I usually write with music on, but I tend to zone it out. I'm aware that it is there, only in the background.
I cannot listen to music or the TV or conversation when I am writing or reading. However, if I am already engrossed in said activity and someone turns on TV or music, I never notice - I am in my own place where nothing penetrates.
Getting addicted to new songs with awesome lyrics (usually something indie, last week it was Mumford and Sons' Enemy) inspires me, so I tend to listen to one song on repeat while writing. Failing that, I listen to something instrumental like E.S. Posthumus, or Florence Welch's singing (the lyrics are amazing, and her voice? Mmm.)
i listen to music when i write... not really when i read. but i can't listen to stuff where i'm compelled to sing along because i get too distracted. so i write mostly to mellow-ish stuff... like Beach House's new album, or Bob Marley. i can't really recall writing without music playing though... (maybe i should try that *lol)
I like to listen to music while I write, but I have to be careful sometimes. Sometimes the tempo or genre of the song influences what I'm writing and can affect the pace. On the whole though, I usually don't write without listening to something, whether it be a podcast, song etc. I also never really read without listening to something, and when I don't it's because I don't have my phone (which has all my music on it) or another audio-file-playing-device. It just helps me block out the rest of the world, I guess, and I can get more into the story that way. That's most likely not the same for most other people, but that's just what I like to do.
Florence Welch, hell yeah! Her music is really inspirational to me, too. I love her voice. I've gotten to the point where I can't write without some kind of music. I grew up living with my father, who had a really loud voice, so I couldn't write unless I had some way of drowning him out. Lyrics don't always bother me, unless they match too closely with a scene I have in mind for the story - then I get distracted and think about that other scene, and not the one I'm supposed to be writing. But I do like listening to music with the same mood of the scene, like upbeat music for a happy scene, or somber music for heavier scenes. (Usually Florence + the Machine or The National)
So interesting how many different takes there are on this. I can listen to some music. I have found I can listen to classical or Gregorian chant. Anything else seems to distract me. If I listen to the television while writing I get distracted.
When the music has lyrics, I can write but cannot read... Anyway, I find I tend to listen to music that reflects the tone of what I'm writing/reading. Two Steps from Hell for an epic battle scene, jazz for a calm scene, etc...
I usually can't listen to music while I write or work. I find myself too distracted by the music itself to focus on anything else. That goes double for music that I know and love, because then I'll just start humming along or tapping the rhythm instead of doing actual work.
I very much do so. It helps me get into a gloomy mood, as I usually write rather shady stuff. I don't know, music calms me down like no other. It's a continuous source of inspiration, a never-ending fountain of tranquility...
Two Steps From Hell is amazing for writing battle scenes. I hardly ever write a scene like that without that playing in the background
Baroque is best. Some neurologists are now suggesting that exercise stimulates brain function. Think ADHD kids on stationary bikes in the classroom. And with classical music playing in the background per Montessori style education. I might go crazy.
If we hook up some generators, that might also reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. It might also make a good reality show. Maybe Gordon Ramsey will pick up the idea. I would watch it. I'd hate myself for watching it. But I would watch it anyway.
I can't read while music is on but I have to have instrumental/foreign language music when writing otherwise I end up singing along with the song
Listening to music helps to filter out all the background noise that seems to distract me from writing. If the TV is on, even in another room, I find myself trying to figure out what's on, and what's happening. Favorite music to listen to is currently Nightwish, all their CD's, just so that I get some intensity. No noise at all is a brain meltdown waiting to happen.
It depends on my mood really, sometimes I'll tune into something really nice and light to pull me into my creative space. Other times when I'm extremely frustrated and angry, background noise stems it and distracts me, then I end up bottling it all back up.
It really depends on the song. If I'm too into it, the whole thing can be a big distraction. I find classical music usually assures focus.
I do that all the time. It's weird too, I can't get my creative juices flowing unless I'm listening to my favorite music. Then when I'm writing I just tune everything out anyways, an hour goes by and I'm confused as to why the song changed without me realizing it. :|
Music is a source of inspiration of course. Whenever I'm stuck at writing, and have no idea, I listen to music, and that sparks a fire inside of me. Right after the ideas are just born, as if it were to be predestined to
Can’t do it. Not even instrumental music. I need total silence. That's why I usually write at night.
When I'm writing I usually listen to classical music on low volume. Before I start I sometimes listen to music to get in a certain mood. When I want to write something angry, I blast some Metallica or Pantera some other angry shit. When I want to write something happy, I listen to some Lovin' Spoonful or the Beach Boys. When I'm reading I don't really care. I read in the subway all the time, which is like being in a zoo anyways.
I have to in my home. If I didn't then I'd be distracted by my wife, son, and whatever they are doing or watching on TV. The music can't have vocals in it though. The vocal part is what distracts me about my wife, kid, and TV. The words seem to clash with with the words I'm thinking of typing in my head. So it pretty much leaves me with soundtracks. I just type a movie, whose soundtrack I think fits the mood of the scene I'm trying to construct, into Pandora and then rock the headphones.
