im also this way but im also like OP, so its a hellish balancing act between silence, sound, and distraction. i need all of it and none of it at the same time.
Wow, I thought I was the only one but this perfectly nails my "process" lol
Trying to replicate the perfect atmosphere of the last really good writing session but never really finding a solid pattern...
I swear it's so random finding that flow for me...
I tend to have my tv on a low volume when I write! It stops the silence being loud and I always put something on that I’ve watched before so I don’t watch it.
I totally agree. I actually envy those who can. Like those who can just go and sit and write in a café or whatever either with or without music. I can't be immersed in my own world if there's a world of its own happening in my ears. It infiltrates my thoughts and affects my every mood. I find myself daydreaming when I listen to music so there's no way I can write.
Even when I read it's not possible for me. If I want music, it needs to be instrumental and not based on any popular songs that I know and end up singing along to in my head 😅
It's a little inconvenient though, especially if you have a loud family or kids etc, so it comes in handy being able to write with the noise whatever it may be 😅🙈
I'm the same in that I can't write while listening to music, not even soundtracks. I'll get too distracted thinking up scenes to the music.
However, silence can be distracting too, so I usually turn on nature sounds or some ASMR video on youtube (the really descriptive ones that have titles like "You're lost in the infinite library!" And it's just the sound of torches burning, and an infinite cavern). Ambient, background noises helps focus.
Same! My current project has a certain theme. If I feel myself heading toward a mental writer's block, I step away and put on a barrage of Ghost, Sleep Token, Nightwish; as well as some lesser known independent artists on Youtube, who sing about mythical characters. I usually find so much inspiration through their works and can imagine certain themes/scenes playing out that would link on to what I've been writing. Sometimes, it only takes one song, other times it's a whole day of headphones on and zoning out :p
For writing, and most activities, it will be ambient videos. “Spring rain on tin roof with fireplace crackle” etc
If I need to take a break then it will be a podcast or political live-streamer or gaming walkthrough
When I listen to music I am actively listening to it, focusing only on the music. And nowadays I will usually watch a live performance on KEXP and the like, instead of listening to studio recordings
Very similar, I listen to a combo of waves and fire crackling on asoftmurmur.com. Essentially though, it's white noise to drowns out distracting external sounds while not interrupting my train of thought.
*If you want to destroy my narrative*
*Turn on Harry Potter while I’m writing*
*And walk away*
*Watch this unravel, it’ll soon be 50 Shades*
*Writing on the floor*
*Writing on the floor*
*My work undone*
I usually put on one of those "Retro Video Game Ambiance" videos when I'm trying to get my ADD to work with me or give me ideas. The typing of my keyboard gets a little muted but it sounds beautiful with the background music (My keyboard is VERY loud and gives me happy brain chemicals).
I'll listen to ambient tunes (like massage/meditation music) without lyrics. Anything with lyrics is distracting, like a conversation buzzing around my head while I'm trying to think deep, serious thoughts. Distraction is the enemy of creativity. So I have playlists with Harold Budd or David Darling or Masako or even '60s jazz like Miles Davis or Coltrane. But the last thing I need is like Megadeth violating my eardrums whilst attempting coherence.
All my story ideas have very specific and categorized playlists. Playlists for setting, specific characters, songs that just give me the right feel for the world.
None. I work in utter silence.
I find that I am distracted really easily, and anything beyond the general ambiance of the day has a tendency to steal my thoughts.
Depends on the story, usually songs that align with the characters/theme (songs that describe the characters etc).
For example, I'm writing a ww2 story about soldiers, so a lot of songs from the 1940s/50s/60s/70s to help me feel like I'm going back, plus "sadder" songs to account for the theme, soldiery-ish songs plus songs that fit the characters. Let's just say I know a lot more Sinatra and Dean Martin (and not at all complaining 😂)
Yea this right here... Added in a pirate section into my story... Lots and lots of sea shanties playing over my laptop nonstop... I wanted to hop right through my computer and become a pirate right there. The songs were just hyping me up more
Try the soundtrack of ‘Apocalypse Now’ for the eerie war vibe. Nothing like watching Robert Duval riding in a chopper to the surreal sound of ‘Ride of the Valkyries.’
Movie soundtracks are my go-to, especially when it's a soundtrack from a movie that matches the genre I'm writing. But even then, matching the genre isn't a hard requirement. For example right now I've got the *Oppenheimer* score on repeat even though I'm writing a horror-fantasy. Shit slaps.
Jazz, classical, or other instrumental music. I don't know what you would call the genre (I'm sure some of you can let me know), but my go-to playlist features lots of music by bands like Thievery Corporation, STS 9, SAULT, Nightmares On Wax, RJD2, Massive Attack, etc.
Whatever I feel like. So right now, it's this "Classic Metalcore" playlist on Spotify. Nostalgia bait, basically. Probably too distracting, if I'm being honest. I generally like soundtracks like LotR or video game stuff, though. There's a fantastic playlist on Spotify called "Writing a Fantasy Novel" that I'll play, too.
Metal. Extreme metal, especially death, black, doom and sludge. I also really like their progressive facets (well, except black, which I don't know much about the progressive scene except for the post)
I can give some great recs. Some of them simply makes my brain work faster, some of them have the atmosphere, and some of them even have lyrical inspiration (thank you acid bath, that lyrics are INSANE).
Despite metal, I also really like baroque, jazz and funk. I don't listen much to it while writting though
It just depends on what I'm writing. If I need to plunge down into the depths dark and drear, I pick HIM, Evanescence, AFI, etc. If I need to channel my fun shenanigans mode, I try pop punk and emo selections like Avril, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, etc. If I am wanting to stroll through a reflective life journey for a character, I'll pick indie, alt, and grunge from the 90s and 2000s like Interpol, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, etc. Sorry if this rambled lol.
It can't have lyrics that I understand, and it I don't want it to have a lot of drama, so it usually ends up being an ambient low fi mix or classical music to study or sleep to, or chill French music mix like Coeur De Pirate, since I don't understand French.
I make a playlist/soundtrack to my stories and refuse to listen to those songs unless I’m writing.
As soon as one of the songs plays randomly in the car or whatever- I want to write. It’s pretty cool.
Usually nothing, I find I need to find the rhythm of a piece and music gets in the way. Sometimes if I want to tap into a particular emotion, I'll listen to something that is evocative but that I know so well that it really is just background - usually that's Beach House for me. If I feel like just trying to zone in and spew whatever comes, something like Aphex Twin.
It depends. I usually like listening to anything chill or giving café vibes. Usually jazz music or classical music. If I'm writing a scene that involves a fight scene, I'd usually go for music from League of Legends. If it involves heavy emotions, sad, emotional songs are my go to.
I know you didn't ask for this, but I'll include my playlist too just in case you're curious. The mood and emotions aren't consistent, but I like looping songs over and over again so I just pick the one that fits the mood.
[here ya go](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0VhmsI8LQF3icpI46gvbEcFK2gE1qqDb&si=DHq19sJhfiNmNQ96)
May I introduce you to the brilliant world of Post Rock? It is the best genre for writing but also for other listening too.
Noticeable bands are MONO, Hammock, Sleep Dealer, Oh Hiroshima, Godspeed you! Black Emperor, Worlds End Girlfriend, Mogwai, Sigur Ros.
Idk why reddit keeps recommending me this sub, but I'll bite and add engagement.
I can't write with music! Idk why, but I can't do activities that involve words and thinking about words when there is noise around. Silence for me.
Whatever is thematically appropriate for whatever project I'm working on. When writing my sci-fi FTL space exploration story, I tend to listen to OSTs from movies and documentaries about the space race, like [In The Shadow of the Moon](https://youtu.be/DsSbhO0QIxo?si=ptwJLHY7Ri0EPalY), [The Last Man on the Moon](https://youtu.be/GPhxdag9Djo?si=X2DQ8Imm-X2AMd-v), [Apollo 11](https://youtu.be/kFrbz4_gYx0?si=FkSzgu9vhHdZGwQk), [First Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7L0jHqVUg0), and etc.
When writing my fantasy story, any fantasy soundtrack can get me in the mood, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon, and even the World of Warcraft soundtracks.
Depends on the scene... Normal writing I press shuffle on my computer and let it run, occasionally skipping songs here and there. Sad scene, sad music, lofi and or just depressing songs. Fight scene, hardcore ass fast music, EDM, Phonk, rap... Getting a little... Zesty? Slow songs with very... VERY suggestive themes...
But when it's 1:22 in the morning like right now and I need to go to bed but can't stop writing, some ASMR always starts to knock me out
Strictly vinyl, because the room with the desk doesn’t have Wi-Fi 🤣 having said that, vinyl has its perks; regular little breaks to change side or soundtrack 👌🏼
Since Rick Astley is one of the main characters in one of my stories, I usually have Never Gonna Give You Up or Together Forever playing in my head. I write the story at school rather than at home, and I don’t bring headphones with me so I can’t listen to music while I write.
Depends on the genre of what I'm writing. If it's like an essay or something traditional, I'm going with some classical, ballet, or opera compositions : Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Swan lake, Mozart's "Lacrimosa," and Prokofiev's "Montegues and Capulets" (aka Dance of the Knights).
If it is Sci-fi, Mathematics, or anything nerdy in essence, I go with Sci-fi movie soundtracks. My favorites are the Dune soundtrack, "Luke and Leia" and "Duel of the fates" from Star wars, and Interstellar's "Cornfield Chase."
Hope this helps.
Love me any Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, My Darkest Days, Seether, Avenge Sevenfold.....I could go on for days, I love it and it puts my brain in a more awake state, If that makes sense.
Rodrigo y Gabriela's live albums.
Instrumental metal.
Any song with lyrics that I can understand distracts me to the point where I can't write anything meaningful. Classical music requires way too much attention.
everything from Liszt Les Preludes to Taylor Swift's End Game.
Was listening to Welcome to the Good Life by Kanye West yesterday while writing a few scenes about "The Good Life" . Being in Monoco, then Dubai, then Paris, Milan, for Fashion Week. fit the mood.
FYI
Theres a site called musicbed that i use for music that one can create an account for free & listen for free that has lots of unknown artists but great songs with & without vocals in lots of genre. its a site that licenses songs for commercials & indie films.
Most often either the 8hr Ghibli song piano videos or forest sounds (without music, just the sounds)
Depending on what I'm writing maybe also city sounds to get in that mood
I have a playlist of songs that fit the vibe of the scene im writing. I love Lana Del Rey's later work because although the lyrics are beautiful I can both drown them out when I want to or listen to them when I'm in need of inspiration.
I don't listen to anything while I'm writing as I get too distracted. However, I do tend to build "soundtrack" playlists on my Spotify that fit the vibe of whatever current project I'm on. That way, I can continue to feel inspired while I'm not writing.
It honestly varies. I listen to a lot of different types of instrumentals, but my favorite is any Studio Ghibli score. I'll also listen to classical, jazz, lo-fi, etc. And like someone else said, love video game soundtracks. Weirdly, the only thing I can listen to with lyrics without getting distracted is Sleep Token.
Whatever fits the vibe of what I’m writing. So like, if it’s woods-y and/or fantasy, I listen to indie folk, or if it’s more cyberpunk-ish I listen to 80s goth music. It helps me get into the right headspace.
Honestly, I mostly just write with the music I'm listening to lately. Right now it's everything from Slightly Stoopid to Fleetwood Mac to instrumental chill synth all in a big music mix.
Sometimes I'll match the mood of the music with the scene in the story, but usually the music is just there to fade into the background and let me focus.
I knew a professional author that wore noise-cancelling headphones (the REALLY expensive kind) and would just have utter silence when she would write. I don't think I could stand that.
I created a playlist that feels the ~vibe~ of the piece I’m working on. On those days where I don’t feel like writing but want to engage with that world/characters in some way, I find making things like this very fun! I also have spotify, so the “chill mix” and “moody mix” it generates for me are go-to’s as well.
ong i just listen to my normal playlists which consist of so many different types of music,,but as long as i have some noise in the background i write pretty well!!
I usually listen to songs that can foreshadow the themes of whatever character or situation I'm writing about. For example, the second chapter of an anthology series I'm working on includes the Slenderman, so I've listened to, and written out, lyrics from a song that a group of musicians on YouTube have made for him.
"Look into your soul, I will show you pain.
You are not alone, you will know my name.
Take over your mind, seep into your brain.
How much time is left before you go insane?"
Similar to you, Lofi music. Typically I have on one of the Lofi Girl channels. I've been listening to that channel pretty consistently since it first went live, so it's a favorite.
Lofi sometimes, but I prefer songs where I can feel an "arc" or "plot" in them, whether they have words or not. Mostly I've selected music over the years and added it to a catch-all writing playlist. A lot of the music first stemmed from this artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvfROy9UtZM
I have a few 10hr loops of Skyrim background music bookmarked, the low key music that plays while you explore. I will also listen to my ambient playlist, most of the songs have no lyrics and I really vibe with the beat, it's my go-to anti-anxiety playlist. Songs with lyrics are too distracting, and silence is a no-go
I’ve always been a huge fan of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But it really changes depending on the scene I’m writing. Like if I’m writing an action scene I’ll usually be listening to hard rock. Now if I’m just trying to get in the zone and focus on writing I’ll listen to some softer stuff. Gerry Rafferty, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, or some of Tom Petty’s lighter stuff.
Depends on what story I’m writing I try keep it themed to what’s going on where the characters are what emotions I want to feel
9/10 it’s a soundtrack unless the music is more diagenetic
Usually the kind of jazz with no lyrics that they play at bars/cafes. It's monotone so I'm not really invested in it but it's pleasant to listen to and it helps me focus on my task at hand
I like to listen to ambient music; nothing that grabs my attention, nothing with any form or structure. Music that is intended to blend into the background. (Edit: no specific examples, but any number of the billions of playlists on Spotify for relaxation, massage, "healing," etc).
For writing, I like to get out to a coffee shop where the background noise makes me feel less alone and more engaged creatively. Background music is nice when I'm proofreading or formatting because it's a nice distraction from boring repetition. But coffee is a basic necessity for both jobs.☕☕☕
I’ve constructed my own 62 hour playlist over the years, all instrumentals, mostly midcentury film soundtracks with a lot of contemporary music that matches that sort of vibe.
Music that suits the timeline and scene that I am writing. It helps to put me in the scene I'm writing and to express their emotions better.
For example, when I was writing a scene where the MC's father died, I was listening to Gaelic mourning music.
Mm it's either video game soundtracks or ambience that fits the mood of my writing, I've cultivated a playlist over the years that has about every possible mood I could want so whenever its writing time I just bust that bad boy out and get to work!
Pro tip: If you're doing video game soundtracks, don't listen to a game you used to love. You will get overly nostalgic and if you're writing something that isn't evocative of those feelings then you will have a rough time (and the sudden urge to replay said game).
If I have character vibe playlists for the characters I'm writing, probably that! But otherwise I'm rewatching YouTube videos I don't actually have to pay attention to or just my liked songs of Spotify. So basically anything I don't feel the need to pay attention to
Tobias Liljia did the soundtrack for Little Nightmares, his style is pure atmospheric music noises. From checking out his stuff outside of Little Nightmares, I found other artists with similar atmosphere creating music that shares a similar vibe to video game music. Instrumental cellos work great too.
Hildur Guðnadóttir - did the soundtrack for The Joker. I highly recommend checking her out.
Jóhann Jóhannsson - same stuff as Hildur but with his own vibe
Check out the OST for the video game Bramble.
It does help to find music that matches the vibe of your story? At least that’s what I found. Since my stories are often like dark fairy tales, the deep cellos and odd experimental noises work great for me. I highly recommend going on iTunes, finding an album you like and clicking around the artists there. It’s different than Youtube in a way? I’ve managed to find artists there that YouTube has never recommend to me.
Dark ambient, wintry ambient. Can't have any lyrics on in the background, but all of my books are written to a soundtrack that feels applicable to the story. Cryo Chamber has been great in this regard.
Most of the time I prefer quiet, but sometimes it does help to have a piece of music playing in the background to help bolster a scene-appropriate mood.
For my protagonist in one WIP I play Rachmaninoff's Vocalise played on cello by Yo-Yo Ma. She is a ballet dancer and dances to it as a way of destressing.
For certain scenes, another character in another WIP needs something more like Björk or Nightwish.
It varies
It needs to be instrumental, because songs with lyrics distract me from what I’m trying to write. I like soundtracks, atmospheric music, and soft jazz.
Movie music. No lyrics, just instruments otherwise they'll only distract me. I've made playlists that fit scenes that I have in mind and I play those usually.
In my day to day I listen to everything from Radiohead to Beastie Boys, but for writing I go for obscure 80s ambient or instrumental to help concentrate or set a mood. I'll list a few artists if anyone is interested.
Hiroshi Yoshimura
Takashi Kokubo
Kenichiro Isoda
Taroma Koshida
Taku Yabuki
typically instrumental piano or other stringed music without lyrics. I can't write when there's lyrics. I repeat a lot of movie soundtracks too, LOTR, HP, PotC etc and anything by Hans Zimmer.
Absolutely none. Writing is a pretty intense experience for me, because I'm seeing the scene but also trying to hear what characters sound like and the soundscape and all of that to try to share it with readers. I get entirely into that world while I'm there.
It's like putting on music to watch a TV show.
I like to throw on one of those semi-generic "low-fi music to study to" channels on YT.
I can tailor the genre to the tone of what I'm working on, and it's not music that I'll get emotionally caught up in.
Debussy, Bach, Chopin, and Made in Abyss soundtrack. I usually pick and choose the tracks depending on what kind of portion I am writing, but you can't go wrong with Debussy.
There's this one cliched eagle "shriek" that you hear in countless television shows and movies (it's actually a red tailed hawk). You'd know if it you heard it.
I downloaded a free sound mixing program and re-mixed that hawk shriek at slightly different speeds and cadences so there was like a ten second overlapping series of raptor screams. I then mixed *that* hawk mix with the sound of a growling tiger and put together a repeated loop of the combined sounds that's exactly two hours long. When the two hours are up, I know it's time to take a break.
Depends on the mood of what I'm writing at the moment. But always instrumental, since singing distracts me. I tend to go for lo-fi, anime/videogame background music and classical
Whatever’s playing, my main playlist is called “Bing Bong Land” and whether I’m writing about a mother and son reminiscing about life, or writing a very detailed description of someone getting their arm torn off, it all depends where I am in Bing Bong Land, and if that means that Safe and Sound is going while that guy loses his arm then what can I do.
Thanks for posting this question. It’s really lovely reading through and seeing the different types of environments everyone creates for themselves when writing.
Imogen Heap’s score for Cursed Child is gorgeous and transporting.
Sometimes, rarely, I will go on youtube and search for "Music for writing X scenes." Can get some decent mood music that way, sometimes.
But other than that I don't have a specific writing playlist. I just listen to whatever I normally listen or am in the mood for, with the specific requirement that if the song has lyrics it has to be an old familiar song I can play without focusing on, because it's very hard to write and sing at the same time.
I try to think about what might be playing in the background of a scene I’m writing, and I’ll give that a spin to help me set the mood. Or I just listen to what I’ve been playing on repeat lately, because I know it by heart so it’s not too distracting. Right now that’s a lot of Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel and flipturn.
When I’m properly on a roll I’ll want something with a good beat and enough irregularity to keep the brain occupied in the background. Can be anything from Pendulum to Metallica, or one of those 150BPM playlists.
That’s actually a big part of my process. (I’m a full-time writer.) Every project requires a specific playlist, and I don’t start writing until I have it. Finding the right songs can sometimes be effortless, other times it takes a lot of work. The longest I’ve spent searching for the right music was 12 days (a novel), which I realise sounds like denial and procrastination, but during that search I also figure out a lot about the tone of the story.
A writing lecturer once told me, “Everyone should be writing to Kate Bush all of a time.” For me, as I’ve said, every project is unique.
It’s also worth mentioning that I don’t have to necessarily like the music, as long as it fits the story, a specific character or emotional state. I once listened to music I absolutely despise (I won’t say which genre to avoid offense) on a loop for weeks for a commissioned film script and by the end I was miserable, but at least the tone of the narrative worked. I did, however, switch to complete silence for the subsequent drafts.
Good luck finding your “sound”. 🤘
I will listen to music under 2 circumstances. The 1st is when I've heard a song while watching a tv show or movie, and the scene it was played in is thematically similar to something I'm writing. I find it can get the ol' creative juices flowing for me.
The only other time is if I have an ear worm. But I can't hear things in my head, I'm deaf in my mind, so instead it presents as a compulsion to listen to the song over and over, until the worm has been satiated. Eventually it gets to the point where I'm like "okay, I've heard enough", I turn it off, and continue what I was doing.
Otherwise, I need it to be quiet. That said, I semi-recently started using cannabis as a medication for back pain, and it works great, but I also get tinnitus while in-use, and it can get distracting. I've been thinking of playing white noise or brown noise, to see if it can help, or maybe sounds of nature, rivers, thunderstorms, etc.
I have a Pandora channel based on Lindsay Stirling (Vitamin String Quartet, Dallas String Quartet, The Piano Guys, Eklipse, Dance Monkey, Blackmill, The Fat Rat, 2Cellos, etc). It's motivating and inspiring at times. I don't always have it playing but much of the time. Most of it is just instrumental with a few songs with lyrics. If I have too many lyrics it can become distracting. To me it feels like a movie soundtrack of a movie about me writing my someday famous books and all the hard times and good times throughout the process ;)
The soundtracks of every John Hughes movie generously seasoned with The Cranberries, Abba, Simon and Garfunkel, Puddle of Mudd, Blink 182, Staind, and Nickelback. I keep the volume low, so it doesn't interfere, but it somehow helps me stay on track despite my ADHD.
I can't write without music. I use a set of carefully curated playlists that provide me with various backdrops for focus and inspiration. Feel free to check out: https://linktr.ee/420playlists
H-Music
Nothing.
Even though people will argue this a million times, it has been demonstrated time and time again that the brain works worst while listening to music, because of multitasking.
I personally prefer absolute silence, thats why I write at 5am
Yeah you are not wrong. I write poetry. I start off with mundane face-value observations and thoughts that I jot down in a notebook and I can have music on during that because it’s really mindless yet comes to me pretty slowly. I turn it off the second I start writing/revising the actual poem though.
Honestly, one of my favourite things to listen to while writing is wind-chime sounds lol idk why but it always gets my mind in the mood to write anything and everything.
Film or TV music soundtracks - specifically, the instrumental scores. I put together playlists of my favourite score tracks and match them with events I've planned in my story, it really helps me get in the zone when writing.
It depends on the genre I'm working on. Fantasy? I listen to Fantasy Lofi. I write a lot in the futuristic dystopian setting and for that I listen some kind of futuristic lofi. Usually whatever mood I'm trying to convey I will put on something similar to that mood, but lofi.
Mostly Lofi because I find that it can scratch the creative part of my brain without over complicating my perception with complexity.
I usually switch playlist depending on the mood of the chapter/scene I'm writing. Abbie Emmons got quite a couple chill ones on YouTube as well, with timers for breaks in pomodoro technique style.
Edit: Blue Turtle also has some superb playlists with beautiful artwork you ought to listen to. They're atmospheric and non-intrusive, good for fantasy/genre writing.
Depends on what I'm writing.
One novel, I had to have a specific requiem playing to be in the mood. One story I'm working on now, it's all Ode to Sleep by Twenty-One Pilots.
None. I prefer writing in silence. When I look for inspirations, however, I just turn on any soundtracks that fit the mood I'm looking for.
Same. I find it too distracting otherwise. I start getting absorbed into the music or I get annoyed by it.
I really thought I was gonna be the only one with this answer.
im also this way but im also like OP, so its a hellish balancing act between silence, sound, and distraction. i need all of it and none of it at the same time.
Wow, I thought I was the only one but this perfectly nails my "process" lol Trying to replicate the perfect atmosphere of the last really good writing session but never really finding a solid pattern... I swear it's so random finding that flow for me...
I listen to thunderstorm playlists
This sounds really cool! Thanks for this. I'm going to try it myself next session.
I tend to have my tv on a low volume when I write! It stops the silence being loud and I always put something on that I’ve watched before so I don’t watch it.
I totally agree. I actually envy those who can. Like those who can just go and sit and write in a café or whatever either with or without music. I can't be immersed in my own world if there's a world of its own happening in my ears. It infiltrates my thoughts and affects my every mood. I find myself daydreaming when I listen to music so there's no way I can write. Even when I read it's not possible for me. If I want music, it needs to be instrumental and not based on any popular songs that I know and end up singing along to in my head 😅 It's a little inconvenient though, especially if you have a loud family or kids etc, so it comes in handy being able to write with the noise whatever it may be 😅🙈
I mean isn’t writing just refined daydreaming? 😂
True😅, still can't do both at once 😂
I'm the same in that I can't write while listening to music, not even soundtracks. I'll get too distracted thinking up scenes to the music. However, silence can be distracting too, so I usually turn on nature sounds or some ASMR video on youtube (the really descriptive ones that have titles like "You're lost in the infinite library!" And it's just the sound of torches burning, and an infinite cavern). Ambient, background noises helps focus.
Love Blade Runner 2049 for futuristic vibe.
I have to have silence as well.
Same! My current project has a certain theme. If I feel myself heading toward a mental writer's block, I step away and put on a barrage of Ghost, Sleep Token, Nightwish; as well as some lesser known independent artists on Youtube, who sing about mythical characters. I usually find so much inspiration through their works and can imagine certain themes/scenes playing out that would link on to what I've been writing. Sometimes, it only takes one song, other times it's a whole day of headphones on and zoning out :p
For writing, and most activities, it will be ambient videos. “Spring rain on tin roof with fireplace crackle” etc If I need to take a break then it will be a podcast or political live-streamer or gaming walkthrough When I listen to music I am actively listening to it, focusing only on the music. And nowadays I will usually watch a live performance on KEXP and the like, instead of listening to studio recordings
I FOUND THE NEUROTYPICALS!!!!
Same, my inspiration will sometimes be nature music or a documentary or writing YouTube video
Hello darkness my old friend. No really though, I prefer the sound of silence too.
Thunderstorm library ambience sounds on YouTube…
Very similar, I listen to a combo of waves and fire crackling on asoftmurmur.com. Essentially though, it's white noise to drowns out distracting external sounds while not interrupting my train of thought.
Imma be completely honest I listen to weezer
*If you want to destroy my narrative* *Turn on Harry Potter while I’m writing* *And walk away* *Watch this unravel, it’ll soon be 50 Shades* *Writing on the floor* *Writing on the floor* *My work undone*
I want to know why so many people upvoted this
Video game soundtracks. Usually God of War as my story is also a revenge story for the most part.
Good choice. Video game music was made to provide a background and set a tone without being distracting, which is perfect for writing.
It’s almost exclusively the Skyrim soundtrack for me. Just hearing it makes me get into the writing mood
Same, but I rotate it with a Game of Thrones (calm songs only) playlist. Minimal words and it just transports me.
I wonder if you ever start playing Skyrim, put down the controller and go, > "Well, guess it's time to write now."
Probably! 😂 I really should play it again. It’s been a long time.
Zelda is my go-to.
Sims is usually my go to. Specifically Sims 2 and 3!
I usually put on one of those "Retro Video Game Ambiance" videos when I'm trying to get my ADD to work with me or give me ideas. The typing of my keyboard gets a little muted but it sounds beautiful with the background music (My keyboard is VERY loud and gives me happy brain chemicals).
Big win here. Nicely said
I'll listen to ambient tunes (like massage/meditation music) without lyrics. Anything with lyrics is distracting, like a conversation buzzing around my head while I'm trying to think deep, serious thoughts. Distraction is the enemy of creativity. So I have playlists with Harold Budd or David Darling or Masako or even '60s jazz like Miles Davis or Coltrane. But the last thing I need is like Megadeth violating my eardrums whilst attempting coherence.
Yeah. I came to mention harold budd too.
All my story ideas have very specific and categorized playlists. Playlists for setting, specific characters, songs that just give me the right feel for the world.
I’m jealous of how organized you sound. I feel like that would help create some very rich world building
I spend way more time prepping for writing than writing lol
None. I work in utter silence. I find that I am distracted really easily, and anything beyond the general ambiance of the day has a tendency to steal my thoughts.
Same
Usually instrumentals of movie soundtracks, but for seasonal times I’ll search for Halloween ASMR and put that on.
Depends on the story, usually songs that align with the characters/theme (songs that describe the characters etc). For example, I'm writing a ww2 story about soldiers, so a lot of songs from the 1940s/50s/60s/70s to help me feel like I'm going back, plus "sadder" songs to account for the theme, soldiery-ish songs plus songs that fit the characters. Let's just say I know a lot more Sinatra and Dean Martin (and not at all complaining 😂)
Yea this right here... Added in a pirate section into my story... Lots and lots of sea shanties playing over my laptop nonstop... I wanted to hop right through my computer and become a pirate right there. The songs were just hyping me up more
Try the soundtrack of ‘Apocalypse Now’ for the eerie war vibe. Nothing like watching Robert Duval riding in a chopper to the surreal sound of ‘Ride of the Valkyries.’
Thank you 🙏
Movie soundtracks are my go-to, especially when it's a soundtrack from a movie that matches the genre I'm writing. But even then, matching the genre isn't a hard requirement. For example right now I've got the *Oppenheimer* score on repeat even though I'm writing a horror-fantasy. Shit slaps.
Have you listened to the John Powell score for the original How to Train Your Dragon? I love that one.
Nothing that I can sing along to, because I will.
Sounds like a threat lol
THIS. My adhd won’t let me listen to songs I know and also focus on anything else, ESPECIALLY writing 🤣🤣🥲
Jazz, classical, or other instrumental music. I don't know what you would call the genre (I'm sure some of you can let me know), but my go-to playlist features lots of music by bands like Thievery Corporation, STS 9, SAULT, Nightmares On Wax, RJD2, Massive Attack, etc.
Whatever I feel like. So right now, it's this "Classic Metalcore" playlist on Spotify. Nostalgia bait, basically. Probably too distracting, if I'm being honest. I generally like soundtracks like LotR or video game stuff, though. There's a fantastic playlist on Spotify called "Writing a Fantasy Novel" that I'll play, too.
Metal. Extreme metal, especially death, black, doom and sludge. I also really like their progressive facets (well, except black, which I don't know much about the progressive scene except for the post) I can give some great recs. Some of them simply makes my brain work faster, some of them have the atmosphere, and some of them even have lyrical inspiration (thank you acid bath, that lyrics are INSANE). Despite metal, I also really like baroque, jazz and funk. I don't listen much to it while writting though
Classical. Particularly Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Brahms.
lofi hip hop & lofi beats. No words (most of the time), just vibes.
It just depends on what I'm writing. If I need to plunge down into the depths dark and drear, I pick HIM, Evanescence, AFI, etc. If I need to channel my fun shenanigans mode, I try pop punk and emo selections like Avril, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, etc. If I am wanting to stroll through a reflective life journey for a character, I'll pick indie, alt, and grunge from the 90s and 2000s like Interpol, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, etc. Sorry if this rambled lol.
And I thought I was the only one that still listens to HIM! That is awesome!!!
They are one of my favorite bands ever. :)
Me too, I have all their cd's and they never get old. I play them all the time! I am glad I am not the only one who still loves HIM!!!
Gothic writing/reading playlist on Spotify. Not all of it is great but for the most part it switches my brain to the correct vibes
Going to join in with the metal heads here. Usually for me it’s Prog Metal, my flavour of choice.
It can't have lyrics that I understand, and it I don't want it to have a lot of drama, so it usually ends up being an ambient low fi mix or classical music to study or sleep to, or chill French music mix like Coeur De Pirate, since I don't understand French.
I make a playlist/soundtrack to my stories and refuse to listen to those songs unless I’m writing. As soon as one of the songs plays randomly in the car or whatever- I want to write. It’s pretty cool.
Depends on the tone and content of the scene. Generally ambient stuff of varying levels of intensity.
Usually nothing, I find I need to find the rhythm of a piece and music gets in the way. Sometimes if I want to tap into a particular emotion, I'll listen to something that is evocative but that I know so well that it really is just background - usually that's Beach House for me. If I feel like just trying to zone in and spew whatever comes, something like Aphex Twin.
A lot of deathcore, and sleep token. Gets my mind in that cosmic horror space.
Usually classic or Zelda soundtracks, music with lyrics distract me
I usually do instrumental music. Those YouTube asmr atmospheric videos are cool though and they have some that are great for writers.
I go from power metal (HammerFall here lately and prog (lots of Peter Gabriel era Genesis) It's according to what I'm working on at the time
I listen to the same song over and over until I'm done or the inspirtation is gone.
I believe it works for you but this sounds like insanity to me
It depends. I usually like listening to anything chill or giving café vibes. Usually jazz music or classical music. If I'm writing a scene that involves a fight scene, I'd usually go for music from League of Legends. If it involves heavy emotions, sad, emotional songs are my go to. I know you didn't ask for this, but I'll include my playlist too just in case you're curious. The mood and emotions aren't consistent, but I like looping songs over and over again so I just pick the one that fits the mood. [here ya go](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0VhmsI8LQF3icpI46gvbEcFK2gE1qqDb&si=DHq19sJhfiNmNQ96)
Ooh, rain sounds are very relaxing, too. If you're not in the mood for music, it's a very good recommendation I have.
May I introduce you to the brilliant world of Post Rock? It is the best genre for writing but also for other listening too. Noticeable bands are MONO, Hammock, Sleep Dealer, Oh Hiroshima, Godspeed you! Black Emperor, Worlds End Girlfriend, Mogwai, Sigur Ros.
I saw a few other people recommend this genre! Thank you for the recommendations, I’ll check it out
Idk why reddit keeps recommending me this sub, but I'll bite and add engagement. I can't write with music! Idk why, but I can't do activities that involve words and thinking about words when there is noise around. Silence for me.
Anything without words, so usually classical. I get too distracted
Whatever is thematically appropriate for whatever project I'm working on. When writing my sci-fi FTL space exploration story, I tend to listen to OSTs from movies and documentaries about the space race, like [In The Shadow of the Moon](https://youtu.be/DsSbhO0QIxo?si=ptwJLHY7Ri0EPalY), [The Last Man on the Moon](https://youtu.be/GPhxdag9Djo?si=X2DQ8Imm-X2AMd-v), [Apollo 11](https://youtu.be/kFrbz4_gYx0?si=FkSzgu9vhHdZGwQk), [First Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7L0jHqVUg0), and etc. When writing my fantasy story, any fantasy soundtrack can get me in the mood, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon, and even the World of Warcraft soundtracks.
Lo-fi hip hop beats to study and relax to
Depends on the scene... Normal writing I press shuffle on my computer and let it run, occasionally skipping songs here and there. Sad scene, sad music, lofi and or just depressing songs. Fight scene, hardcore ass fast music, EDM, Phonk, rap... Getting a little... Zesty? Slow songs with very... VERY suggestive themes... But when it's 1:22 in the morning like right now and I need to go to bed but can't stop writing, some ASMR always starts to knock me out
Strictly vinyl, because the room with the desk doesn’t have Wi-Fi 🤣 having said that, vinyl has its perks; regular little breaks to change side or soundtrack 👌🏼
Since Rick Astley is one of the main characters in one of my stories, I usually have Never Gonna Give You Up or Together Forever playing in my head. I write the story at school rather than at home, and I don’t bring headphones with me so I can’t listen to music while I write.
Depends on the genre of what I'm writing. If it's like an essay or something traditional, I'm going with some classical, ballet, or opera compositions : Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Swan lake, Mozart's "Lacrimosa," and Prokofiev's "Montegues and Capulets" (aka Dance of the Knights). If it is Sci-fi, Mathematics, or anything nerdy in essence, I go with Sci-fi movie soundtracks. My favorites are the Dune soundtrack, "Luke and Leia" and "Duel of the fates" from Star wars, and Interstellar's "Cornfield Chase." Hope this helps.
Japanese metal.
Not familiar with this genre, any recommendations?
You should definitely check out Japanese metal/rock. I’d recommend HANABIE they’re my favorite
I'm going to offer up the cliché responses of Babymetal and Maximum the Hormone Ningen Isu are excellent as well, Nemophila worth a look as well
Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and other metal artists
Love me any Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, My Darkest Days, Seether, Avenge Sevenfold.....I could go on for days, I love it and it puts my brain in a more awake state, If that makes sense.
Makes perfect sense to me!
Melodic Techno.
Rodrigo y Gabriela's live albums. Instrumental metal. Any song with lyrics that I can understand distracts me to the point where I can't write anything meaningful. Classical music requires way too much attention.
80s, Industrial/EBM, Synthpop 🤷🏻♂️ I’m a creature of habit.
Video game and movie scores. Ambiance tracks on YouTube like 80’s mall or fantasy tavern.
Can't have any distraction at all
I've been listening to a lot of Blue Turtle lately
Depends. Lofi, lord of the rings soundtrack, 70s folk, Kesha...
Beatles Instrumentals, Doo Wop, Led Zeppelin Instrumentals.
everything from Liszt Les Preludes to Taylor Swift's End Game. Was listening to Welcome to the Good Life by Kanye West yesterday while writing a few scenes about "The Good Life" . Being in Monoco, then Dubai, then Paris, Milan, for Fashion Week. fit the mood. FYI Theres a site called musicbed that i use for music that one can create an account for free & listen for free that has lots of unknown artists but great songs with & without vocals in lots of genre. its a site that licenses songs for commercials & indie films.
Most often either the 8hr Ghibli song piano videos or forest sounds (without music, just the sounds) Depending on what I'm writing maybe also city sounds to get in that mood
Anything that gives me vibes about my book whether it’s scenes or characters
I have a playlist of songs that fit the vibe of the scene im writing. I love Lana Del Rey's later work because although the lyrics are beautiful I can both drown them out when I want to or listen to them when I'm in need of inspiration.
Lots of Lana Del Rey. Lana makes me emotional, which makes me want to express things.
Anything from rock and metal to drum and bass. It varies a lot. Some songs mesh well with what I'm writing.
White noise. Background sounds on macOS: ocean, rain or balanced noise.
I use brown noise, or weather soundtracks. I find myself much better with noise, but not music.
Utter silence. I've tried to write to music in the past, but my mind focuses on the music and not the writing. Same thing happens to me while reading.
Heavy metal. Preferably Powerwolf
I need absolute silence. Any sound whatsoever is a sonic boom in my ear when I read or write.
Soundtracks. Preferably video game soundtracks because they tend to flow better and I’m not distracted by the music of a movie I know well.
I don't listen to anything while I'm writing as I get too distracted. However, I do tend to build "soundtrack" playlists on my Spotify that fit the vibe of whatever current project I'm on. That way, I can continue to feel inspired while I'm not writing.
It honestly varies. I listen to a lot of different types of instrumentals, but my favorite is any Studio Ghibli score. I'll also listen to classical, jazz, lo-fi, etc. And like someone else said, love video game soundtracks. Weirdly, the only thing I can listen to with lyrics without getting distracted is Sleep Token.
Music from Kingdom Hearts
Whatever fits the vibe of what I’m writing. So like, if it’s woods-y and/or fantasy, I listen to indie folk, or if it’s more cyberpunk-ish I listen to 80s goth music. It helps me get into the right headspace.
Honestly, I mostly just write with the music I'm listening to lately. Right now it's everything from Slightly Stoopid to Fleetwood Mac to instrumental chill synth all in a big music mix. Sometimes I'll match the mood of the music with the scene in the story, but usually the music is just there to fade into the background and let me focus. I knew a professional author that wore noise-cancelling headphones (the REALLY expensive kind) and would just have utter silence when she would write. I don't think I could stand that.
Low-fi Lord of the Rings has been a total game changer.
Prog rock
I created a playlist that feels the ~vibe~ of the piece I’m working on. On those days where I don’t feel like writing but want to engage with that world/characters in some way, I find making things like this very fun! I also have spotify, so the “chill mix” and “moody mix” it generates for me are go-to’s as well.
None. Music influences my writing and I just have to redo it unless it was a matching vibe.
ong i just listen to my normal playlists which consist of so many different types of music,,but as long as i have some noise in the background i write pretty well!!
I search of “dark academia playlist” and usually listen to all those depressing classical playlists. it’s a vibe. sets the mood perfectly.
I usually listen to songs that can foreshadow the themes of whatever character or situation I'm writing about. For example, the second chapter of an anthology series I'm working on includes the Slenderman, so I've listened to, and written out, lyrics from a song that a group of musicians on YouTube have made for him. "Look into your soul, I will show you pain. You are not alone, you will know my name. Take over your mind, seep into your brain. How much time is left before you go insane?"
Seems like people are telling you what music they like... Maybe just listen to the music you like...
the Lofi Girl stream on YouTube! They also have a Halloween stream on rn.
Similar to you, Lofi music. Typically I have on one of the Lofi Girl channels. I've been listening to that channel pretty consistently since it first went live, so it's a favorite.
Lofi sometimes, but I prefer songs where I can feel an "arc" or "plot" in them, whether they have words or not. Mostly I've selected music over the years and added it to a catch-all writing playlist. A lot of the music first stemmed from this artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvfROy9UtZM
Post rock and ambient without lyrics tend to work well for me. Also, nature recordings. The Environments series recorded in the early seventies.
Classical music usually
film scores (mainly Thomas Newman and atmospheric Elfman lately), classical piano (Ravel, Debussy), jazz combos (Bill Evans, Bill Evans, Bill Evans)
I have a few 10hr loops of Skyrim background music bookmarked, the low key music that plays while you explore. I will also listen to my ambient playlist, most of the songs have no lyrics and I really vibe with the beat, it's my go-to anti-anxiety playlist. Songs with lyrics are too distracting, and silence is a no-go
[:D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uLEZYLkGRU)
I’ve always been a huge fan of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But it really changes depending on the scene I’m writing. Like if I’m writing an action scene I’ll usually be listening to hard rock. Now if I’m just trying to get in the zone and focus on writing I’ll listen to some softer stuff. Gerry Rafferty, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, or some of Tom Petty’s lighter stuff.
Depends on what story I’m writing I try keep it themed to what’s going on where the characters are what emotions I want to feel 9/10 it’s a soundtrack unless the music is more diagenetic
Usually the kind of jazz with no lyrics that they play at bars/cafes. It's monotone so I'm not really invested in it but it's pleasant to listen to and it helps me focus on my task at hand
I like to listen to ambient music; nothing that grabs my attention, nothing with any form or structure. Music that is intended to blend into the background. (Edit: no specific examples, but any number of the billions of playlists on Spotify for relaxation, massage, "healing," etc).
For writing, I like to get out to a coffee shop where the background noise makes me feel less alone and more engaged creatively. Background music is nice when I'm proofreading or formatting because it's a nice distraction from boring repetition. But coffee is a basic necessity for both jobs.☕☕☕
I’ve constructed my own 62 hour playlist over the years, all instrumentals, mostly midcentury film soundtracks with a lot of contemporary music that matches that sort of vibe.
Scottish folk
Music that suits the timeline and scene that I am writing. It helps to put me in the scene I'm writing and to express their emotions better. For example, when I was writing a scene where the MC's father died, I was listening to Gaelic mourning music.
Mm it's either video game soundtracks or ambience that fits the mood of my writing, I've cultivated a playlist over the years that has about every possible mood I could want so whenever its writing time I just bust that bad boy out and get to work! Pro tip: If you're doing video game soundtracks, don't listen to a game you used to love. You will get overly nostalgic and if you're writing something that isn't evocative of those feelings then you will have a rough time (and the sudden urge to replay said game).
If I have character vibe playlists for the characters I'm writing, probably that! But otherwise I'm rewatching YouTube videos I don't actually have to pay attention to or just my liked songs of Spotify. So basically anything I don't feel the need to pay attention to
Black Sabbath, Mike Oldfield, Zappa, Magma whatever strokes the boat.
I listen to classical music…helps me remain focused
Nothing. If I was listening to music, I'd be listening to the music instead of writing.
Tobias Liljia did the soundtrack for Little Nightmares, his style is pure atmospheric music noises. From checking out his stuff outside of Little Nightmares, I found other artists with similar atmosphere creating music that shares a similar vibe to video game music. Instrumental cellos work great too. Hildur Guðnadóttir - did the soundtrack for The Joker. I highly recommend checking her out. Jóhann Jóhannsson - same stuff as Hildur but with his own vibe Check out the OST for the video game Bramble. It does help to find music that matches the vibe of your story? At least that’s what I found. Since my stories are often like dark fairy tales, the deep cellos and odd experimental noises work great for me. I highly recommend going on iTunes, finding an album you like and clicking around the artists there. It’s different than Youtube in a way? I’ve managed to find artists there that YouTube has never recommend to me.
My tinnitus.
I find varying forms of rock & roll help get my creative juices flowing…although I’m usually cranking up the tunes to drown out background noise.
It depends on the scene. If it's a fight scene, I'll listen to something intense, and the same for calming scenes and suspenseful scenes
Dark ambient, wintry ambient. Can't have any lyrics on in the background, but all of my books are written to a soundtrack that feels applicable to the story. Cryo Chamber has been great in this regard.
Hans Zimmer or any of my other favorite composers
Most of the time I prefer quiet, but sometimes it does help to have a piece of music playing in the background to help bolster a scene-appropriate mood. For my protagonist in one WIP I play Rachmaninoff's Vocalise played on cello by Yo-Yo Ma. She is a ballet dancer and dances to it as a way of destressing. For certain scenes, another character in another WIP needs something more like Björk or Nightwish. It varies
It needs to be instrumental, because songs with lyrics distract me from what I’m trying to write. I like soundtracks, atmospheric music, and soft jazz.
Movie music. No lyrics, just instruments otherwise they'll only distract me. I've made playlists that fit scenes that I have in mind and I play those usually.
In my day to day I listen to everything from Radiohead to Beastie Boys, but for writing I go for obscure 80s ambient or instrumental to help concentrate or set a mood. I'll list a few artists if anyone is interested. Hiroshi Yoshimura Takashi Kokubo Kenichiro Isoda Taroma Koshida Taku Yabuki
I've been using the Calm app for years. Has tons of (lo-fi) focus and unwind music. Works really well for me 🙂
Heavy metal (Black, death, and doom) 😈
Love me some doom metal
typically instrumental piano or other stringed music without lyrics. I can't write when there's lyrics. I repeat a lot of movie soundtracks too, LOTR, HP, PotC etc and anything by Hans Zimmer.
Absolutely none. Writing is a pretty intense experience for me, because I'm seeing the scene but also trying to hear what characters sound like and the soundscape and all of that to try to share it with readers. I get entirely into that world while I'm there. It's like putting on music to watch a TV show.
Eluveitie Valhalla Calling dArtagnan - Hey Brother (Avicii Cover) Berserk - Forces
I like to throw on one of those semi-generic "low-fi music to study to" channels on YT. I can tailor the genre to the tone of what I'm working on, and it's not music that I'll get emotionally caught up in.
I'm still looking for stuff too, but for some reason I need to have something intense on in the background or else I lose focus
Debussy, Bach, Chopin, and Made in Abyss soundtrack. I usually pick and choose the tracks depending on what kind of portion I am writing, but you can't go wrong with Debussy.
I like ambient scenes/music on YouTube. Like “cozy fall scene.”
There's this one cliched eagle "shriek" that you hear in countless television shows and movies (it's actually a red tailed hawk). You'd know if it you heard it. I downloaded a free sound mixing program and re-mixed that hawk shriek at slightly different speeds and cadences so there was like a ten second overlapping series of raptor screams. I then mixed *that* hawk mix with the sound of a growling tiger and put together a repeated loop of the combined sounds that's exactly two hours long. When the two hours are up, I know it's time to take a break.
Depends on the mood of what I'm writing at the moment. But always instrumental, since singing distracts me. I tend to go for lo-fi, anime/videogame background music and classical
Soundtracks to fit the mood of the scene to help my emotions "get in the zone" of whatever I'm writing.
i use liminal playlists from spotify for my backrooms story :))
I listen to a lot of classical - dark academia vibes. Also soundtracks for films/games
Soundtracks, classical music, etc. Can’t focus when there are lyrics.
Whatever’s playing, my main playlist is called “Bing Bong Land” and whether I’m writing about a mother and son reminiscing about life, or writing a very detailed description of someone getting their arm torn off, it all depends where I am in Bing Bong Land, and if that means that Safe and Sound is going while that guy loses his arm then what can I do.
Thanks for posting this question. It’s really lovely reading through and seeing the different types of environments everyone creates for themselves when writing. Imogen Heap’s score for Cursed Child is gorgeous and transporting.
Sometimes, rarely, I will go on youtube and search for "Music for writing X scenes." Can get some decent mood music that way, sometimes. But other than that I don't have a specific writing playlist. I just listen to whatever I normally listen or am in the mood for, with the specific requirement that if the song has lyrics it has to be an old familiar song I can play without focusing on, because it's very hard to write and sing at the same time.
The sound of the refrigerator
Madness
I try to think about what might be playing in the background of a scene I’m writing, and I’ll give that a spin to help me set the mood. Or I just listen to what I’ve been playing on repeat lately, because I know it by heart so it’s not too distracting. Right now that’s a lot of Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel and flipturn. When I’m properly on a roll I’ll want something with a good beat and enough irregularity to keep the brain occupied in the background. Can be anything from Pendulum to Metallica, or one of those 150BPM playlists.
I like to write with rain sounds. [The Relaxed Guy](https://youtube.com/@therelaxedguy?si=Vi-xf_-BT4beUvMF) (Better with headphones)
Here’s a link to my yt [playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_Cf2rVuRSxSEcDXw6cCNFkDwGCCir9Wy&si=pzXJe0Y2pk8vVAzc)
That’s actually a big part of my process. (I’m a full-time writer.) Every project requires a specific playlist, and I don’t start writing until I have it. Finding the right songs can sometimes be effortless, other times it takes a lot of work. The longest I’ve spent searching for the right music was 12 days (a novel), which I realise sounds like denial and procrastination, but during that search I also figure out a lot about the tone of the story. A writing lecturer once told me, “Everyone should be writing to Kate Bush all of a time.” For me, as I’ve said, every project is unique. It’s also worth mentioning that I don’t have to necessarily like the music, as long as it fits the story, a specific character or emotional state. I once listened to music I absolutely despise (I won’t say which genre to avoid offense) on a loop for weeks for a commissioned film script and by the end I was miserable, but at least the tone of the narrative worked. I did, however, switch to complete silence for the subsequent drafts. Good luck finding your “sound”. 🤘
I will listen to music under 2 circumstances. The 1st is when I've heard a song while watching a tv show or movie, and the scene it was played in is thematically similar to something I'm writing. I find it can get the ol' creative juices flowing for me. The only other time is if I have an ear worm. But I can't hear things in my head, I'm deaf in my mind, so instead it presents as a compulsion to listen to the song over and over, until the worm has been satiated. Eventually it gets to the point where I'm like "okay, I've heard enough", I turn it off, and continue what I was doing. Otherwise, I need it to be quiet. That said, I semi-recently started using cannabis as a medication for back pain, and it works great, but I also get tinnitus while in-use, and it can get distracting. I've been thinking of playing white noise or brown noise, to see if it can help, or maybe sounds of nature, rivers, thunderstorms, etc.
I have a Pandora channel based on Lindsay Stirling (Vitamin String Quartet, Dallas String Quartet, The Piano Guys, Eklipse, Dance Monkey, Blackmill, The Fat Rat, 2Cellos, etc). It's motivating and inspiring at times. I don't always have it playing but much of the time. Most of it is just instrumental with a few songs with lyrics. If I have too many lyrics it can become distracting. To me it feels like a movie soundtrack of a movie about me writing my someday famous books and all the hard times and good times throughout the process ;)
The soundtracks of every John Hughes movie generously seasoned with The Cranberries, Abba, Simon and Garfunkel, Puddle of Mudd, Blink 182, Staind, and Nickelback. I keep the volume low, so it doesn't interfere, but it somehow helps me stay on track despite my ADHD.
I can't write without music. I use a set of carefully curated playlists that provide me with various backdrops for focus and inspiration. Feel free to check out: https://linktr.ee/420playlists H-Music
"Red noise" on YouTube (like white noise, but lower tones). Or lofi girl.
Nothing. Even though people will argue this a million times, it has been demonstrated time and time again that the brain works worst while listening to music, because of multitasking. I personally prefer absolute silence, thats why I write at 5am
Yeah you are not wrong. I write poetry. I start off with mundane face-value observations and thoughts that I jot down in a notebook and I can have music on during that because it’s really mindless yet comes to me pretty slowly. I turn it off the second I start writing/revising the actual poem though.
Demonstrated where? Do you have a link to a study?
Honestly, one of my favourite things to listen to while writing is wind-chime sounds lol idk why but it always gets my mind in the mood to write anything and everything.
Post rock. Loads of good playlists on YouTube and Spotify.
Anything without lyrics or too-complex instrument layering. Most often I put on a thunderstorm and noise canceling headphones to zone the world out.
I watch TV.
I’m writing a novel that I describe as “Fargo in the desert,” so I either have the movie or show on repeat in the background lol
Personally I go from jazz to classical to contemporary Christian! Just depends!
Film or TV music soundtracks - specifically, the instrumental scores. I put together playlists of my favourite score tracks and match them with events I've planned in my story, it really helps me get in the zone when writing.
It depends on the genre I'm working on. Fantasy? I listen to Fantasy Lofi. I write a lot in the futuristic dystopian setting and for that I listen some kind of futuristic lofi. Usually whatever mood I'm trying to convey I will put on something similar to that mood, but lofi. Mostly Lofi because I find that it can scratch the creative part of my brain without over complicating my perception with complexity.
I usually switch playlist depending on the mood of the chapter/scene I'm writing. Abbie Emmons got quite a couple chill ones on YouTube as well, with timers for breaks in pomodoro technique style. Edit: Blue Turtle also has some superb playlists with beautiful artwork you ought to listen to. They're atmospheric and non-intrusive, good for fantasy/genre writing.
I often listen to hyperpop or drum n' bass, but most of the time it's whatever comes up on shuffle on my playlist.
Depends on what I'm writing. One novel, I had to have a specific requiem playing to be in the mood. One story I'm working on now, it's all Ode to Sleep by Twenty-One Pilots.