What Taylor Swift Can Teach Writers
by Jeff Chapman
My daughters recently discovered Taylor Swift. You know what that means for me. I tried to interest them in U2, The Doors, or Mazzy Star but no luck. So, as I’m listening to Taylor Swift ad nauseum, the writer in me starts analyzing the lyrics. Why are these songs so popular? (I have to give Swift some praise here for writing songs that at least have some story to analyze.) Here’s a link to a Youtube video for “You Belong to Me,” one of her more popular tunes. It’s safe for work. Unless you’re a guy trying to maintain your macho credentials. In that case you should wait until you get home and everyone is asleep.
Let’s begin with a few observations on the video. As for the guy, if that’s the girl next door, why does he ever leave the house? And why did he close the curtains? And what self-respecting father would allow his daughter to have a bedroom window looking directly into a guy’s window? I would have that window bricked over so fast.
As for the story, we have a geeky girl (glasses, books, and studying) who has a crush on a very popular boy. He’s out of her league. It’s hopeless. But, his uber-popular cheerleader girlfriend is no good for him, doesn’t appreciate him. If he would take a serious look at geeky girl, he might understand that she’s the best girl for him. And that’s exactly what happens in the end.
So why is this song and others like it so popular? The story is every less-than-popular girl’s fantasy. Swift is doing something smart. She’s aligning herself with the majority of teenagers, putting words to the hopes and dreams of the masses along with a catchy tune. Writers often hear the mantra “write the stories you want to read.” The idea is that those stories will be your most impassioned work. We hear successful writers repeating that phrase as if it’s a formula for success. Is it? What if what you want to read isn’t what loads of other people want to read? Will you create great stories that no one reads? Maybe, instead of focusing inward, we should tailor (pun intended) our stories to resonate with the hopes and dreams of the masses. Something to think about.
Last Request: A Victorian Gothic blurb:
“For the love of God, cut my head off.” The last request in Uncle Silas’s will shocks everyone speechless, everyone except his favorite niece, Anna. More than death itself, the claustrophobic Silas fears a premature burial. Will her elders carry out his request? Anna is certain they will not. It’s up to her to do the right thing, even if it is a bit grisly. Armed with butcher knife and candle, Anna heads for the crypt underneath the church in the dead of night. All does not go according to Anna’s careful planning.
Step inside a dark story in the tradition of the penny dreadful, at times humorous and horrifying, but don’t close the door behind you. Someone might lock you in. Last Request can be purchased on Amazon.
About the Author:
Jeff Chapman writes software by day and speculative fiction when he should be sleeping. His tales range from fantasy to horror and they don’t all end badly. He lives with his wife, children, and cats in a house with more books than bookshelf space. You can find him musing about words and fiction on his blog or you can connect with him on Twitter (@JeffChpmnWriter), Facebook, Goodreads, or his blog.
Jeff’s latest title is Last Request: A Victorian Gothic, available for your Kindle at Amazon. At times horrifying and humorous, Last Request follows a young girl’s attempt to carry out her late uncle’s curious request.
Jeff, your blurb has me both cringing and cracking up!
And I enjoyed this post so much. I’ve thought along these lines a lot after reading popular books. It often seems to me that the authors pinpointed common fantasies and that was instrumental in the success of their works.
Hi, Loren! You should totally check out Last Request, and I’m not at all biased having edited it. 😉
Thanks, Loren. I wonder if those writers consciously aimed at those fantasies or stumbled on them through luck.
Thanks for such a fun post, Jeff! Thanks for showing off your inner teen. 🙂
Ha, ha. My oldest daughter became a teenager this year. There are three more to follow. My inner teen will get quite a workout over the next few years.
Jeff, what an interesting and unique post! I really enjoyed this. And great information also. Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by, Susan! I totally agree that Jeff’s post is unique and informative.
Thanks for reading, Susan. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Jeff, I admit I was skeptical to see how you would make Taylor Swift into a good writing post, but you did. Nicely done. This is great advice.
Thanks, Kelly. I had some doubts too, but I think it came together in the end.
Totally agree, Kelly!
Thanks for having me on your blog, Katie.
No problem! You’re always welcome here. 🙂
Great post! Definitely something to think about 🙂 I’ll definitely have to listen a little more carefully the next time I’m hankering for some Swift!
I have to admit that I do like quite a few Taylor Swift’s songs…not my usual musical fare!
Spot on, some artists are just here to give the masses exactly what they want. Something that’s not magical but at least the tunes okay.