Songs I Jammed to While Writing Better Than Okay

Okay, so I thought it would be cool to let everyone know what artists I was listening to while writing Better Than Okay. I listened to a bit of everything (as usual) but these songs or albums were especially pivotal while creating Destiny and Brian's world. 

I have to admit, sometimes I'd be blocked for a week at a time (although it took about two months to finish the first draft)... usually when something rough was happening with the characters. I really tried to make sure that their responses and reactions to different external factors (or in Destiny's case, internal ramblings) were true to character and realistic. 

Anyway. Here's my playlist. Maybe you'll find something new you dig, or something old worth remembering.

Jesse Boykins- "Come to My Room" 
This song honestly probably received the most play while I was writing, especially late at night. It's so sensual, not overtly sex-filled but coaxing and gentle. I love this song. I was listening to this while writing a lot of the love scenes—and by that I mean the scenes where they were interacting with each other and the love was apparent, even if there was nothing physical happening. 

Daley- "Look Up"
This is just a great song and I really listened to this mostly while doing my revisions. 


Philip Owusu- "Goodnight"
This is such a dope song with so much character and energy. It's a storytelling song that I could lost in and leave on repeat without noticing (in a good way).

Stevie Wonder- "Knocks Me Off My Feet"-  In the book, Destiny's favorite artist of all-time is Stevie Wonder. At one point I even had each of the chapters named for a Stevie Wonder song but ultimately decided against it. This song in particular is so gorgeous. I know it's a popular song that gets played a lot but really listening to the words and absorbing the  feelings he was relating with his descriptions is beautiful on another level.

John Legend- Love in the Future
Let's be clear. I cant' stand "All of Me" which has become the popular song off of this album. But this is a really great album, John's best since Once Again in my opinion. "We Loved It" featuring Seal, "Aim High" "Who Do We Think We Are" and "So Gone" are among my favorites and were played repeatedly while writing the entire book. In fact, the sequel to Better Than Okay (which I'm writing now) is sort of themed after one of John Legend's most memorable songs "Ordinary People." What happens when you get past the honeymoon and into "the thick of love" as he says? 

Radiohead- OK Computer
One of my favorite albums of all-time, I remember writing most of Chapters 8 and 9 listening to this on repeat. 



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