I sometimes make soundtracks for my stories, but i rarely listen to them when I actually write. It's more a collection of songs that has inspired the work, because I need silence to write most of the times.
He is AMAZING!!! How you also listened to John Powell? He did the The Bourne Trilogy and The Green Zone soundtracks.
Firstly 500 posts! YAY! And Secondly(of course more important, on topic, and all around more wonderful.) I too listen to movie soundtracks. Problem is I end up writing to it so my story's mood changes with it, but that I can deal with. When I have something not so creative to write its ELO or Disney Music all the way, nothing beats annotating to Mulan.
Nope, I do this as well. My fantasy story's soundtrack was the whole of Final Fantasy XIII's OST. xD When I start writing it again, XIII-2's soundtrack will probably be added lol. For my current drama story, I've always thought Bonnie Pink's Tonight The Night or S Club's We Are Two In a Million has always suited the ending for it xD
Generally I can't listen to music and write but if I'm having trouble with a scene I will find a theme song for that scene and listen to it hundreds of times while I write. The music becomes a background noise that keeps the mood I'm trying to portray from disappearing. I have also occasionally heard a song and had a strong impression about the direction my story should move from that song. In that case listening to to the song helps me.
Amy, do you think that what we are really talking about is visceral, and not the music at all? In other words, certain tunes have a guitar riff, or a drum beat or a lyric that reminds us of a period in our own lives, and that kick-starts the mind? Once primed, we have other thoughts? Give you a simple example. I mentioned BOOH. During the first few bars of the song, the music surges, let's up slightly, and then surges again, several times. Reminds me of a motorcycle revving through the gears, with brief moments of fanning the clutch. I remember certain parts of my past, some of the people, some of the loss. It's especially good in times when I have to write something melancholy. I thought it was just me.
^^^ This all over. I can't listen to anything with lyrics while I'm writing or I want to sing along, and the words I'm singing tend to blot out the words I'm attempting to write My favourite movie soundtracks are, not surprisingly considering I write historical fiction, from historical epics - Alexander is one of my favourites (Roxanne's dance and Bagoas for my banquet scenes, or Gaugamela for a really energetic action scene) and also Kingdom of Heaven. I guess I tend to like soundtracks with eastern influences because I write about Egypt, and it's a good culture fit. Sometimes I listen to LOTR or Stardust for a bit of fantasy drama, and I also have an 'epic playlist' of my favourite tracks from various epics, from Braveheart to Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York. I'm not usually inspired by the music I listen to, it's just a mood setter, however I was listening to something the other day that I can just see as the theme tune to a historical fantasy epic about Atlantis - Forsaken, by Within Temptation. I was singing along to it in the car yesterday and I could just see all these Minoan era Greeks fleeing for their lives as the tsunami caused by the colapse of Thera comes towards their island paradise.... Could be time to start brainstorming a plot
It's very rare that I am able to keep a writing flow while listening to music which has lyrics (especially if I know the song). So what I go for is a group called "The Vitamin String Quartet". They are SO AWESOME! They have close to 300 albums and every song is a cover but it's all done with violins and string instruments so it's only instrumental. SO GREAT! It gets me pumped up, chills me out and I know the general idea behind the songs if I have picked songs I know. I would highly suggest checking them out on iTunes.
I personally like to use the soundtrack for the game Assassin's Creed II while I write. It's epic, especially the track "Ezio's Family". The other games in that series soundtracks are great too, for me they really get the writing flow going.
Like Endovert, when writing, I listen only to music without lyrics. Otherwise, I get distracted. As for what music I listen to, that depends on what I'm writing at the time. It also depends on what I've watched or played recently . LittleWaterLily, I agree! "I Was Lost Without You" and "Stand Strong Stand Together" are two of my favorites.
Wow, I'm still not used to this concept of computer games having soundtracks like movies - I've never been into them and never actually played one. Those soundtracks do sound kinda cool though
If you're into video games, I think this is very natural . I love old school everything, so sometimes, I even listen to NES or SNES soundtracks as I write! Gameboy even. Yeah, I'm just cool like that.
I usually like to listen to post-rock whilst I write (mainly Explosions In The Sky). Having said that, sometimes I can only concentrate properly on my writing when there's little sound around me which is weird seeing as music is probably an even bigger hobby than writing for me (not by much though!).
When I'm really into it and the words are pouring out, I don't think I can even hear the noise around me. But when I'm struggling to word something right or fix a problem in the plot, even the smallest sounds (e.g. bubbling fish tank) will annoy me.
Paramore is one of those bands that gets me to write. I always get motivated to write when i listen to their music.
There are so many aspects to why certain music appeals to us that it's hard to say. I can see what you're saying and although I hadn't thought of it like that before it makes sense. Next time I have a certain song "speaks" to me I'm going to had to analyze it more. All I know is music can change/ affect your mood more strongly and suddenly than about anything else out there.
I almost never listen to anything while I work. Sometimes, music helps you think straight. But I'm concerned that it's dividing my focus when I'm trying to write. However my favorite musician is Ludovico Einaudi, and I suppose several of his pieces go with certain scenes of my work.
yep I also do this even though I have written very few things so far, music depends on what im writing at the time but usually songs which have great lyrics... Inspiring.
-pokes nose in- I definitely do this. I usually go for instrumentals (soundtracks from Pirates of the Caribbean or Rango) or foreign language (Sigur Ros, random Italian songs), though Florence and the Machine is always great writing music. ^^
I agree. Additionally, I find that "smells" really evoke strong emotions from me, as well. I still remember the scent of "Ambush" from my first high school dance.
I have a folder of 'writing music' that seems to fit when writing and reading my book. Medieval lutey stuff, usually. Tavern music seems a genre all on its own. But depends on the mood of the scene, though it's almost always instrumental. Soundtracks of games are a favourite. When I read fanfics I'll play the OST of whatever tv show they came out of.
This is probably the most random assortment of bands I have ever seen, ever. (It's OK, I like Britney, too.)
