It really depends. If the music is soft, ambient or atmospheric without lyrics, it's fine to listen to while reading OR writing. But if the music has lyrics, or is extremely heavy, i find it harder to concentrate.
I don't need to listen to music to write. I can think of random ideas without listening to music. But I do listen to music when I write. Especially classical. I write horror stories to classical. I think that music allows me to visualize the seens better.
Well, I can't read in total silence because I'll probably get distracted. And reading when there are lots of people talking, because that will distract me too. I get distracted a lot. But for some reason, when I'm listening to music, I don't get distracted, so it helps me focusing on what I'm reading -- even if the music and the reading don't match when it comes to their moods.
When I'm reading, I can't listen to music with a lotta words - too distracting! Unless that music is Fall Out Boy, 'cause I don't think they're really saying anything... When I'm writing, I'll listen to music that goes along with what I'm writing, or just whatever I think sounds good :redface: DDR when it's a more up-beat kinda scene, and Frou Frou when it's slower or more serious.
I listen to music while I'm formulating ideas...Really helps me there. I don't have to listen to music while I'm writing, but often it helps me. If it's completely silent I tend to focus on little noises (like noisy neighbors above our apartment!) Right now I'm on a Coldplay kick and have been for awhile.
To me, definitely something to avoid. If i listen to music i get lost in it and then i read over the little details and miss things. I'ts distracting
Thats cool, what mindset does it put you in, if i listen to music i wind up bieng a lazy bum and sit there listening ><
I do listen to music when I write. I don't have to, but I like to. Sometimes it spurs me to write faster, depending on how well the song fits. I always theme my music with what I'm writing. I like to write fairy tales so a lot of the times I'll listen to classical music with whimsical themes. Or sometimes I'll listen to movie soundtracks. I love Edward Scissorhands. Or sometimes I'll hear a soundtrack and I'll hear a song that at first doesn't do anything for my creativity until I see the scene it goes with, or I'll see a music video or something and then I'll obsess about it. Sometimes I'll listen to world music - like latin, african music, or chinese zheng music. Lately though, I haven't been able to write anything without drawing the illustration for it first. So when I get stuck on an illustration...I get stuck on the plot. =P And right now...I'm stuck.
Something odd has happend the other day. I have heard many of times that music is good for writing. I hear it lets you relax and focus on your work; its all just a matter of finding the right genre of music. For the longest time I couldn't find anything I could focus with. I tried all sorts of music I listen to on a daily bases such as: Classic rock, Reggea, hard rock. Anything I could think of I tried, nothing worked for me. Last night I was working on a rough draft I have been pounding my head over and with no music I couldn't stand it. It felt like I had nothing to motivate me. so I stopped right away and searched the internet for new genres of music. After a while I ran into classical music such as: Antony Holborne, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Bahtoven. I sat and gave the music a chance. At first I thought this was the dumbest thing ever, but once I cleared my head of what others might think, I soked in the beauty. I haven't found one artist I didn't like yet. I am so focused with this genre of music. I even catch myself listening to it when not working on my stories; like as of now I am absorbing the beauty of the music while I write this. As a 17 year old kid I find this to be odd seeing how not every Junior in high school would listen to Johann Friedrich Fasch. I have discovered once I put aside the stuck up attitude of a school boy I can find I enjoy things I never would have thought I would have. I find music to be a great technique for writing. I thought I would post my experience to let you guys know that if you haven't found the right kind of music don't stop searching; it's crazy what you can find. Or if you don't like the music playing while you write that's cool too. I for one couldn't stand it. I hope this has helped anyone who has been having similar problems.
Indeed! I listen to electronica normally, but I've got classical and instrumental acoustics reserved specifically for writing. --I find lyrical pieces tend to more easily put me into whatever mood intended, which can and does deter my writing in that case. A good tool, music is.
You're surprised that you like classical music?? Everyone likes classical music! We might not listen to it all the time, but I'm pretty sure you couldn't find a person who actually disliked Beethoven or Bach. But yeah, I'm pretty sure Baroque is meant to be the best for improving your thinking, something to do with waves or whatever.
I Agree as well. I listen to almost anything, and it usually helps me as well. When i was growing up i was in the school band, laugh if you want, so i have a certain love for classical music as well. Glad you found some you like.
JGraham, There is no reason to laugh for being in the school band. Last week two band students were caught in our band room baby making. Those guys know their way around.
AnDay. I love music as well, and also find it enjoyable while writing. I listen to classic stuff but I also listen to acoustic easy going music. My favorite band (the band that I listen to everyday) is The Fray. I know there all over the radio, but it's not just their good songs of the radio that amaze me, but every song I listen to by that group I love; the emotions in the lyrics are mind blowing. Try some stuff by the fray like: Enough for Now, Vienna (Amazing) Heaven Forbid, You found me (Their new single... I love it) and of course: How to save a life and cable car song. Go to YouTube and listen to their stuff for free. Try the song called Hundred, it's good stuff, and before that listen to Enough For Now by the fray, I quoted the song earlier, but man the lyrics in that song are really deep, I can't help but getting my creativity flowing when I listen to that song. Good Luck.
I almost always listen to music when I write, and I listen to classical, though it's rare I listen to classical while writing because when I do, I want to focus on the music. I'll usually just put my playlist on random, or if I want a particular mood for a scene I'll pick a particular album and listen through it.
I think it's something to do with me being a musical thinker that prevents me from doing any writing while the music is on, because listening is an intellectual activity that uses the same mental processes as those used when I'm writing. It would be as difficult as singing and playing a difficult guitar riff at the same time.
I like listerning to music when writing. I'm a great lover of music as it is; and I love the fact that music transports me into this whole other world when I listern to it.
I also listen to music when writing, but find it hard to focus when there's words, so usually it's just classical or instrumental pieces. If there's singing with intelligible words, I find it hard to focus.
I agree with Lavarian... I have tried many times to write while listening to music with lyrics, but I always seem to get distracted by the words in the song. This is one of the biggest reasons I choose classical music. I will be sure and give the band a chance anyways. Thanks.
Music that fits what you're writing about works best. For me, Proterra, Faileas Air An Airigh, and Siol Ghoraidh help me write. It also depends on what type of scene you're writing, what type of music would be of use.
Music is universal, i know everyone is different but I'm always surprised when someone says they don't litsen to music, or they don't LIKE music. But it's an incredibly fundamental part of my life, and inspires/motivates much of my writing. As an ex-media production student, much is visualised in film-format. My first complete writing was a short script, but most things do have a strong connection with music. One of my closest works in progress is HEAVILY inspired by the music, lyrics and other things of one band - Muse. They take me on a journey outside Earth, and their beauty surpasses everything but that of what is BEYOND our atmosphere, and that is indescribably in relation to writing.... I've had other ideas from vocals, a random lyric, sound, FEELING evoked by music... Soundtracks... I like many different things from Metallica to Mozart. I sort of agree that given the chance, most people would like classical music, even if they won't admit to it (even to themselves). I personally find vocals to be more helpful than instrumental music. But that's just me. Music videos help too. Like films, but shorter! It's amazing when you listen to an incredible song, with a video that grips you and shocks you. Recently, Depeche Mode's Wrong stunned me. I couldn't write without music. Without an artist in my head or a song. Also, I have this mental storage for like, a soundtrack for my ideas. Perhaps the songs that inspired me, or songs that i hear and think of one of my stories or characters. I also think about what music my characters would listen to. It helps me get in their heads a little It's nice to hear other people feel similar.
Same for me, I find it easier to have instrumentals or classical playing in the background. Although sometimes if a piece is in a foreign language I don't mind it either.
