20 Authors Who Use Music to Outline Their Plots

Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami’s novels pulse with the beat of jazz, classical, and rock music. He’s famous for threading songs directly into his characters’ lives, making music almost a character itself. His acclaimed novel “Norwegian Wood” takes its title from a Beatles song, and the melody haunts the story like a recurring memory. Readers notice how Murakami builds mood and even dialogue around music, using it to signal shifts in emotion or time. The author himself has said in interviews that music is fundamental to his writing process, often helping him establish a novel’s rhythm. Murakami’s characters are drawn to record players, jazz bars, and haunting melodies, which shape their emotional worlds. The music doesn’t just sit in the background—it shapes the path his plots take, making each story as much an auditory experience as a literary one.

Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby’s novels often revolve around characters who live and breathe music. In “High Fidelity,” the protagonist organizes his life—and his heartbreaks—by creating top-five song lists. Music is more than a theme; it’s the scaffolding of Hornby’s plots. The emotional highs and lows of his characters are tied directly to the records they play and the lyrics they quote. Hornby has spoken about how music gives him access to his characters’ vulnerabilities, letting readers into their inner lives. His books are packed with references to pop, rock, and soul, reflecting the way music shapes memory and identity. This approach doesn’t just provide atmosphere; it makes the reader feel like they’re flipping through a friend’s record collection, sharing those intimate moments of musical discovery.

Jennifer Egan

Jennifer Egan’s “A Visit from the Goon Squad” is structured almost like a concept album, with interconnected chapters that echo the shifts in a mixtape. One chapter is famously written as a PowerPoint presentation, mimicking the layering and repetition of musical motifs. Egan has cited punk rock and 1970s music as influences, and readers can feel that energy in the book’s jump cuts and shifting perspectives. Her characters are shaped by the songs of their youth, and their stories unfold in rhythms that mirror the unpredictable pulse of music itself. Egan uses these musical structures to explore themes of time, memory, and reinvention. The result is a novel that feels both nostalgic and experimental, as if the reader is listening to a new band play familiar songs in a new way.

Bret Easton Ellis

Bret Easton Ellis is meticulous about the soundtracks he builds for his novels, especially when defining the mood of an era. In “American Psycho,” his characters dissect pop songs by Whitney Houston and Huey Lewis, using music to reflect their obsessions and the emptiness of their world. Ellis often creates playlists for his characters, setting scenes against the backdrop of 1980s hits. The result is a narrative that feels both chillingly precise and culturally immersive. Music becomes a tool for satire, highlighting the superficiality and anxiety of the times. Ellis himself has remarked that the right song can clarify a character’s state of mind or even inspire a new scene. For readers, those references anchor the story in a specific time and place, making the fiction feel eerily real.

Stephen King

Stephen King is open about his writing rituals, often crediting classic rock bands like AC/DC and Metallica for fueling his creativity. Music seeps into his stories, sometimes as background noise, sometimes as a plot device. In “The Dark Tower” series, references to The Beatles and ZZ Top appear, giving the sprawling narrative a contemporary edge. King’s use of music isn’t random; the songs are carefully chosen to reflect his characters’ journeys and the worlds they inhabit. He has described how certain tracks help him access the emotional intensity needed for key scenes. Fans often spot his musical Easter eggs, which add a layer of fun and recognition to his books. This marriage of music and fiction helps King’s stories linger in the reader’s mind, like a song you can’t stop humming.

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Daisy Jones & The Six” is practically a love letter to 1970s rock, written in the style of an oral history that mimics a behind-the-scenes music documentary. The novel’s structure is shaped by the rise and fall of a fictional band, loosely inspired by the real-life drama of Fleetwood Mac. Each character is given a distinct voice, and their relationships unfold like tracks on an album—some harmonious, others discordant. Reid has shared that she listened to vintage rock while writing, letting the music influence the pacing and dialogue. The book’s authenticity is so convincing that readers often wish the band’s songs were real. By allowing music to drive the plot and character arcs, Reid crafts a story that feels as alive and unpredictable as a live concert.

David Mitchell

David Mitchell’s novels are known for their intricate, layered structures, often compared to symphonies or concept albums. In “Cloud Atlas,” for example, the narrative is arranged like movements in a piece of music, with recurring themes and motifs that echo throughout. Mitchell has spoken about letting musical forms inspire his storytelling, using shifting genres and voices to build a complex, interconnected plot. The flow of his chapters mimics the rise and fall of a symphonic work, drawing the reader through crescendos and quiet intervals. Music itself is a recurring subject within his stories, symbolizing connection across time and space. This approach gives his work a sense of unity, as if every character and subplot is part of a greater composition.

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith’s novels pulse with the rhythms of jazz, pop, and dance music, using sound as a way to explore identity and culture. In “Swing Time,” music and dance aren’t just hobbies for the characters; they’re lifelines, shaping aspirations and relationships. Smith uses musical references to highlight class differences, cultural clashes, and the search for belonging. Her writing style, often lyrical and improvisational, mirrors the jazz she loves. Smith has discussed how music helps her tap into her characters’ emotions, finding the right tone for each scene. The result is fiction that feels alive, bursting with the energy and unpredictability of a crowded dance floor. Readers are invited to listen as much as they read, immersing themselves in the soundscape of Smith’s world.

Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro has a special talent for weaving music into the emotional core of his stories. In “Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall,” each tale features musicians or music lovers, using melodies as metaphors for longing, regret, and hope. Ishiguro explores how a single song can evoke memories or reshape a life, turning music into a bridge between characters. He’s said in interviews that music’s ability to express what words cannot is central to his writing. The stories in “Nocturnes” are quiet and meditative, much like a gentle piano piece at dusk. Through music, Ishiguro captures the bittersweet moments that define his characters’ lives, creating fiction that feels both intimate and universal.

E.L. Doctorow

E.L. Doctorow’s fascination with music shapes the way he writes, especially in novels like “Ragtime.” The book’s very title refers to a syncopated musical style, and its structure mimics the rhythmic, offbeat flow of jazz. Doctorow has described how he listens to music while writing, allowing the sound to guide his sentence structure and pacing. In “Ragtime,” music becomes a metaphor for social change and cultural collision in early 20th-century America. The characters’ lives intertwine like melodies in a jazz improvisation, creating a story that feels spontaneous yet carefully orchestrated. Doctorow’s approach demonstrates how music can inform not just content but the very shape of a novel, making his work both historically rich and emotionally resonant.

Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon treats music as a structural influence, especially visible in “Telegraph Avenue,” which is steeped in soul, jazz, and funk. The book’s characters operate a record store, and the narrative itself is layered like a playlist, jumping between voices and musical genres. Chabon has explained that he often uses music to find a novel’s rhythm, letting the beats guide his sentence length and dialogue. His writing bursts with references to classic albums and obscure tracks, inviting readers to tune into the soundtrack behind the words. Music isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a way for Chabon to explore issues of race, history, and community. The result is a reading experience that feels as immersive and textured as a night spent digging through vinyl records.

Tana French

Tana French is known for her atmospheric thrillers, and she often credits music as key to her plotting process. She listens to mood-setting soundtracks—classical, ambient, even experimental music—while outlining her novels. French has described how the right song can unlock a character’s voice or inspire the pacing of a chase scene. Her books carry a rhythmic intensity, building suspense like a piece of music rising to a crescendo. French’s approach means that even in the quietest moments, there’s an undercurrent of tension, as if a low note is vibrating just beneath the surface. This musical influence gives her mysteries a haunting, hypnotic quality that keeps readers turning the pages.

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead often builds playlists for his novels, using music to lock into the voices and moods of his characters. “Harlem Shuffle” is inspired by the sounds of mid-century soul and R&B, with each chapter humming with energy. Whitehead has said that music helps him establish pacing, letting the rise and fall of a song mirror the arc of a scene. His characters often have strong opinions about the music they love, which becomes a shorthand for their personalities and dreams. Whitehead’s fiction is rooted in history, and his use of music helps ground the stories in their cultural context. The result is a reading experience that feels vibrant and lived-in, like stepping into a bustling bar with a jukebox spinning in the corner.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie draws on both Nigerian and Western pop music to explore themes of identity and generational change. In “Americanah,” music is woven into the fabric of daily life, serving as a marker of home, migration, and adaptation. Adichie’s characters use music to connect with their roots or express longing for what they’ve left behind. She’s spoken about how songs can encapsulate a whole era or feeling, making them powerful tools for storytelling. By referencing everything from Afrobeat to American soul, Adichie creates a soundscape that reflects her characters’ hybrid identities. Music becomes a bridge between worlds, helping readers understand the complexities of immigration and belonging.

Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward sees music as a cornerstone of her emotional storytelling, especially in novels like “Sing, Unburied, Sing.” The book is haunted by the sounds of prison work songs and blues, echoing the pain and resilience of her characters. Ward has described how certain songs help her tap into the emotional truth of a scene, setting the tone for her writing sessions. Her prose often carries the cadence of the music she loves, with sentences that flow like lyrics. Through music, Ward explores themes of family, history, and survival in the American South. The result is fiction that feels deeply rooted in place, with every note ringing true.

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib blurs the line between memoir and music history, using songs to explore issues of race, culture, and personal memory. In works like “A Little Devil in America,” he moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to essays on Black performers and their impact. Abdurraqib’s background as a music critic gives his writing a unique texture; he doesn’t just describe the music, he lets it shape the very structure of his storytelling. His books are filled with references to everything from soul to punk, creating a collage of sound and meaning. Through music, Abdurraqib finds ways to connect the personal with the political, inviting readers to listen more closely to both the world and themselves.

Lauren Groff

Lauren Groff has spoken about how music, especially classical composers like Bach, helps her find the emotional tone for her stories. She listens to certain pieces on repeat while writing, letting the structure and rhythm seep into her prose. Groff’s novels often feature characters who are attuned to sound, using music as a way to navigate their inner and outer worlds. The influence of music can be felt in the ebb and flow of her sentences, which rise and fall with a kind of melodic precision. Groff has said that music helps her access parts of her imagination that words alone cannot reach. This approach gives her fiction a sense of movement, as if the reader is being carried along by a hidden current.

Anthony Doerr

Anthony Doerr uses music as both a plot device and a source of atmosphere, particularly in “All the Light We Cannot See.” Radios and musical scores play crucial roles, connecting characters across wartime Europe. Doerr has explained that music helps him evoke the tension and longing of the era, making history feel immediate and alive. The motifs of sound and silence run throughout his work, highlighting the ways people find hope and connection even in darkness. Doerr’s careful attention to the details of music—the way a note lingers, the crackle of a radio—adds layers to his storytelling. His novels remind readers that music can survive even the harshest conditions, offering comfort and meaning when words fall short.

Patti Smith

Patti Smith’s background as a musician infuses her prose with a lyrical, almost hypnotic quality. In memoirs like “Just Kids” and “M Train,” she describes the songs and artists that shaped her life, blending memory and melody. Smith often writes about the creative process itself, drawing parallels between writing a song and writing a story. Her love of poetry and music gives her books a unique rhythm, making them feel as much like performances as narratives. Smith’s reflections on music are deeply personal, filled with longing and wonder. She invites readers to see the world as she does, where every moment is a potential lyric or chord progression.

Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult frequently incorporates music into her writing process, sometimes even collaborating with musicians to bring her stories to life. In “Sing You Home,” she takes this a step further by including a companion music CD, allowing readers to experience the story’s emotions through both words and sound. Picoult has said that certain songs help her visualize scenes, setting the mood before she writes a single word. Her characters often use music to express feelings they can’t put into words, making the narrative more immersive. By blending storytelling with actual music, Picoult creates a multi-sensory experience for her audience. This approach highlights the power of music to heal, connect, and transform.