Writing Music

[Cornuthaum]

The question is: Do you listen to any kind of music when you're writing fiction? If so, what? Why? When? How?

Personally, I just run Bach's various organ works whenever I feel the need to be creative, and switch to something adrenaline-pumping whenever I feel the need to write action/combat scenes (like this AMV. I don't understand a word of the text, but, damn, the music is awesome.

So, what do you listen to?

Please help me, for my musical muses forsake me

 

[Alzrius]

I don't. I'd like to, but I don't.

I've found that music tends to distract me from organizing my thoughts enough to get them onto paper in a way that I like (music without lyrics tends to be better at this, but it's still true to a degree); I can't quite focus on making the words flow how I want to if I'm mouthing the lyrics to something, or thinking about how the "good part" of the song is coming up.

Music tends to speak to me emotionally, and while I love that, it's not where I need to be when I'm writing. I need to be able to force my thoughts out of free-form and into a progression that reads well and conveys what I want it to. If I'm too lost in an emotional thrill, I can't do that.

 

[MnemoD]

I listen to music, I ALSO write music... Well, lyrics, not music.

I find that an emotional state can better... put a character into perspective sometimes.

 

[Thorn]

Huh. At first I thought this thread was about composition and arrangement. My answer was going to be "Yes, I do from time to time."

Try listening to the Planet Suites, they're particularly useful for harnessing your imagination, as each one of them captures a certain feeling and emotion. The composer is Gustav Holst. Anything of his is worth listening to, I hope his music helps.

 

[Aensland]

I do, pretty much always. Holst is awesome by the way. Other than that, it depends on either what type of mood I'm in or what I'm writing. Certain bands, such as Sevendust, Saosin, Opeth and the like, lend toward action scenes as an example.

 

[Legacy|iB]

Wow, I read the title and I was about to reply with something in regards to my tone deafness.

I don't listen to music while writing. I'd say it's distracting, but I find it's because when I'm listening to music and writing, I tend to get a little...exuberant. Also, when listening to music in general while I'm on my computer, I don't hear people walking up behind me. Because I can't hear them, more chances than naught calling for me, they walk up and directly get my attention. This usually catches me by surprise, so therefore, no more music while writing.

But, I tend to listen to music while not writing, but imagining certain scenes in that process. Usually, I listen to rock or anything with a strong beat for when I need to write something with a lot of action.

I can't list anything right now, but I remember when writing a chapter for my Halo fic, I was playing a lot of Mothergoat's material (Mothergoat is a Halo fan who composes music inspired by Halo's soundtrack - quite impressive, if I might say so myself). Good to get the blood pressure and the 'get some' mentality up a bit few notches to write some stuff, actually.

I listen to slower music for when the scene needs to be more solemn or quieter. For example, Bokura no Jikan by eufonius - the closing song to Futakoi Alternative - is something I listen to when I want to get that sad feeling going.

Shit like that, really.

 

[Fatuous One]

Usually, yes.

Most of the time, I'm writing in a location that isn't exactly quiet, so I use music (doesn't matter what kind, so long as I enjoy it) to drown out the other background noise. Strange as it might seem, music in that function allows me to focus, as I can completely ignore it except as pleasant background noise, as opposed to the distracting kind I usually have to listen to without my headphones on.

Of course, that's not always the case. Whenever things are quiet, I'll simply let it be silent. Still, I have a semi-large list of OSTs that have a general atmosphere to them, and if the mood is similar to the piece I'm trying to write, I might pull it out regardless.

Still, silence is preferred whenever possible and I'm in an inspired mood.

 

[runestar]

I probably wouldn't, if I ever got down to writing somehow.
I find that I concentrate best in quiet areas. I have no idea how some of my friends are able to maintain their focus while being surrounded with a myriad of electronic gadgets like handphones, mp3, television on etc, but that is not for me. -_-

 

[Maschbot]

I'm listening to music pretty much anytime I'm not doing something that requires me not to; read, any time I'm not in class or at work. I don't listen to any particular song or anything like that; I just have a huge playlist with every song I can think of that I enjoy, which I add to as time goes by, and hit shuffle. Playlist sits at 223 songs currently, so there might be a problem with that :snigger:

 

[rootathell]

usually webradio or AMVs on random

 

[toraneko]

I haven't done much writing in quite awhile, for various reasons. When I do, however...

Actually, my taste in music is too eclectic for me to pin anything in particular down. Some music is too awesome for me to focus on anything else, some others help me focus. At times, I've been in a kind of "writing Zen" state where I focus on the work I'm writing to the exclusion of all other input, so whether I'm listening to anything at those times or not, I don't know.

I suppose the music I tend to leave running in Winamp while working would generally be various anime OSTs. Also, most anything by Yngwie Malmsteen (especially his neoclassical work), or inspired by him (much of the soundtrack to Guilty Gear XX, for example) works well.

edit: I should have mentioned that my playlist does tend to favor hard rock and early metal (good choices, ttestagr) as well. It's not for everyone, though; if you'renot writing an action scene, fast-paced rock may not be the thing to listen to.

 

[ttestagr]

I listen to quite a few things including a variety of classical music (Beethoven's 5th & 9th are particular favorites.) I also listen to organ music depending on what I'm doing.

Other than that, a variety of metal from Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Guns & Roses.

 

[Ryogas_BF]

I go with a mood music sort of thing... generally depending on what I'm trying to write I'll pick music appropriate to the mood I'm aiming for. Usualy insturmental but that's not a definate. mostly music from dot hack and by the band Apocalyptica (cello metal FTW!) atm.

 

[Lord Raa]

I listen to a variety of artists that include, but are not limited to:

Aphex Twin
Queen
Yoko Kanno
L'arc~en~Ciel
Spinal Tap
The Kinks
The Clash
The Kaiser Chiefs
Squarepusher


An eclectic mix, don't you think?

 

[toraneko]

Sounds like my prefs, Lord Raa. :lol: