In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Ramona Ausubel’s book Unstuck will inspire writers (and everyone else) with its wisdom and humor.
Kirkus wrote of the book:
“An upbeat guide to navigating the writing process . . . Warm-hearted and practical, Ausubel emerges as trustworthy companion for a writer who’s stuck anywhere on the challenging road of creativity. Generous, empathetic, and unfailingly encouraging.”
In her own words, here is Ramona Ausubel’s Book Notes music playlist for her book Unstuck:
So much of what I want this book to be is a hype-beast for whatever it is you most want to write. If you’re starting? Get excited, get going. In that long, long middle? Here’s a whole bunch of ways to stay in it. Need some perspective? Let’s go! Ready to see this thing to the end? This book is here for that. Music is an amazing tone-setter for a writing day. Sometimes I like to listen to something that reminds me of the characters, or the setting. Sometimes I’ll make a playlist that I listen to every time I work on a particular project to drop me into the zone more quickly. This playlist is in two parts: Get Excited & Settle In.
A Side: Get Excited
The first part of this playlist is made up of high energy, makes-me-happy songs to get me pumped up before I write.
“Colors”—Black Pumas
Soulful celebration of everyday life. I’m never unhappy to have this song come on!
“Texas Hold ‘Em”—Beyonce
Writing is “taking it to the floor” in so many ways.
“Changes”—Charlie Puth
This one is thanks to my daughter, who puts this on in the car and we all sing at the top of our lungs. Writing feels quiet, but warming up with some loudness always feels good.
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”—Lauryn Hill
I’m 18 years old, driving my clunky old Saab around Santa Fe. It’s summer, I’m on my way to pick my friends so we can go to Allsups and get sodas and gum and then park at the plaza and play the whole album on repeat. Everything is possible.
B Side: Settle In
Now it’s time to sit down and get ready to actually put words on the page. These songs go from more energetic to more chill as my focus sharpens.
“Sound & Color”—Alabama Shakes
Bright and cheerful and open-hearted. Just how I want to be when I write (even if I’m not always—aspiration!).
“Dusty Trails”—Lucius
I like to sing along to this even though I have terrible pitch and my voice reaches nowhere near the angelic heights theirs do. It reminds me that I’m writing a messy, real emerging thing, not a pristine, finished book.
“Right Back to Me”—Waxahatchee
Feels like lying in the sun on a picnic blanket in the summer. It’s an easy day, and trying something doesn’t seem so hard.
“Ripple”—The Grateful Dead
Though I live in Boulder, I am not a Deadhead (Sorry, Dad!), but this song has always felt like home to me. It’s familiar and steady. Settles me down real nice.
“New World Coming”—Nina Simone
Nina Simone’s voice is like a whole entire universe. It feels expansive—in that depth, there is room for all things, even me. Even my weird sentences.
“San Luis”—Gregory Alan Isakov
This is my very favorite writing music. It’s lovely but not boring, textured and warm but not distracting. It’s a nice combination of sweet and sad. Plus Isakov lives a few miles from me, which makes it feel like inviting a friend over (to be clear, we are friends only my imagination). Chances are good that if I’m writing, his whole oeuvre is in the background.
also at Largehearted Boy:
Ramona Ausubel’s playlist for her novel Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty
Ramona Ausubel’s playlist for her short story collection A Guide to Being Born
Ramona Ausubel’s playlist for her novel No One is Here Except All of Us
Ramona Ausubel is the author most recently of Unstuck: 101 Doorways from the Blank Page to the Last Page (Tin House/Zando).