What do you listen to while writing?

by Nicola Robinsonova
26th November 2012

I was just listening to a really interesting programme on radio 4 about fan fiction - though I was planning to write... and clearly I couldn't think and listen to the programme at the same time. Which got me thinking... Do you listen to music while you work? Do you find music with lyrics interrupts your chain of thought? Specifically, what do you listen to?

Replies

I find I listen to music that is pleasing to the ear and the lyrics are meaningful to the piece I'm aiming to write to get me into the right frame of mind to the point I'm vividly seeing what I'm imagining- I space out.

Yet at times I write without my music because I find it distracting because I'm reimagining instead of commiting to word.

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Michaela E. M.
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Michaela E. M. Else
26/11/2012

I find I listen to music that is pleasing to the ear and the lyrics are meaningful to the piece I'm aiming to write to get me into the right frame of mind to the point I'm vividly seeing what I'm imagining- I space out.

Yet at times I write without my music because I find it distracting because I'm reimagining instead of commiting to word.

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Michaela E. M.
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Michaela E. M. Else
26/11/2012

Oh yes!! When i was writing my novel, I made a play list with many songs on which helped me write different parts of my story. For instance, if i was writing an action scene within my novel, i listened to more upbeat music or even rock which really helped me get into the right frame of mind and vise versa for if i was writing a romantic part, i would play acoustic/piano pieces. It really helps.

Get a play list sorted and huge earphones where you can't hear anything else but the music and the words will flow.

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Natalie Horner
26/11/2012