Why reading fiction can make you a better songwriter (Part 1)

If you have a TBR pile staring at you, let this article be a reminder to get back to it and pick up a book. To become a songwriter, YOU MUST READ FICTION. To save you from reader’s guilt, I have to lay down some new rules for you.

1. Rule 1: It is okay to buy new books. Focus on that one book which you want to read now, read what you are interested in the present. don’t buy for the future, if a story or plot makes you want to read it now, get it. I’ll take responsibility!

2. Rule 2: It is okay to leave a book incomplete if it gets boring because you can only read anywhere around 3000 books, choose them wisely.

3. Rule 3: You don’t have to read the book from the first page to last page always, skip to your favourite chapter, skip the preface, it’s okay.

Now, that we have laid down basic rules for reading, let’s tackle the “I will just read non fiction” or “I can’t read at all” problems. As a general rule, have a healthy ratio of fiction and non-fiction books. You need both in your life, non fiction to improve your skills and fiction to spark your imagination. I have a few reader friends, who vehemently oppose the idea of reading fiction claiming fiction to be a waste of time. I am never more disappointed in someone. If non-fiction provides you with the skills you need, fiction provides you with novel ideas. Fiction allows you to live a thousand lives and compound experience. You can’t learn about emotion and expression from non-fiction books. See, I am not against reading non-fiction, I have probably read more non-fiction than fiction myself, but I try to keep a healthy balance. If I am reading a non fiction book in the morning, I complement it with a fiction read before I hit the bed to give my brain all the fuel needed to come up with novel concepts and have interesting dreams. As a creator and songwriter, I consider the habit of reading fiction a prerequisite. How reading fiction directly affects your songwriting? Let’s dive into it with the help of some examples and insights:

1. Embracing the Art of Storytelling

   1. Analogical Insight: Just as a novelist crafts intricate narratives, a songwriter weaves tales within the confines of a song. Reading fiction allows you to understand how to create compelling stories and narratives. There are a hundred different styles to tell a story, you need to find the right one for your song. I usually have a couple of books that I use for each song to identify the storytelling style I am going for.

   2. Literary Example: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald - This novel's storytelling mastery can inspire songwriters to develop compelling narratives within their songs, like a modern-day ballad. It surely has inspired me.

   3. From my diary: KAPOW!’s Sci-Fi rock song Experimenting with hoomans draws from the fiction novels: Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, IQ84 and more.

      
      

2. The Power of Metaphor and Symbolism

   1. Analogical Insight: Just as literature employs metaphor and symbolism, songwriting can use these literary devices to convey profound meanings. Using the right literary device and building a library of symbolic elements for your songwriting is something you can achieve by reading fictional works.

   2. Literary Example: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell - The allegorical nature of this novel can inspire songwriters to use metaphor to convey complex themes in the lyrics.

   3. From my diary: Sultana, our first song as a band is riddled with metaphors and symbolism. The entire song is about mental health and peer pressure that a lot of young graduates experience in their lives.

   
   

3. Evoking Atmosphere and Mood:

   1. Analogical Insight: Like a well-described setting in a novel, the atmosphere created by music sets the mood of a song, enhancing its emotional impact. You must learn how to build the world of your song and for that you need to draw inspiration from all the fictional worlds. You need the right vocabulary and descriptive words that transport people to the fictional world of your song with ease.

   2. Literary Example: "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë - The haunting moors in this novel's setting can encourage songwriters to craft music that evokes a distinct atmosphere. This is one of my favourite books, a little obsession if you may, I have 5+ limited edition copies of it and I am on a mission to “catch ‘em all”. I digress, the moral being, you will see the world of ‘Wuthering Heights’ constantly reflected in my songwriting.

   3. From my diary: The romantic tragedy of KAPOW! Since September is set in the same world as the tumultuous love of Heathcliffe and Catherine. You can be transported to the moors and relive the setting just by listening to the song.

   
   

4. Character-driven Lyrics:

   1. Analogical Insight: Just as a novel delves into characters' motivations and actions, lyrics can explore the motives and choices of the song's subjects. Write motivations and beliefs for all your characters in the song. It’s like roleplaying, it is a really fun and rewarding exercise. Sometimes you want to create characters that have specific quirks and personalities, maybe you want to create a character that is completely un-relatable too, for all these character sketches you’ll need a ton of raw material which you can find plenty in great masterpieces of fiction.

   2. Literary Example: "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky - The psychological depth of Raskolnikov's character can inspire songwriters to delve into complex character studies within their songs.

   3. From my diary: Want some get some KAPOW!’s wild wild west song is built around a character going through an emotionally traumatised cowboy who vents out his anger on the city that chained and banished him. He brutally exacts his revenge leading to a cathartic realisation and self growth.

   
   

5. Emotional Depth

   1. Analogical Insight: Like characters in a novel, song lyrics allow songwriters to explore the depths of human emotion, creating relatable characters in their songs. Non-fiction can never teach you emotional lessons like fiction can.

   2. Literary Example: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee - Scout's innocent perspective can remind songwriters to tap into the purity of emotions when crafting lyrics or maybe you want to dive into Ian Fleming’s Bond like character, that is on one end filled with charm and grit but on the other fails at human connection. You can use all these existing works as the bedrock for your songwriting.

   3. From my diary: The emotional ballad, Start Again by KAPOW!, is a great example of emotional depth, from the lyrics to the guitar solo, each element is carefully placed to allow the characters of the songs to express the raw emotions.

Conclusion: Learn the Fusion of Fiction and Songwriting

As you immerse yourself in the pages of fiction, remember that each word you absorb can become a lyrical brushstroke on the canvas of your songwriting. I have excerpts and excerpts from my cherished reads that each can be and will be built into one of songs future. The literary world is a treasure trove of symbols, offering narratives, characters, and themes waiting to be transformed into timeless melodies. With the wisdom of your sensei Eternalramblings as your guide, may your songwriting journey be enriched by the magic of fiction, if you need suggestions, I can blow your mind!