio, I knew the words to the chorus and one full verse. Weird, huh?

The best part was, I had the CD. And . . . on the CD was a song called “Bling (Confession of a King).”

When I listened to “Bling,” I heard Cyrus and Ralph, I saw Cyrus and Ralph, I felt Cyrus and Ralph.

What do you think?

Bling (Confession of a King) by The Killers

When I offer you survival,
You say it’s hard enough to live,
It’s not so bad, it’s not so bad
How do you know that you’re right?

I awoke on the roadside,
In the land of the free ride,
And I can’t pull it any longer,
The sun is beating down my neck

So I ran with the devil
Left a trail of excuses,
Like a stone on the water,
The elements decide my fate,
Watch it go…”bling”.

When I offer you survival,
You say it’s hard enough to live,
Don’t tell me that it’s over,
Stand up,
Poor and tired,
But more than this

How do you know that you’re right?
If you’re not nervous anymore,
It’s not so bad, it’s not so bad

I feel my vision slipping in and out of focus,
But I’m pushing on for that horizon,
I’m pushing on,
Now I’ve got the blowing wind against my face

So you sling rocks at the rip tide,
Am I wrong or am I right?
I hit the bottom with a “huh!”
Quite strange,
I get my glory in the desert rain,
Watch it go…”bling”.

When I offer you survival,
You say it’s hard enough to live,
And I’ll tell you when it’s over,
Shut up,
Poor and tired,
But more than this

How do you know that you’re right?
If you’re not nervous anymore,
It’s not so bad, it’s not so bad…

Higher and higher,
We’re gonna take it,
Down to the wire,
We’re gonna make it,
Out of the fire,
Higher and higher. (x2)

Higher and higher,
We’re gonna take it,
Down to the wire,
We’re gonna make it out,
Whoa-oh-oh Higher and higher…

It ain’t hard to hold,
When it shines like gold,
You’ll remember me.

Filed Under: BLOG Tagged With: character, character flaws, writing

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