In contrast to those who find it too distracting, I would say the opposite in terms of using music whilst writing. Indeed, typically I will create specific playlists that reflect the chapter or scene that I'm writing that express the emotion or fit in with the mood etc of the piece. Similarly, I tend to try to use music from a characterisation perspective e.g what song would this character listen to, how does it fit with them?
Come to think of it, Hans Zimmer is one of the FEW sounds I can listen to when I write. A couple of my favorites are Why Do We Fall from DKR, Bane Suite, Wayne Manor Suite, and Selina Kyle's Theme. The soundtrack from The Last Samurai is ok too as well as the soundtrack from the movie Shaolin.
It's really weird to not listen to something while writing. I can, I did on train when my mp3 player died, but it's just not the same. T.Trian and I have playlists for every story, and we're hunting new music all the time, something that'd fit the mood of the story. Most of the time the music is on the darker, heavier side, though when we wrote this contemporary story, the playlist comprised of bands like The Sounds, L7, Placebo, Bikini Kill, Jane's Addiction, etc.. Now that we write Solus, which is space adventure sci-fi, we've even played NASA Voyager recordings in the background.
Those are pure awesome. The true "sounds" of space that really set the mood for EVA scenes. I especially enjoyed Symphonies of the Planets 3.
I agree with several above: soundtracks are nice for background reading. Other than that, I tend to listen to classical music whilst working, usually something light and earnest - Chopin, or maybe some Brahms...
I nearly always have music playing when I write, if the situation allows it. I feel like it creates an atmosphere that helps me stay focused, regardless of the type of music. Usually when editing, I do so in silence though, so that I have absolutely no influence on my work other than my thoughts. ~~SP
I think I'm a bit odd, I do most of my writing in cafe's as I don't have space here for a desk (I'm hoping to move soon ish and have a 'writing space'). I don't find that the music or other people distract me. In fact it's the opposite, at home I always get distracted whereas if I'm out with just a notebook and pen I've no choice but to write. Although I have just been offered a garden to write in for the next couple of months, so I'll see how that goes.
I love listening to music while writing. It's hard for me to be in silence and concentrate, so music is a way to keep myself focused.
I'm very moody with music. If I'm really tired, I tend to get in the zone with writing for some reason, and music and other background noises just ruin it for me. I guess I just like to push it when I'm tired so I write A LOT. If it's a normal time of the day and I'm just relaxing and brainstorming, I like some background noise, normally a TV show that I've already seen or some kind of non-lyrical music. Disney scores have always been my favorite, so I get a nice little playlist going on my Spotify and I write to that. And I've found that there are plenty of different tempos and styles depending on what kind of scene I'm writing if necessary. Can't go wrong with Disney
I prefer not to write with music on because of the distraction issue. However, my wife is an incessant TV-watcher, and so I usually rely on music (with soundproof headphones) when I'm working and she's watching. And in those cases, I need the music to be as noninvasive as possible - Bach (JS or JC), Vivaldi or Resphigi are my favorite classical composers for this purpose. I also like smooth jazz, particularly Acoustic Alchemy or Spyro Gyra, or some Andean folk music CDs I've picked up along the way (I also have a CD by a pair of musicians I used to hear in the subway a lot - they call themselves "Mecca Bodega" and were featured in an HBO film called "Subway Stories"). Sometimes, like [MENTION=373]mammamaia[/MENTION], I will play music that is specific to a locale about which I am writing.
I some times listen to music while I write It helps to improve my concentration and helps me to stay on task.
I usually listen to music before I start writing. Like many people have said, it's a distraction. I'm alright with ambient noise, though. Conversation with other people is nice to have when writing, since it takes a bit of tension away. Also, listening to a piece of music that relates to a particular scene is helpful when it comes to being inspired. That has helped me a lot recently.
You guys will probably think I'm nuts but I like to watch TV while I write. TV for me is effectively ambient noise so the calming effect of having it on is beneficial to my writing. Admittedly, there are times when it does distract me and I get very little done, however; I feel like the trade-off is worthwhile. In the long run it allows me to write effectively 9 times out of 10.
I dislike listening to music while writing since it influences the tone of my work. I prefer to write with the natural ambiance, which lets the story decide the tone.
If so, what sort of music helps you? Does it vary based on subject matter? Or does it become a distraction?
If I just want to listen to music generally, then I'll pick something I can't sing or hum along to, like Jazz. But if I'm working on a scene, then I'll listen to music on YouTube in that certain style - sad, action-packed, etc. It helps me to feel the emotion and drama of the scene far more.
Yes. 80% of it is classical. I definitely prefer lyric-free music when I'm writing. I don't want someone distracting me with thoughts of foxy ladies if I'm trying to describe a tree or something.
Nooooooooo, definitely not. I've tried it in the past, but I'm ADD and am way too easily distracted by that sort of thing. Occasionally if I'm having trouble getting into the right mindset for a certain scene I'll listen to something whose style reflects the type of emotion I'm trying to convey, before I start writing. It helps "get me in the mood" without preventing me from concentrating.
I Listen to Wikipedia. It's musical enough to be pleasant, yet not so musical as to be a distraction.
I listen to music. But anything else (like movies, tv) will be too distracting. Music I am unfamiliar with can also be distracting but usually I find I work better with at least some background music rather than total silence.
I'm of that sub-group of humans who breathe both air and music, so I'm either listening to music or listening to music while I write. One or the other. It has to fit the overall theme of the book, though, otherwise I'll write too dark or too light.
Either instrumental (Beethoven, Murray Gold, Bach...) or not in English (Beethoven, Murray Gold, Blutengel...), but lyrics I can understand throw me off.
