The idea for this post was recently suggested to me by my pal John Ochwat, and was also a topic in the Forums: do you listen to music when you write? And if so, what do you listen to? Does it relate to your work in progress?
Personally I don’t often listen to music much when I write, but lately I’ve been listening to quite a bit of Iron and Wine. And it relates to Jacob Wonderbar not at all. It’s just awesome.
What about you?
Clara Rose says
Yes, I do listen to music when I write.
It started with my high school English teacher… we started each day with 15 minutes of journal writing to various classical music tapes (yes, back in the day).
Now, it seems a natural setting for creativity… try it for yourself!
Lucinda says
…just in case someone read my reply ^^^^ that is NOT a typo…I didn't "wander" anywhere, but I certainly did a lot of "wondering."
Love reading these responses
ciao
Lucy
Alicia says
If I listen to music while I write, the lyrics end up in my story. Thanks for the Iron and Wine link…beautiful harmony. I needed a new band to listen to.
Kat Nove says
I usually write to Golden State by Bush or the soundtrack from With Honors. I'm not sure why, but hearing these familiar songs keeps me working. And as an added bonus, I've chosen a song from the WH soundtrack to be played at my funeral…then my ashes need to be placed in the gas tank of my ex-husband's most expensive vehicle.
Terry Towery says
Music and writing are the two great passions of my life. Consequently, I don't mix them. I do listen to music before I write, while brainstorming. But when I sit down to do the actual writing, I need complete silence.
For my first book, hard rock ruled. For the current one, I am listening almost exclusively to Arcade Fire.
Matthew Rush says
God no. Are you kidding? I wish I could but I have nowhere near that level of concentration. Way too distracting.
missmystra says
Music definitely help sets the mood for me–I actually have two VERY different playlists that represent the main characters in each of my two stories, depending on which one I'm working with. One list is upbeat with lots of 90s pop music and the other list is more gothic, with Phantom of the Opera taking up a good portion of the songs.
Katherine Hyde says
Nope. Any kind of music is too distracting for me. I like to give my whole concentration to music when I do listen to it, and I prefer it live.
Kristin Laughtin says
On rare occasions I'll listen to something instrumental, but most of the time I find music with lyrics too distracting.
The Red Angel says
I usually listen to music right before I start to write or when I am having trouble finding some inspiration or coming up with, say, a character's name. Music is too powerful to even comprehend, and sometimes all I need is that little scale of notes to perk up my senses and get my creative juices flowing. 🙂
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Terin Tashi Miller says
Normally, no, I don't listen to music when I'm working on something. I have enough going on in my head without wanting any potential outside distraction or attraction taking me out of my dream-state and into the present.
However, I did write a crime novel years ago, partly inspired by Phil Collins' "I can hear it" (coming in the air at night). Almost every word fit the story I was working on, and even now when I hear the song I find myself mouthing the words to it, if not outright singing, and can recall like a computer dump the entire plot line and story it inspired.
It was my first "crime" novel, called at the time "Bad Moon Rising," titled also by another song that inspired it, Credence Clearwater Revival's "I See A Bad Moon Rising."
So, you've got "don't go out tonight, for it's bound to take your life…there's a bad moon on the rise," and "I was there and I saw what you did, I saw it with my own two eyes; so you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been, and it's all been a pack of lies…"
The novel, never published and I believe only briefly shopped by one of two agents representing me through the years, sits in a box today. Actually, I recalled recently it was shopped to Bantam by Ray Puechner's wife, Barb, and then she planned to send it to Joe Blades, who'd moved to…Random House? Anyway, because the Bantam editor had declined it only because he or she had just signed another author with a Texas Panhandle series and didn't want to have two.
I might revive it for the Amazon contest this year.
It's a story based on actual events–the "wrongful death" of a ranch foreman in the Texas Panhandle by trigger-happy and relatively untrained sheriff's deputies and local police looking for an escaped convict on the ranch foreman's land.
The foreman left his home to investigate the commotion on his land. Officers arrived at his home and told his young wife to lock her doors and windows, as there was an escaped convict seen in the area. What they didn't tell her is that they'd met her husband, thought he was the convict, cut him nearly in half with automatic assault rifles (SWAT weapons they were 'trying out'), as he was reaching for his wallet inside his pickup truck to present his identification. They cuffed him, rolled him onto his back, where the majority of his injuries were, even stepped on his face, according to a boot print, and knew by the time he'd died and they'd stopped by his house that they'd killed the wrong guy.
The wife sued. And won. Legally, it wasn't murder. It was "wrongful death."
That's the one and only time, though, I can recall using music, or considering music, an aid in my writing process.
The meat and start of the novel, by the way, came to me first in a dream, after I'd covered the actual lawsuit…:)
adventure in London says
Absolutely. I had a certain playlist that got me through the writing of my dissertation. Now I either listen to Pandora or create unique playlists in iTunes to fit the type of writing I'm doing (which has been more academic lately – )
Regan Leigh says
I was addicted to Naked As We Came for months. 🙂 Awesome band and song.
https://www.reganleigh.com/?p=1637
I'm now addicted to Bloc Party's She's Hearing Voices – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOuUh1q5DVw – and The Kills URA Fever – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3fZP7QC4PE . 🙂 I think we have the same tastes after conversations about The Decemberists and Flight of the Conchords. Definitely check those out. 🙂
Jan Markley says
I need absolute silence … in fact, even the sound of my typing is disturbing me ;-j
White Shadow says
I have to listen to music in order to write for academic courses. It helps me to maintain my focus and not fall asleep. I'll listen to a variety of styles from new age, trance, instrumental, Scottish/Irish, to popular artists… Dave Matthews, Coldplay, Nightwish… a broad variety really, but I tend to favor European styles the most.
If I'm writing for myself, I don't necessarily need music, though I certainly don't mind it! Music really sets the atmosphere for creativity for me, and like I said, helps me pace along through it as well.
Regan Leigh says
And I must say that your tastes in music are beginning to make me mad. You know, mad cause I want an agent with good musical tastes. Really, it's a must. If they can't understand my inspiration?
*hand to forehead in dramatic near faint*
StirlingEditor says
I don't recall ever writing anything of worth without music playing in my ears. It's almost exclusively film scores, as I can't listen to music with words, or I'll just sing along. =) Lately it's been Mansfield Park, The Mission, Children of Dune, and Rudy.
Music makes drown out the present and takes me into emotions I cannot tap any other way.
sex scenes at starbucks, says
Yup. Punk rock, mostly, depending on what I've just bought. A lot of U2, as well. Their poetry inspires me.
Winter Hansen says
Writing rough drafts requires mood-appropriate music to unleash a scene's emotional veracity but revising often demands silence and cutthroat concentration (business!!). New music can be distracting unless it's well matched and helps bring me deeper into a story.
Gael McCarte says
Why yes, thank you for asking, I have mood music. If the words won't come I just play Richard Harris, it's and old old LP converted. But it works.
Lee Thompson says
I enjoy quiet music in the background when I write. Something by Danny Elfman, or Muddy Waters.
Ben Campbell says
I think about the past; why Mary slapped my hand away, when Julio swore he'd kill me, why I didn't attend my college graduation…and then…the music took me away.
As a mood setter sometimes I listen to music. Other times as company for writing I listen to Jenn Mierau or Jin Wigmore.
Justine Hedman says
I do, but I don't do the whole "Play list" thing. I usually listen to classical or celtic. The pan flute is a favorite of mine while writing. If I listen to music with words I can't consentrate enough on what I'm writing and make mistakes more often. 🙂 Or I start singing along and don't get the writing done I need to.
Clare WB says
Often I do. In current novel, now in re-write, my protagonist is a classical pianist, and whenever she's playing something in the novel, I listen to the work she's playing. Really gets me into her mind and into the scene.
sheryl gwyther says
Nathan, this is actually a fascinating subject – as I found out when I chatted with some Australian and New Zealand authors on my blog.
https://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/2008/12/28/music-to-write-by/
Munk Davis says
I blogged this subject last week. I've even posted some listening links… I hope you like bluegrass, if so check out And the Devil Makes Three. They are from your neck of the woods. https://munkdavis.blogspot.com/2010/11/prodding-your-muse-with-head-cheese.html
Morgan Lee says
I've often read about people listening to music when they write and it amazes me to be honest. For me, it would be such a distraction. When I listen to music, I like to be in the moment with it–and when I write, music would sooo distract me. I have to focus and be in the book if you know what I mean. Too easily distracted I guess. Like Amanda said…"Squirrel!" lol
Annikka Woods says
Most of the time I have to have the background noise. Sometimes I pop on a DVD or a movie. Usually it's something foreign with subtitles so I can ignore the movie but the odd sounding words are there to keep me going. The way the languages flow is rather inspiring at times (okay, mostly Japanese stuff but I do have a few Chinese movies).
I also listen to music. I lost most of my music collection – and a third of my writing projects – to our major computer crash in 2009. It's been slow going rebuilding that collection. But I have certain songs that inspire certain scenes, or bands that have music that make me think of my characters, and I utilize that when I'm writing.
Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado says
Music, like everything else, has a time and a place. When I am getting down the bare bones of my story – there's no music, no talking, no phone, no anything else – just the writing. When I am describing a particular scene and need some inspiration, then definitely music comes into play. The other day I wrote a chapter and during the whole 5 hour session, I had Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" on repeat… you can only imagine what found itself on to the page… Sweet, if I do say so…
Anonymous says
Yes definitely. It seems I listen to a particular artist and it's linked to the wip. My first ms. was all Sting, all the time. My son thought I would never stop listening to Sting, but then I finished the book. The second ms. I started out listening to period pop (to set the scene) but very quickly latched on the The Verve, because one of my main characters was a musician and the music seemed to express what he was going through and who he was. Sometimes though, just classical or jazz or new age stuff that won't distract me from something complicated that I'm writing.
amethyst says
i try but find myself typing down the lyrics to the song rather than the words to my story.
i opt to listen to my thoughts instead…
sapphicscribe says
Noooo! I cannot have any distractions whilst writing or reading. No TV on in the background, no-one talking to me, nothing. I love music and have my ipod on all the time whilst walking, running etc and music on in the car and house, but I cannot write and have it on, even classical. Just personal taste I think. Saffina
Other Lisa says
I like quiet best, but sometimes will write to music with no English lyrics — I like a lot of "world" stuff like Gamelan music and Bulgarian women's choirs. And a lot of African stuff, and of course, Chinese pipa music!
Scott Foley says
Absolutely! Music is fuel for the mind… or at least well chosen it can be. It takes me places, opens the doors and lets all the crazy ideas in. My favourite right now is Sigur Ros but I listen to all sorts, film scores, classic rock, instrumental, native american flute. I blogged about music and writing a while back if anyone is interested: https://warlordsofthedreaminggod.com/2010/06/21/music-to-write-fantasy-novels-to/
A.M Hudson says
Music has inspired much of the heart and soul of my book. However, if you're not careful, you can often think, because of the emotional depth that music has inspired, that your scene has more feeling. Then, when you read it back, you cringe.
Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's a hinderance to great writing. I listen to what inspires the pace and feel of my scenes–lyrics aside. I could be writing a love scene to a song called "kill me now"–it's all about the music, the melody and the higher connection that you have with that song.
Paullina_Petrova says
I was wondering how do you manage to post almost every morning exactly at 7:00am? Is this coincidence or you just want to make us sure that every day at this time we can find out what you want to share with us? For me it is not so easy. I live in Europe and 7.00am in the U.S. is not at the beginning of the day here. So you should always wait until noon:)
Ty Johnston says
No, I find music too distracting while writing.
However, I do find music enlivening of the thought processes, so I do like to listen to music while walking or driving and thinking of writing ideas.
Sarah E says
No, never. Ever! Too distracting for me.
Elaine AM Smith says
Yes and no.
I create playlists designed as background music. I also find some tracks embody mood or emotion – I play these on repeat.
Another interesting question is WHERE DO YOU PLAN?
I work on initial plans at sporting events where the atmosphere is electric.
Marla Warren says
I listen to either classical or operas where I don't know the language. It's difficult to hear words and write words at the same time. It's like someone else counting while you're counting.
I do select certain pieces of music for certain projects. If I'm feeling aggressive or victorious, then I like to hear the 1812 Overture.
When I was compiling tributes to Michael Crichton for my blog recently, I listened to Symphony #2 in D Major by Johannes Brahms (Georg Solti). Crichton said in an interview that this was one of his favorite cds so I thought it was apropos.
anvil says
ALWAYS. It's probably a throwback to when I'd have to do my homework with my dad perched at my side like the Raven, beady eyed and everything. The radio went off, the TV went off, other family members were banished to other rooms. I had to have complete silence to think and work, he said.
Of course, now I cannot have complete silence to think and work. YRock on XPN is on, or iTunes on shuffle and then -oh sweet racket, then I can write.
KH says
No. It is distracting for me. After years of playing the piano and singing in choirs, music is a participatory activity for me. I need the quiet of my own thoughts when I write.
Teri says
Silence. I even wear Noise Canceling Headphones in the library. There's nothing better than looking up to notice that 4 or 5 hours have gone by and all I've heard or seen or thought about is the story.
Rick Daley says
I do sometimes. I prefer classical or jazz…something without singing, which I find distracting. I end up singing along, which is not only distracting to my writing, it sounds awful.
vnrieker says
No music. Everytime I try to convince myself I can listen to music while I write, I end up surfing the net, pacing the floor, or batting at ribbon.
I'm so glad Iron and Wine brought the fishies back to life! I was so sad.
Jennee says
Always. If I'm writing a novel, I make a soundtrack for that story first. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of film scores as I write. I figure if I listen to music while I read, it's not that different when I write.
Rosalie Lario says
I actually vary. Most of the time I'll either listen to nothing or to the soundtrack of a rainforest, but I do have special tracks for very emotional scenes (love or fight scenes) when I want to draw out more emotion from within myself.
Hart Johnson says
Nope. I am easily distracted and I'd lose my story if I listened to anything. I like music (or a DVD) while I am TYPING (I write long-hand) but not while I write. Ironically, I can write anywhere, so the music can be PLAYING, but I can't pay attention to it.
Iliadfan says
Sometimes a song will set the right mood for a scene or invoke a certain character, but that's only when I'm NOT writing. If I have music on, eventually I realize I've stopped writing and am just listening.
But I can have the television on. For some reason that's easier to tune out, even when it's a show I like.
Chuck H. says
Brickman, Jim Brickman. 'Nuf said!