Do you listen to music when you write?

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

I can write with an instrumental piece in the background or natural sounds (homedic surf/brook/rain) but can't focus whe there are lyrics involved.

[Lon Dee]

In my iTunes library, I have a playlist called "fight music", where I've added some more raucous songs like Dropkick Murphys and Dream Theater, and even some movie soundtracks. When I'm writing an exciting scene that needs a lot of energy, especially a fight scene, I turn on this playlist to get the energy flowing.

[the tiger fights]

You're right about music stimulating your creative juices, but sometimes the order is reversed. After listening to a motivating song, it can rouse you to get busy and write while you're geared up or even toned down. Either way, what you write reflects your feelings. Good job!

[Nanao Clams]

Hey, for me, I can't seem to be focus when I listen to fast-paced songs, those with lyrics or without, especially pop songs.(I barely complete a few questions of my homework while listening to a playlist of pop songs for that matter.)

I'd rather write in silence, but listening to relaxing music occasionally will tap my inner creativity deeper

[Lon Dee]

I just read an interesting article about a study that seems to indicate you can boost your creativity in a nosier environment. I'm a new member so I can't post a link, but google "Why Ditching The Office Could Help You Be More Creative" and you'll see it.

[Fran]

I just read an interesting article about a study that seems to indicate you can boost your creativity in a nosier environment. I'm a new member so I can't post a link, but google "Why Ditching The Office Could Help You Be More Creative" and you'll see it.

@LonDee
On a radio programme recently heard a psychologist quote some study that seemed to show that if you have music on while studying you are conditioning your brain to associate music with intellectual effort & consequently your brain has a problem adjusting to the quiet of an exam situation.
Not sure how that can be reconciled with your article .... maybe it just means that psychologists can produce a study to prove just about anything.

[Lon Dee]

@Fran
I think you're right. Personally, if there's too much going on around me, it's not the noise that's distracting, but all the activity.

[oliv101]

I love to listen when i write, as sometime it might affect my concentration but sometime it just give me a full energy and motivation. Sometime i would prefer not to listen music but after as hang up from writing i would love again to listen music for better feelings and rejuvenation.

[shaphat]

I prefer to write in silence. I guess I would only have music if I was writing poetry, but I never write that so..

[bookgator]

I listen sometimes and sometimes I don't. It depends on my mood really but most of the the time yes.

I think music soothes the soul and adds to the my ability to concentrate while reading. I have a certain music playlist that's specifically intended when I read books. Do you guys do the same?

[willowrose]

Yes!! Totally. I need to "zone out", or "zone in", whichever way that should go, so I use music to "zone me out" of the world around me. It's true though that certain types of music can set certain types of mood that might end up redirecting the scene you're trying to write. ;p I did a vlog on this not long ago. I love listening to classical too. I can't do instrumental, like the elevator type of music stuff, 'cause if it's songs I know I'd end up just sitting here singing along! ;p

[XanderRichards]

Do you listen to music when you write?

During the writing of my novel I helped to inspire myself for the action sequences by listening to music from exciting movies. I found it really helpful to get me in the right mood.

I would typically listen to scores by John Barry, William Stromberg, Barry Gray, Jerry Goldsmith, Basil Poledouris, David Arnold, Lalo Schifrin and so on. Of course these choices would be largely useless if I were penning a romance haha!

Cheers,
Xander.

[johnsonpatricia]

Sure, i listen to music when write and read. It gives more concentration, and releasing from other disturbance.

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

I like Rachmaninoff in the background sometimes

[DATo]

I tend to focus when I work on anything and I find music disruptive to the process. I think it may be largely a matter of conditioning. I envy people who can focus narrowly on the object of their work with distractions around them. I have never mastered that art.