True story: When I was struggling to complete my first National Novel Writing Month I called out to the NaNoWriMo gods and founder Chris Baty himself descended from the literary heavens and bestowed upon me this inspirational soundtrack. Need an extra pick me up? Give these five tunes a listen! Is something missing from this list? Drop a comment and let me know what tracks get you pumped up and your pen moving!
Simply the Best – Tina Turner
On the Office UK, boss David Brent (played by Ricky Gervais), employs this tune for his pathetic final to a motivational speech — it was pretty sad. Blame the person, not the song! The song is great to employ as you push your way through the non-writing slackers to the top of the 50k mountain!
You’ve Got The Touch – Stan Bush
This rocking tune comes from the animated Transformers Movie during an epic battle scene between the Autobots and Decepticons. You’ll want the original, not the tuneless remake sung by Mark Wahlberg as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. Fire up your laptop, transform, and roll out!
Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti
What Morgan Freeman is to narration this song is to … well everything. When applied this theme from the Rocky makes everything that much more grandiose. Take a boring speech about third-world micro-finance and dub this in as a backing track and suddenly it becomes the most important talk — ever! Play this during your writing, heck, play it when you are training to write, doing finger stretches and practicing typing on slabs of raw beef.
You’re The Best Around – Joe Esposito
If the 80′s gave us anything worth keeping, it is the upbeat montage song. This one comes from the Karate Kid soundtrack. Wax on! Write like a freaking’ plot ninja! Sweep self-doubt’s leg! Crane kick writer’s block in the face!
Thunder In Your Heart – John Farnham
Once again we jump back to the 80′s, with another montage song, this one from the movie R.A.D. It’s about a small town BMX bike rider that just wants to ride his bicycle to the big leagues. When you are racing to the 50k finish line pump this jam! There’s thunder in your heart, yo! Believe it!
