I’m kind of the opposite. I HAVE to have music to work. It’s like a soundtrack to the movie playing in my head. The music is determined by what I’m writing. I have character based writing mixes & story themed mixes. It tends to be a mish mash of Classical, dark rock, alternative, EBM, and world music. The common thread is in the atmospheric tone of the music. Fight scenes will get more aggressive music, love scenes will get more sensual. etc.

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By Heidi on 01.22.10 10:56 am | Permalink

I’m big on the playlist. But I think that comes from growing up in a musician’s household. My parents still joke that I could read or sleep anywhere when I was a kid, up to and including right in front of a blaring speaker or thrumming drum set.

That said, I have created a few different playlists… one has songs that I think have lyrics/tone that match the ideas of what I’m writing (so, I have a playlist for each project). One is wild and raucous music for when I’m writing something that I need to be up and jumping for. And the last is an instrumental/ethereal track for when I am having trouble concentrating.

In those instances, groups like Radiohead, David Byrne’s “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION” album or film score soundtracks provide music that doesn’t have a strong pop hook.

Really, though, I do so much of my writing in public places like Starbucks or Whole Foods or B&N that if I don’t supply my own soundtrack, I’m stuck listening to easy jazz or reggae. can.not.have.that.

I still dance and sing along with my playlist. But when I hit a certain stride, my thoughts are so centered around the clear picture of the scene that’s unfolding that I don’t have room for anything else… not even the lyrics to my favorite songs.
.-= HWPetty´s last blog ..Tuesdays are for BOOK TALK =-.

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By HWPetty on 01.22.10 11:12 am | Permalink

I only listen to music I don’t know well, otherwise, I tend to listen to the lyrics and sing along. I once tried to listen to the GLEE soundtrack while I was writing . . . got nothing done!
.-= Melissa Garrett´s last blog ..Q&A =-.

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By Melissa Garrett on 01.22.10 12:48 pm | Permalink

Music is a useful tool for me to come up with scenes and story ideas, however, when it comes to the actual writing, I need complete silence.
.-= Annarkie´s last blog ..Dealing with a too low word count while avoiding "fluff" (revised and reposted) =-.

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By Annarkie on 01.22.10 6:28 pm | Permalink

I am one with a soundtrack for my novels. Literally, I have one for each novel. Songs for characters even. Usually the music is Indy/Alternative, unless I’m writing a murder scene, then it’s groups like Korn that helps me write.
I must have music. I live by it.

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By Sarah Jensen on 01.22.10 7:53 pm | Permalink

I use music to drown out the sound of my children. Movie soundtracks work really well, although I admit I wrote most of my novel Nexus Point to Air Supply’s Greatest Hits.

My playlist is very eclectic. Everything from Celtic folk music to heavy metal to instrumental new age to classic rock to pop music. I even have a few Dr. Dimento songs in the list for writing. I play whatever evokes the right mood. I know I’m really writing well when I have no idea what the last three songs were. I get so involved in the story that the music becomes my white noise.

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By Jaleta Clegg on 01.22.10 9:01 pm | Permalink

I use music a lot. I compile soundtracks for my various WIPs, and listen to them while out walking or running so that I can keep the novel with me and live in its atmosphere. And when I’m in the drafting stage, I listen to CDs I don’t know very well, because they will grab half of my attention and stop me self-censoring.

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By dirtywhitecandy on 01.23.10 10:47 am | Permalink

Interesting post. I normally comment AFTER reading the posts I visit. If I am ona interesting blog, but, do not like the post, or do not find it worthy to comment on, I refrain from doing so. Thanks for sharing.

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By term papers on 01.26.10 3:37 pm | Permalink

I use music, but it has to either be instrumental or something I’ve listened to so many times that I don’t pay attention to the words. Otherwise, lyrics will distract me.

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By Anica Lewis on 01.28.10 10:03 am | Permalink