Sunday Morning Playlist

So, I’ve got some work to do. I’ve been ignoring my blog. I can’t even say why, really, except that writing this is different than working on a book. It comes from a different place, a place that is sometimes hard to tap in to. That inner voice that doesn’t always want to speak. 


That said, let’s make this easy for me, no? My first blog entry of 2019 will be about music.

I’ve moved away from rock some, since Chester died. And I OD’d on Twenty-One Pilots. I still love them to death but literally that’s all I’ve listened to since last October when “Trench” was released. So here I am, on a quiet Sunday morning, and this is my playlist.

Greek Tragedy – The Wombats
Cigarette Daydream – Cage the Elephant
Silver Tongue – Young the Giant
Talk Too Much – Coin
Pieces – Andrew Belle
Sun – Two Door Cinema Club
Chocolate – The 1975
Avalanche – Walk the Moon
Off She Goes – Bad Suns
Different Colors – Walk the Moon
Dreaming – Smallpools
Electric Love – BØRNS
Happy Hour – Weezer
Flashed Junk Mind – Milky Chance
Run – Coin
What You Know – Two Door Cinema Club
Sit Next to Me – Foster the People
Dancing on Quicksand – Bad Suns
Breezeblocks – Alt J
Oceans – Coasts
Fun – Sir Sly
I Would Do Anything for You – Foster the People

And finally,

Superposition – Young the Giant

J. L. Dodd



I love these lyrics ya’ll. 

“Superposition”

I don't believe in fate

No psychic vision
But when things fall into place, superposition
In any universe you are my dark star

I want you to want me

Why don't we rely on chemistry?
Why don't we collide the spaces that divide us?
I want you to want me
Superstition aims with imprecision
But when things can't be explained, superposition, oh
In any universe you are my dark star
I want you to want me
Why don't we rely on chemistry?
Why don't we collide the spaces that divide us?
I want you to want me
I want you to want me
No matter what we do
I'll be there with you!
I want you to want me
Why don't we rely on chemistry?
Why don't we collide the spaces that divide us?
I want you to want me

RANDOM AF! Profanity

I can't say why, but when I write, I have a tendency to use more profanity that usual. But really, isn't profanity mostly about emphasis? I think so. I use it in place of "very", not because I'm a sailor or a delinquent but because I want to get your attention. "Clean up your shitty-ass shit!" or "Use the mother fucking turning lane stupid ass!"

I also think it's funny. As opposed to using profanity in anger, when you use it for emphasis, it's hilarious. Even SpongeBob has a potty mouth. There's that episode where him and Patrick keep cussing and its bleeped out with dolphin noises. Plus he's always saying "barnacles!" Which is the literary equivalent of "fucking a!" My kids think it's funny too, although I'm sure I won't be laughing when they do it.

That being said, there's a time and a place people. I'm always amazed that my automatic filter kicks in when I'm around my mom, even though I'm much too old to worry about it. But yeah.

It's really hard to give my characters, especially Maiki, a filter. She's an extension of me to some degree, and then again she isn't. Would she say this or that? Does she think profanity is hilarious? Would her friend Marcus get mad at her? These are all questions I've asked myself. At this point, I'm don't have all the answers. I haven't taken any profanity out of my book while editing although it's certainly not YA appropriate as is. But I don't really give a fuck. Haha.

J. L. Dodd

“If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em!”
― John Waters