Question for authors... music?

[Route66Girl]

I'm just wondering what kind of role music plays for any of you as you write, if any.

Do you listen to music to help set the mood as you write? What kind? Does it depend on the story? Does it distract, or help you to concentrate?

 

[Sateema Lunasi]

I always have music on when I write. What kind depends on what mood I want in the story. I think of music like the soundtrack to a story. For example, I am writing a story about a group of mercenaries La Femme Nikita style and I played Bjork's "Post" album and some Linkin Park. Frustration music. High tempo and edgy.

I wrote a story set in Ireland in the 1700's that was very light and fairy-like. I listened to Charlotte Church's "Voice Of An Angel", Clandestine and The Chieftans.

I cannot write without music.

 

[karmadog]

Nothing specific. I just need background noise. I used to study with the stereo and the tv on and the dorm door open. Silence is poison.

 

[Starblayde]

Silence is poison.

Silence allows my brain to wander where it wants....

Poisonous slience

 

[VeraGem]

My mood changes with the weather it seems. At times I like metal, (and don't kid yourself, some of today's 'alternative' stuff is metal in a new package), at other times I like softer stuff like the Barenaked Ladies or The Cure or Julian Cope.

I can't often listen to Frank Zappa when I'm writing - I keep drifting into the music and forgetting what I'm doing. It's too hard not to take notice when one hears a line like: "I can take about an hour on the tower of power, as long as I gets a little golden shower."

 

[TheEarl]

I always listen to music, but the kind depends on what I'm writing. Sex is usually written to the backing of stuff like J-Lo - Play, Sugababes - Freak Like Me or Shy Fx - Shake Ur Body, whilst romance or plot development is usually written to the tones of Nickelback, The Offspring or Lene Marlin (I know, eclectic music tastes). I find that the music I'm listening to affects what I write; if Timo Maas is playing then the sex scene tends to be very frenetic and passionate, if Eagle-Eye cherry's on, then it tends to go slower and more sedately.

Am I the only author whose stories are influenced by the music playing?

The Earl

 

[SlidingInSilk]

influential music

Okay, this topic intrigues me. I'm a music teacher and music is part of my everyday life. But I never write with music as "background" anything. I feel it's insulting to the musicians and composers of said music to do other things that distract me from the music. They spent a lot of sweat and energy to create it and I think that deserves my respect.

Society has conditioned us to want and need that "noise" around us and I think because of that we have lost some of our ability to be creative on our own. Someone once quoted that it was no wonder composers like Bach and Beethoven were so great the only noise they had to compete with was the church choir at the other end of town and the occasional passing wagon. Even writers like Emerson and Whitman sought solitude from the rest of the world to write out their words.

Does this mean I don't listen to the radio or CD's while driving? Yes. However, I always listen to music be it Chopin or Blink 182 and hear the story behind the music. Then I sit in a quiet house and concentrate on recreating that story in words. So while music does influence how and what I write. I don't listen to it at the same time.

*steps down from my little soap box*

Okay...well, that came out of nowhere.
Silk
Literotica Stories
Sweet Lickings
A Roomie Roomie
The Unicorn's Gift

 

[GoddessKaren]

music...must have music

I usually listen to either Annie Lennox's "Medusa" CD or Melissa Etheridge, especially her new one "Skin" when I am writing. But I always have to have some music on!

 

[Impetus]

I've done music and silence for writing.

Sometimes I just need it quiet when I write. I've found that music, especially since I've begun taking music theory classes and have started subconciously analyzing music, somtimes just distracts me. I'll be writing, happy, and then all of a sudden I'll find myself no longer writing, but simply listening to music. It becomes a distraction, it starts vying for some of the computational volume available in my head.

On other days, perhaps it's just the way my brain happens to be wired, there is enough spare volume in my head that filling it with some music helps keep the brain active and the creativity at peak. Usually, though, it's quiet, simple music. Something ambient or classical.

-I

 

[VeraGem]

I feel it's insulting to the musicians and composers of said music to do other things that distract me from the music

I don't know about that; I think most musicians would be more than happy that an audience is listening, whatever the reason. Naturally, this doesn't apply to a live performance or a diva, (meaning someone who is filled with delusions of grandeur). Honestly, I don't think many people spend a whole lot of time focused entirely on anything. We've become so used to hooks and sound-bites and trite commercial interlude that an attention span of more than a few minutes is rare indeed.

whilst romance or plot development is usually written to the tones of Nickelback

Nickelback is one of the best new bands I've heard in ages - a lot of rage, but directed rage. The guy sounds like he's trying to end injustice with his music and lyrics; kind of like Lenny Bruce with cannon - and I love it. The song 'Money Bought' jerked me out of a stupor one day while It played in the background - I ran over and put the song on repeat, my mouth open, mouthing the words "Holy Fuck!" He's got a whole story there in just a couple of verses: I picture a guy, the singer, grabbing this dickhead he's talking to by the hair and slamming his face against the window glass of life until the guy's nose bleeds and he sinks to the ground, realizing what he's done.

What I'm saying is that ALL music is background music until the artist takes hold and wrenches the listener into the song. We owe the artist nothing but the freedom to create; that applies to us as writers as well. It's the job of the artist to pull the audience in with whatever it takes - a caress or a sledgehammer. The audience owes us nothing. We owe the audience nothing. There are no entitlements - only the hope of some sort of connection.

 

[Uther_Pendragon]

I'm just wondering what kind of role music plays for any of you as you write, if any.

Do you listen to music to help set the mood as you write? What kind? Does it depend on the story? Does it distract, or help you to concentrate?

:
I know that I'm an exception.
But I don't listen to any music when I write. I can ignore
music completely as long as (1) It is purely
instrumental and (2) I don't know the lyrics to the song.
If, for example, I hear the piano version of a song I know,
I can't compose. I'm worse if I hear words. (I know
who can compose original articles while listening to talk
radio on an entirely different subject. It would drive me
crazy.)

 

[wildsweetone]

i write in silence, the story in my fingertips is my music.


Learning to Learn, by Christine Ward and Jane Daley states:

'Music creates body/brain states that can help or hinder working and learning. Slow beat music is most suitable for achieving the alpha state where the brain is most receptive. Some music prepares the brain for certain types of thinking and working. Choice of music is personal, but people need to prove to themselves how various musical structures affect their performance. The beat calms or activates the body. Melodic arrangement affects the way messages are transmitted in the brain. Music for working and learning is chosn for its effect on body/brain efficiency; it is not chosen for personal enjoyment. Serious learners collect a set of audiotapes or compact discs to suit their different working and learning activities.

Vivaldi - for stimulation and energy, for ideas, clear thinking, completing

Handel - for teamwork and positivity, for structured thinking and working.

JS Bach - for clear thinking and active memory, for understanding complexity.

Mozart - for gathering and sorting, for working systematically, for confidence and style.

Haydn - for curiosity and exploration, for optimism and positive planning.

Beethoven - for self-control and confidence, for energy, courage, achievement.

Mendelssohn - for courage and progress, for visualisation and memory.

Brahms - for determination, for focusing on basics.

Tchaikovsky, for enriching imagination, for love of learning and communicating.'


All these have specific pieces of music to listen to. Please feel free to ask if you'd like to know which in particular.

 

[macdanife2000]

Music

With and without but in two different modes, one where I commit the story idea through one, hopefully continuous flow without thought for grammar, punctuation etc just the creative side.

I find that with the added distraction I no longer "concentrate" on what "exactly" I want to write but can step back and take in the overall situation and create the piece.

When editing however, I need total concentration because there are lots of corrections in my original draft that need close attention.

Hope this helps.

The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant. -- Plato

 

[karmadog]

Silk, I didn't mean any disrespect by my earlier statement about background noise.

To be more specific, I listen to music that I know so well that it doesn't require an active ear. It's memorized.

But, musicians don't automatically get the respect of being actively listened to. Lawrence Welk hasn't earned the respect that Coltrane has, or Glenn Gould.

Besides, I just want enough things going on so that it becomes a sort of white noise through which no distracting noises can penetrate.

 

[its Leslie]

I like to read listening to jazz. It doesn't have distracting lyrics.

I like to listen to anime music (which is curiously enough generally in japanese) in my wood shop because well it doesn't matter if I can't fully hear what they are saying (I haven't a clue at any rate heheh).

I like listening to a special mix of romantic tunes I have amassed while at home. But oddly enough I use it more for giving me a boost while doing housework.

But when I write I find that any music is distracting. Although it's hard to say, but sometimes I will put in something in background just so the room isn't totally devoid of sound.

Darn humm of the fan on my computer lulls me to sleep some days. So I need something to cut through the fan humm depending on time of day.

 

[novel_t]

Music to write by

Different sounds stimulate different emotions and I play heavyly upon that. My current project usually dictates my choice of sound and I've spent many hours of procrastinating by burning special "mood" CD's!

Romantic scenes - sweet, syrup, life-is roses type music

Sex scenes - heavy base, seedy rhythm

Strong female character scenes - my all-female CD

You get the point! But whatever gets your hand moving, fingers typing and story going is the best thing for you. (Although I have the poisonous silence problem myself - my mind talks my hand out of what my voice wants to say)

 

[Ray Dario]

I write to bands like Guns-N-Roses, AC/DC, Motley Crue, etc.

I don't think these guys would be offended knowing their music is background music to a guy writing porn

They also don't sound like they are trying to end injustice with their music and lyrics, but they do have a lot of rage, especially Guns-N-Roses.

So why do I listen to these bands when I write? Well a guy has to mellow out sometimes right?

Ray

 

[mlyn]

Writing to Music

Sometimes I have to have noise, so I have the tv on. But when I crave music, and it does seem to get to the elemental levels I like:

moody- celtic music - Enya

romantic- Frank Sinatra, Michael Bolton, anything with a jazz saxophone playing.

to lift my spirits in general- classical music- piano, symphony.

Having studied piano for 7 years, and sang in the chorus at high school, and in church on sundays, I have music in my soul. I often am humming, singing parts of songs and don't even know it!

 

[VeraGem]

So why do I listen to these bands when I write? Well a guy has to mellow out sometimes right?

Ray, does this mean you believe me when I say I like to mellow out to Metallica? No one else does.

 

[TheEarl]

Editing

I have to listen to music when I write, but I can't edit with it on. I find the music stirs up too many memories of when I first wrote the story and prevents me from being objective.

Anyone else find that, or am I just weird?

The Earl

 

[Hitchhiker]

SILENCE is golden

You can't hear the lady come or the term of endearmnet with noise around to listen to the heart beat faster now that's music

 

[Ray Dario]

Ray, does this mean you believe me when I say I like to mellow out to Metallica? No one else does.

Oh hell yeah! Metallica is great for those sleepy bluesy days, but usually I wanna rock!

Ray

 

[wildsweetone]

Metellica

you call that music???

ok i'm KIDDING!
*wicked wink*

 

[Suzi]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

...personally, I like artists like Enya or Sarah MacLachlan....I feel more meditative...clear-minded, room for ideas...peaceful. I cannot write if my environment is dead quiet (I have tinnitis---in dead quiet I hear a high pitched squeal), or if the music is loud, raucous or chaotic....Now if I was cleaning...then I love rock n roll, classic rock...maybe EVEN The Scorpions, Deff Leppard, Bon Jovi....
I also like Enya and Sarah for magick ritual...helps me focus.

*Hugs*

Suzi

 

[SexyChele]

Re: Editing

I have to listen to music when I write, but I can't edit with it on. I find the music stirs up too many memories of when I first wrote the story and prevents me from being objective.

Anyone else find that, or am I just weird?

The Earl

Can totally relate to this! When I'm writing a story, I'm listening to classical music. (and yup, only classical music) But when I edit, it has to be quiet. Not so much because it stirs up memories of when I was writing, though. More to concentrate on all that grammar and tense and spelling stuff!