When you write...

[Dwarfsetsfire]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

 

[Boota]

I require dead silence when I write.

 

[elsol]

I only require music when I'm writing a piece inspired by music.

MTV, Spanish MTV are usually on in the background for other stories because hot women are inspiring.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[Kain__Thornn]

I require dead silence when I write.

Me also. Maybe not dead silence but I don't want a lot of distraction. It's hard for me to get into that creative mode.

 

[English Lady]

I need background noise, music, TV, washing machine- it doesn't really matter, I jsut don't think well in silence.

 

[S-Des]

I need background noise, music, TV, washing machine- it doesn't really matter, I jsut don't think well in silence.

Me too. Silence creeps me out. I can't explain why, but I have some serious thing about it (it has to be psychological because it bothers me in almost everything). I'll usually have the TV running quietly and just tune it out. Music actually distracts me (unless it sucks, in which case I can let it play and tune it out).

I haven't tried writing to classical, I keep meaning to give it a shot. I have a cool Vladimir Horowitz recording of a Rachmaninoff piece that I haven't had the time to listen to. Again, it's probably so amazing that it will distract me (I love Rach's stuff).

 

[English Lady]

Me too. Silence creeps me out. I can't explain why, but I have some serious thing about it (it has to be psychological because it bothers me in almost everything). I'll usually have the TV running quietly and just tune it out. Music actually distracts me (unless it sucks, in which case I can let it play and tune it out).

I haven't tried writing to classical, I keep meaning to give it a shot. I have a cool Vladimir Horowitz recording of a Rachmaninoff piece that I haven't had the time to listen to. Again, it's probably so amazing that it will distract me (I love Rach's stuff).

I tend to go with the TV as well, as you say music can be distracting, but as i write in bits and pieces, the distraction coems in handy sometimes

 

[Liar]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Anything without lyrics, or I'll start writing those.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I require dead silence when I write.

oh good lord, if I did, I would never write, not in a house with kids!

Sometimes I'll put the headphones on and play something sexy, something with a good, strong rhythmic beat...

most of the time I'm writing in the middle of chaos...

so much for a room of one's own...

 

[FallingToFly]

Music, phone, kids, tv, people talking to me. I write with all that going on.

 

[kbate]

It does not matter, if the story is in my hands, it appears on the paper; otherwise I usually put the pen down and wait.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

It does not matter, if the story is in my hands, it appears on the paper; otherwise I usually put the pen down and wait.

that's a proverbial pen, right? You don't actually still write with a real pen, do you?

 

[Guest]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

It depends so much on what is around and how much control I have over it, and my mood, the time of day, what I'm writing, and if the writing is going easily or not. There are no rules. Sometimes, when the writing isn't pushing desperately at my fingertips, I'll put on particular music to tempt it forward. Sometimes I'll play particular movies when I want to capture a mood or an example of a character or see particular scenery.

The most important part is, there are no rules. Whatever I want, or whatever I have, when it's time to write, I write.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

It depends... at times I need absolute silence. At other times I need music and background noise.

 

[Aurora Black]

It depends... at times I need absolute silence. At other times I need music and background noise.

I'm the exact same way. If the piece needs music, I'll play music. Lately I've been writing in complete silence.

 

[AchtungNight]

It varies by the story for me. Usually silence, but often there's music or a TV show on. Perhaps a movie if I really need to think.

 

[Boota]

I think that maybe being a musician is what keeps me from being able to have music on when I write. I'll quit writing and just listen to the music. I've noticed on the few occasions I've tried writing to music I've had to go back and re-read each line several times before I can get through it. I can deal with background noise at a distance, as long as it's very distant. Maybe a tv two rooms away with a closed door between us.

A friend of mine does all his writing on a laptop in public places, like Starbuck's. I've never tried it, but I think it would be a bad idea. If I was on a roll and someone interrupted me I would probably go off on them.

 

[Aurora Black]

If I was on a roll and someone interrupted me I would probably go off on them.

I know I've done it.

 

[M-Y-Erotica]

that's a proverbial pen, right? You don't actually still write with a real pen, do you?

I actually do. I write the first draft with pen and paper. One reason is it lets me carry a notebook around wherever I want, so I can sit somewhere in a restaurant with a cup of tea and write. The other reason is that it really lets me cut and revise when I type it all in for draft 2. Sometimes I write word for word what's on the paper. Sometimes I just look at the page to get the gist and then write it off the top of my head. Mostly, if I am uncertain about whether something is necessary, there's no pain in just leaving it out.

To answer the original question, I like a mild distraction. People walking by on the street that I can look at every few minutes. Or music. It can't be music which is too keyed on words. For instance, I have one CD that is made up of story type songs. If you don't listen to the story, then there's no reason to listen to the music. Therefore I can't listen to that CD when writing. But songs I already know with lyrics that are more a part of the music than a story? No prob.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

Depends on what I am writing...I usually try to find music that has the same tone as what I am writing...I like to write at night mainly, with one dim light on and music playing...

 

[snooper]

Do you listen to music?

Sometimes.

What kind?

Fauré, Mozart, perhaps Robeson.

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

No -there isn't one in my study.

 

[Dwarfsetsfire]

I've tried it both ways quite abit recently...

When the background noise from my fiance gets too loud I usually try to listen to music but it always throws me off of what I am trying to write, on the other hand though I am not sure if I will ever have pure silence which would help so much. Might as well get use to it I guess.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

Usually I can't listen to anything but classical when I write.

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

I'm kinda impervious to background noise. I've learned to think through just about anything.

But I agree on music lyrics (particularly catchy ones) - I've caught myself singing to them and had to turn the music off.

Ohhhhh yeah.... And I would walk 1000 miles and I would walk 1000 more - just to be the one who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door.

DA DA DA DA!

Dear g-d make it stop!

And I have found myself conducting before - Wagner particularly.

~WOK

 

[AppleBiter]

Do you listen to music? What kind?

Do you have the T.V. on in the background?

No. It must be 100% silent.