Do you listen to music when you write and, if so, what genre,band, ect? I generally do, although sometimes it irritates me and disrupts the writing process. When I do, I generally stick to progressive rock/ progressive metal, specifically Coheed and Cambria and Tool. The fictional story within Coheed's lyrics seems to evoke my creative side, and Tool's lengthy and complex songs like Vicarious and Lateralus seem to do the same.
I don't think I'd write at all if I couldn't listen to music. The two go hand in hand for me. If I'm writing an upbeat section, there will probably be some groovy tunes in my ears. If I'm writing something sad, you know there's some heart-wrenching piano chords going of somewhere. And if I'm writing for action, my music is probably keeping the same pace. Mostly, I listen to acoustic sorts of folk rock and folk pop. Bands such as The New Pornographers, Elbow, Aqualung, A.C. Newman, the Rural Alberta Advantage and so forth. But I also have some more mainstream tunes, specifically Red Hot Chili Peppers, Against Me!, and especially The Killers. Some parts of my writing were even inspired by a specific song, and I usually can't get an idea out without music in the background.
Yeah, I can't concentrate without music. I usually hear calm rock, like Oasis, The Beatles, Cold Play... you know the deal.
I always listen to music when writing. Mostly: The Killers, Death Cab For Cutie, Amy Whinehouse, and Ima Robot
I find movie soundtracks pretty inspiring while I'm thinking about my writing. Can't get any actual work done while I'm listening though. I find it too distracting. Especially if the music had words, I think I'd find myself typing in the words I was hearing. Lol.
The more I listen to them (especially their work on NARROW STAIRS), I begin to like them more. I WILL POSSESS YOUR HEART (which was great for writing) was really addictive and both NO SUNLIGHT and CATH are starting to draw me in further.
I love listening to music while i write. I dont find it distracting. For the angry and visceral bits of the story i generally listen to some really heavy stuff like unearth, and parkway drive. Although as a general rule Buckethead, Incubus, John Butler Trio and Distrubed are my writing music.
Music really helps inspire my writing (especially bands like Rush and Iron Maiden). Sometimes I listen to music when I write, but for the most part I find it a nuisance.
I almost always listen to music while I write. I like to listen to music from games since each song tends to have a mood/atmosphere which helps me to describe a corresponding scene scene better. I do listen to some worded songs, but sometimes I get distracted and concentrate on the words. *points to sig*
I almost always listen to music as I write. What I listen to usually depends on what I'm writing. If it's something dark and angsty, I'll listen to music to complement the mood of the piece.... like NIN, Tool, the Dresden Dolls, other bands with songs I feel fit. If it's something eerie and strange, usually Beat Circus, M. Ward or Porishead. If it's something either lighthearted, mellow, wistful, etc., I'll probably listen to bands like Coldplay, Stars, Blonde Redhead, Bjork, etc., etc.. If it's something adventurous I'll listen to Nightwish. It really all just depends on what I'm writing, lol.
I always listen to music when i write, somehow it helps me focus. I don't really listen to any specific band besides The Cat Empire, at the moment it's mostly jazz and techno, they have the best rhythms and beats.
Music gives me inspiration for a piece of writing. I don't always listen to it when actually writing though, I sometimes concentrate on the music then end up getting no writing done.
My Master's Thesis was on Music and Journal Writing Productivity...how much was written in the presence of music (types) and no music. Some types of music do assist. There is a lot of research out there on it. Music with lyrics tend to distract. With my students, if there are some lyrics, but they don't care for the music, it doesn't matter. On the other hand, everyone is different, and while the trend is that certain musics help, while other types of music hinder writing (as opposed to slience), there are exceptions to every rule. For what it is worth, here is my study: The Effect of Music on Journal Writing Productivity Someone mentioned the 'Serenity' soundtrack. I use the 'Firefly' series soundtrack with some of my students during writing, and it seems to work pretty well. Terry
I don't tend to listen to music while writing because if it's music I like, I'll be too distracted listening to it, and if it's music I don't like, I won't even notice it at all, so there'll be no point in it being on! I do tend to imagine my stories taking place to the music I like, though. Mental soundtracks, if you will. For that reason I like lots of soundtracky-type music, like Hans Zimmer and ES Posthumus or big orchestral things. (I do like other things too but those two are good examples of soundtracky music that I like.) Lately I'm listening to the instrumental version of Nightwish's Dark Passion Play an awful lot.
I find it hard to write and listen to music at the same time unless the song perfectly matches the mood for the scene I am trying to create, otherwise other moods and things from the song begin to leak in. I find it hard to find more than one song which fits the criteria, and if i put the song on repeat and constantly listen to it, I start to get bored of the song which won't do. Instead, if I'm struggling for inspiration and can't think what to write, I put music on and listen until I feel inspired again. Luckily it doesn't usually take long.
There's a particular song that really puts me in a mood of, "It's finally over", which is what I'm hoping the end of my first book does for the reader. The song's "My Last Serenade" by Killswitch Engage. Every time I hear that song, I see a kind of slideshow in my head of my main character in his greatest time of crisis, and that crisis finally drawing to a close for another time to come. Music is very, very powerful.
I absolutely HAVE to listen to music while I write. If something strikes me, though, and there's no music on at that moment, I can still write whatever it is, but that's about it. Unless I decide to turn on something from iTunes. Usually, though, it's Godspeed You! Black Emperor (if you are unfamiliar with them, they were featured in the beginning of the movie 28 Days Later).
When I'm writing, I almost block out the music and ignore it naturally, but it still helps me and sets the tone for what I'm writing. It doesn't generally distract me, unless I'm under a lot of stress. Then, its just a pain.
Music to Write to (music that inspires your writing) I find that listening to certain songs helps me develop my plot. I know that others of you use the same strategy. I am writing a book that is about a resistance fighter during WWII. It is filled with danger and many life and death situations. It is also a love story. I have been listening to a few "inspirational" kind of songs that have been helpful to me, but I need some new songs. The two songs I have been listening to a lot are Enya Book of Days and Matchbox Twenty How Far We've Come. Do any of you know of any similar songs that have really helped you in the past? I would really like some help. I feel that I am on the brink of a real breakthrough here and just need a little nudge. Thanks in advance!!
Music helps me think- I'll associate certain sounds or rhythms with certain characters, so listening to some songs helps me write them more clearly. Each of my stories ends up having different things that inspire it- for the story I'm working on now it's been a very odd assortment of Bach, Arsis, Stratovarius, Alizée, and Iced Earth.
yeah i usually listen to some form of music, all day every day! especially when i write. what genre or style etc depends on what im writing, or where abouts i am in the story. for example, if im writing a romantic scene, ill listen to some slushy love songs, if im writing a dark scene or an arguement, ill listen to something rocky or loud! i really find alot of inspiration and thoughts from music.
When I listen to music I naturally create images to accompany it so it's very useful when coming up for plot. I listen to anything because it keeps the writing fresh
