Writing: Musical Inspiration: “MissFit”

Last Friday we were discussing the standard question put to writers: “Where do you get your ideas from?” It’s the question every writer has been asked at some point in their career, and one that never has a set single answer. Well, for me, sometimes inspiration can come from the music I listen to while I write…

For instance: in Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1, there’s a scene in chapter 6, in which Pan—rain-soaked after sitting out in a heavy downpour—goes to her bedroom to pull together a change of clothes. To lighten her depressed mood, she turns on her Mac’s iTunes DJ and a song comes on. Pan sings along as she heads off to take a shower.

I’d been listening to Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill—Danish band Horrorpops’ third album, on which “MissFit” is the second track—while I was writing the scene, not really paying attention to the lyrics; it was just background music to help me get into Pan’s head. Then I heard:

My fist!

In the middle of your face!

My fist!

In the middle of your—

Well, that certainly got my attention, because Pan had punched a mean girl in the jaw two chapters earlier. So I replayed the song—and suddenly realized I was listening to Pan’s “theme song” (lyrics below):

I don’t always tread, don’t always tread careful

Yeah

Most of the time I’m quite annoying

I don’t watch my mouth

Don’t find an out in a fight

I can scream and shout and be a loudmouth!

And I, I’m from the wrong side of town

Now frown

On top of that I’m female!

Nothing, nothing I say is adequate

According to you I’m a MissFit!

What made you my judge and juror?

So I, I don’t care for the common trend

Why is that something I have to defend?

Who made you my judge and juror?

So I carry my fists, I carry my fists high

‘Cause most of the time I know I have to fight

For what I believe, what I believe is right

Even stupid things like keeping my hair dyed

And I, I’m from the wrong side of the town

Now frown

On top of that I’m female!

Nothing, nothing I say is adequate

According to you I’m a MissFit!

What made you my judge and juror?

So I, I don’t care for the common trend

Why is that something I have to defend?

Who made you my judge and juror?

My fist in the middle of your face

My fist in the middle of your—

Nothing, Nothing I say is adequate

According to you I’m a MissFit

What made you my judge and juror?

So I, I don’t care for the common trend

Why is that something I have to defend?

I still stand tall!

Once I focused on the lyrics, I knew “MissFit” was the perfect Pan song and I had to incorporate it into the bedroom scene. Thus, iTunes is turned on, Horrorpops loads up, and Pan exits, yelling “My fist! In the middle of your face!” at the top of her lungs.

Fun fact: Turns out the “My fist” shout-out was itself inspired by a song: the British band Madness’ 1982 pop tune “Our House” (Our house/In the middle of our street/Our house/In the middle of our—).

See? Inspiration can be found everywhere!

Next: Enter: The Fiend Club!