So I was writing a short prose story for Free Lit Magazine yesterday, and it was set during the Siege of Leningrad. I ended up listening to "The Sacred War", as well as the Red Army Choir's music to focus in onto the atmosphere which I wanted, and having such incredible music playing in the background was great because the foreign language blended into the background without distracting my brain.
I should say, I don't always incorporate music when I'm writing, as it can also be distracting at times, and can offset the mood I'm trying to go for in what I'm writing.
But I'm curious, how many other people prefer to write to a soundtrack, and how many can't write without silence?
1 person likes this
Ha! I will be of absolutely no help. Sometimes I find inspirational music to get me in the writing mode. Sometimes silence is best so I can clearly see and hear the scene without distraction. Sometimes I will hear something that inspires a scene completely but many times I will just trade writing for an ever unfruitful search for perfectly matched music.
1 person likes this
Well, I have a feeling that most people responding to this will respond the same way that you and I have to this question, Benjamin. But I was curious all the same.
2 people like this
I have to have background noise when I write. Usually it's the tv, yelling teens and barking dogs. Works for me
2 people like this
Silence works best for me. I write visually and I noticed I can "see" my scenes in greater detail if nothing else is around me...which is very difficult to achieve with a toddler always around!
2 people like this
When I first started writing, I would play the same movie over and over. Now I find music that sets the mood for the script and put that on loop. :) Videogame music that is. ;) - Chris
3 people like this
Silence. Makes it easier to hear the voices in my head lol.
3 people like this
I prefer quiet, though if I'm in a public place I manage to tune out a lot. Listening to music is okay if it has no vocals, especially if I need to set a mood, but if I listen to my playlists I end up enjoying it too much to pay attention to my writing!
1 person likes this
Agreed, Lisa. Lyrics I can understand get in the way. But foreign languages melt into the background more easily as sounds, plus it's amazing what a human being can do with their vocal chords. Just listen to any movie soundtrack with a chorus.
2 people like this
I always have to have noise in the background. Often a song I hear will inspire a scene that I am working on.
2 people like this
I always write with music.
1 person likes this
Music of the decade my story takes place. Right now I'm back on 1988. Bad year, but it made me stronger.
Reminds me of when I wrote my first feature script in college. It was a noir mystery whose main location was a seedy Toronto bar, 1955, so my research involved finding songs that the local pianist and singer would be playing in the background. I ended up incorporating a bunch of them into the script (rookie mistake, I know, but again, first script while in college).
1 person likes this
I write to classical or Celtic music. The music cannot have lyrics because then I find myself being drawn into the song. Instrumental music blocks the outside world but does not distract me from my work.
1 person likes this
I prefer silence. Though I have been considering listening to instrumental music that may have a spooky tone while working on my horror screenplay. Or possibly one of those Halloween CDs that plays only scary sounds. :-)