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What music (if any) do you listen to when writing?
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Anna
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May 13, 2016 12:05AM
I listen to movie and video game soundtracks while writing, the more epic the better. :D POTC 3, Pacific Rim and Deus Ex: Human Revolution are my favorites at the moment. I've tried listening to my favorite bands, but that never works because lyrics distract me.
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Depends on the scene I'm writing. it can be Linkin Park, Nightwish, Secret Garden, Enya or even Adele.
I seldom listen to music during writing unless it perfectly fits what I'm writing and consciously chose it.I do get inspiration while listening to music. Quite often I start to listen to music when I think about an upcoming part of the book. Being rather omnivore in music, I always chose something that fits best.
I can recall one occasion when a certain music inspired me to write something specific. The result was one of the poems in Red Shadow and the 'source' was Ashes from Oceanlab.
Audiomachine and Lindsey Sterling when I want instrumental. If I'm just editing, I've been known to blare Shiny Toy Guns.
Rarely listen to anything while I'm writing; too busy with the stuff inside my head.The upside to this is that nothing disturbs me. Once I'm in the zone (whatever that may mean precisely) I hear nowt, see nowt, smell nowt.
I have it on very good authority that I can ignore all sorts of enticements when I am writing (ditto when reading)
I do not listen to music per se while writing, but I love to have some background music playing while I write. It can be secular or secular.
I don't listen to music while writing but I do listen to a ton of music when planning a story (I plan my stories out first like they were movies). My tastes run very eclectic from rock to hip hop to orchestral music. It all depends on the story and the mood I'm trying to set for the scene. But my go-to bands that I listen to the most are Owl City, the Hush Sound. OF Monsters and Men, Mora Brennen, Enya, Sarah Mclachlan and various soundtracks from movies and video games.
Having the right music is key for me! When I was working on my first novel I listened obsessively to the Soviet band Kino. When working on the second one I listened obsessively to Snow Patrol (and still do sometimes, but I'm trying to take a break in order not to wear them out). Right now I'm listening to a lot of Scandinavian stuff like Junip. Then I switch it up and listen to artists like Tori Amos. I consider male artists to be muses (I'm a female writer so my muses are naturally male) and female artists to be sisters in art, so I try to switch back and forth between them. It will be interesting to see how much the different music selections influence the final product.
Sometimes Jimmy Buffet station on XM or Jazz instrumental. Or just silence.
Classical broadway or country are my usual playlists for writing. Also a good cigar.
Jane wrote: "Rarely listen to anything while I'm writing; too busy with the stuff inside my head.
The upside to this is that nothing disturbs me. Once I'm in the zone (whatever that may mean precisely) I hear ..."
I feel that. Sometimes I need to turn off the tunes to get better clarity on what is going on.
The upside to this is that nothing disturbs me. Once I'm in the zone (whatever that may mean precisely) I hear ..."
I feel that. Sometimes I need to turn off the tunes to get better clarity on what is going on.
In case I've not said yet, whilst writing my pagan vampire romance, I listened to anything Enya. It was especially helpful when writing the fae realm scenes.Also, 'Whenever Wherever' by Shakira; obvious reasons when you read it.
It really does depend on what I'm writing.
True's Love is set in Ibiza. I posted a pic on fb & Insta of the playlist for that one. Lots of awesome dance music <3
Music is a must when writing or editing. I put on whatever hits my fancy at the moment although I do tend to go toward the calming music like Native American flute music (You can find a lot on YouTube) or Enigma and Enya. I have this huge library on iTunes which I'll put on shuffle and just go with it. It also helps when you kid puts up a great list on Amazon Prime..lol.
I can't write a word without music! It's my usual mix of alternative rock and metal, but when I work on a novel, I set up a specific playlist on iTunes for that story. I build it up over time, and it's music that fits the story either atmospherically or lyrically. Some of my favourites are Muse, Editors, Stone Sour, Young Guns, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Academy Is... and Backyard Babies. My WIP is heavily soundtracked by We Are Scientists because they just fit the story perfectly. Music is a huge inspiration to me, and many of my ideas come from songs, albums and the places that they take me to. I'd be nothing without the music I listen to.
I tend to listen to instrumental (Showtunes, Celtic, or Japanese) or foreign music in languages I can't understand. Words distract me, but I enjoy the emotions music instills and use that in some of my writing.
It actually varies. My sci-fi series almost always needs rock / metal / something with a good beat, but anytime I work on my urban fantasy, I end up listening to Calle 13, Celtas Cortas, Manu Chao. Almost ne'er the twain shall intermix.
Always Andrea Bocelli. Before my writing day begins, I take an hour and listen to him, helping to drown out the real world and focus on the story world. I write in silence but on my breaks I turn Bocelli back on.
Rachael wrote: "I've put together albums for each of my books, storing them on my IPhone. It really helps me get into the right frame of mind. It's also great when you're chugging along and hear a song that's perf..."I do this too! I love it. I haven't done it for the short story I'm working on at the moment, just to see if it would make a difference... It really does. :( I've been struggling to get and stay in the zone.
The series I've just worked on has a lot of downbeat, triphop and synthwave. It goes well with the setting and story. :)
I like classical or soft jazz, I love rock but it's too distracting when I writing.
Sarah wrote: "Usually I pick something thematic, such as Two Steps from Hell. Great to write fight scenes to. Right now I have been trying out Nujabes and it is pretty relaxing...Though when I am writing one o..."
Oh man, I love me some Nujabes.
Courtney wrote: "Umm...my default, go-to music since I started The Last Damsel includes video game soundtracks from:- Rule of Rose
- Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines
- Silent Hill
- Alice: The Madness Return..."
I love video game soundtracks and these are all really solid picks. I also love Braid's OST.
While I was writing my memoir, I listened to Depeche Mode nonstop, since the book was about my obsession with them. I can't normally write to music with lyrics though, so I've created a Spotify playlist, "Music to Write To," and add to that as I come across new tracks.
Anything that takes my fancy at the time - it's a bonus if you can listen to music that fits what your writing is about, i.e meditative music if you're writing a self-help relaxation book, creepy/halloween music if you're writing a horror novel.....
Micah wrote: "a link.."Sorry Micah but you should know the rule by now. No links.
Oh...well guess I didn't realize links applied to everything. My bad.Still a lot of links earlier in the thread but I realize the Mods have other things to do all day!
My books are 1920's historical novels and tragic. I listened to the Titanic sound track which is beautiful, foreboding and dramatic. I also listen to all the popular music of the period -- beautiful and haunting-- you can never tire of them--'Blue skies' , 'What'll I do' etc. In my last book, the main character plays classical piano -- I listened to the great classics and featured the pieces in the scenes.-- with the help of youtube and the great Valentina Lisitsa.
I must say Depech Mode goes with everything!
Micah wrote: "Oh...well guess I didn't realize links applied to everything. My bad.Still a lot of links earlier in the thread but I realize the Mods have other things to do all day!"
Older posts may still have links if they predate the rule. We didn't go around and delete the old ones.
Mod
My left nostril is pretty clear, but I haven't gotten to the right one today.
I have two playlists I work to. The first I call "Easy Listening" which consists of Enya and Ray Lynch. It's quiet, soothing, songs I've heard a bazillion times, and nothing I feel tempted to sing along with. That's more typical working playlist.When I really need to concentrate and the soothing songs of Enya are too distracting, then I listen to my "Wordless" playlist which is a compilation of instrumental-only songs from various artists. I eliminated one candidate for this list because of someone laughing in the background at the end (I think the song was Dream of the Blue Turtles by Sting.).
If it's my day job and I don't need to concentrate (tedious work), then I'll shuffle all my tunes. But, I usually have some kind of music piped through my headphones to block out background chatter.
Awesome thread! I go through phases where I have to listen to fast, high-energy instrumental music or I can't stay focused ... then days and weeks when I need total silence. I definitely need to have heard the music before or I'll get distracted. Some favorites:- "Fast" Classical Piano ... good YouTube playlists for this, and old-school fast piano music can be pretty incredible.
- Electric strings like Lindsey Stirling or Break of Reality
- Crazy Electronic music. Latest find: D. J. Striden. From a videogame. :)
Another option is a white noise app. Relaxio is fun, you can mix and match a selection of noises and even set the volume.
But now I have to read everyone else's cool picks... :)
Norma wrote: "I don't listen to anything when I write. It's kind of confusing. A long time ago I did listen to some music while I wrote, but then stopped. It could work if I do it, but I rather have full concent..."I'm like that too. I listen to some music when I'm researching. It helps to have it in the background but not while I'm writing, unless it's in another room.
Some songs really get my imagination going. "Beauty of Uncertainty", by KT Tunstall, inspired one of my prose pieces in Fantastica - Surreal Prose & Poetry.
Not that it's obvious from the lyrics - but that is where I got the idea for that particular chapter from.
If you think that you don't quite understand what I'm getting at, please be aware that my mind works in mysterious ways.
I always have music playing in the background when I write or rewrite or edit and it's always smooth jazz with plenty of saxophone and no vocals...ever. It stays in the background when there isn't any singing.
If your book is based during Christmas/winter, and involves a hero/heroine flying through the sky on a bird, a dragon or a giant bat, etc, then a really good song to listen to would be Nightwish's version of Walking In The Air
I don't listen to music while writing but I listen to a ton of music when planning stories. I love Epic music, like the works of Two Steps from Hell or Really Slow motion. They're great for thinking up epic actions scenes and can set some really great moods.
"Moving Mountains" and "Sons of War" are two of my favourite pieces, by Two Steps from Hell, who I discovered, courtesy of YouTube a few years back
Heavy stuff, like Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, In Flames, and Cold. The opening riff of Exodus "Funeral Hymn" was my theme song for writing The Earthside Trilogy (they MUST play that if Progenitor is ever made into a TV series or movie, when I reveal the alien presence!). Which is really interesting, because I usually listen to Christian radio and classical music at my day job. Talk about variety!
I don't really tend to listen to music while I'm typing or writing, but beforehand.
I love music that has a great beat, or is inspirational or epic. I especially like some of the great songs from the Braveheart movie soundtrack.
No music, no noise for me. Outside influences tend to disrupt my thought processes. I studied for tests in the same silent manner.
Epic music is good if you're writing fantasy.I suppose "space" music, if you can find any, would be good if you were a sci-fi writer.
I often listen to long-playing ambient music, often space-themed. I also like playing classical music- particularly Vivaldi.I'll also sometimes put on some sort of non-musical ambient noise. My current favorite things to listen to are an 8-hour simulated train ride and a crackling fireplace with a thunderstorm in the background.
I can't listen to anything with English vocals, though, as the lyrics tend to distract me from writing.
When I am writing, I listen to classical music which is odd because any other time I would prefer almost anything else. The main thing for me is that without lyrics, I'm not tempted to sing along and therefore, I can mask outside noise without distracting myself from the work.
Alice Cooper / Meatloaf, but anything rocky.I always listen to AC/DC's Thunderstruck before I start writing - kind of like a pre-game ritual.
I like listening to either classical music like Beethoven or Wagner and epic soundtrack music like Game of Thrones or Star Wars. Both types of music seriously ignite my imagination whileI am writing.
Classical Music:
1.) Overture 1812 by Tchaikovsky
2.) Ludwig Van Beethoven's 9th Symphony
3.) Entry of the Gods Into Valhalla by Richard Wagner
Epic Soundtrack Music:
1.) Dragonheart Theme
2.) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Theme Song
3.) Game of Thrones Season 6 Finale Scene
4.) The Rains of Castamere from Game of Thrones
5.) If I Had A Heart from Vikings
6.) Florence and the Machine - Stand By Me from Final Fantasy XV
7.) Battle of the Heroes from Star Wars
8.) Within Temptation - Ice Queen
9.) One-Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
10.) The Rocketeer Theme Song
11.) Game of Thrones Season 6: Khaleesi
12.) All 3 Attack on Titan Opening Themes
13.) Rohan and Gondor Music from The Lord of the Rings
14.) The Misty Mountains Cold from The Hobbit
15.) The Nazgul's March from The Lord of the Rings
Allan wrote: "Alice Cooper / Meatloaf, but anything rocky.I always listen to AC/DC's Thunderstruck before I start writing - kind of like a pre-game ritual."
I can see how that would work! A great tune to kickstart your writing. I might have to try this.
Anything melancholy and "soft" that I can kind of lean my brain against.Sometimes some jazz (McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett), sometimes classical, but often something like Ryan Adams' "La Cienga Just Smiled".
It depends on what I'm writing. I make special playlists for certain characters. For example, I have a character that I write and his playonst is nothing but metal covers of video game songs and edm.
