Screenwriting : What do you listen to while writing? by Jack Hilkewich

I used to be able to write lyrics while listening to Rammstein's songs. Now I need silence to concentrate my attention.

Rammstein, interesting choice!

lots of Chopin

Same, I only write with lounge music from youtube, various soundtracks, so my mind doesn't get bored or routinized. I can't focus perfectly on music with lyrics.

Only my mind.

Sometimes I listen to scores and instrumentals when I write (in the genre that I'm writing), but most of the time I don't listen to anything while I write.

I don't listen to anything. Quiet lets me hear whats going on in my head.

"The Lord of the Rings" soundtrack is brilliant and not overwhelming the muses voice.

I listen to a variety of scores. I find music with lyrics to be too distracting and too much quiet is just as bad -- scores hit the sweet spot.

If I really need to concentrate, music is usually too distracting. But when I am copy-editing and the like, it is either Mozart (often the requiem) or light, old-school pop like Depeche Mode or Pet Shop boys.

Agreed. Instrumentals, Movie Soundtrack/Scores. Lyrics and vocals are distracting white noise. However, vocals and beat are great for social media, when the lyrics match the media.

I started listening to the LOTR soundtrack when I was primarily a 3D animator. I found it help with the really tedious detailed work. Then it followed me to writing.

I used to listen to whatever music helped to sustain the mood whilst I was writing, but now I don't need that and find it just gets in the way.

I don't listen to anything while writing; it's too distracting for me.

When working I need to listen to music without words. Either lofi beats or classical music usually.

I listen to jazz, power power, classical, and prog rock on Accuradio or youtube. My musical moods change, and those two sources provide lots of variety. But I love music when I write.

I listen to the lament of jaded movie executives and rejected actors, Volume 1

Right now, Giuseppe Tartini :) I too can’t listen to anything with lyrics while writing, I can for a brief moment of excitement for a scene along to a specific song if it influences it or is involved in some way but otherwise I do a lot of loop soundtracks too, of my favorite 80s horror films usually as well as esoteric eastern and Indian mantra loops.

Lots of Audiomachine!

Warren Ellis (Nick Cave's music partner)

Jack Hilkewich Me too. I listen to Jamaican instrumentals while I create. No to fast and definitely not to slow. Onward and upward.

Hey Jack, I'm exactly the same. I can't have lyrics. I'll start singing or listening too hard lol. I listen to a ton of screenplay playlists on Spotify (not an ad just a personal preference). I also will create radio stations like Hans Zimmer and similar or Michael Kamen radio.

Depends on the story. I have a couple of horror thrillers that rely on a heavy metal soundtrack, but obviously my Christmas feature doesn't have the same feel... I actually make a playlist for each script I write.

It depends on the project, but I often listen to YouTube videos about history, music I think is thematically appropriate to the piece I'm working on, or something like that.

Johan Johansson, Hans Zimmer...

Either classical music or sports on TV with no sound. Somehow it works.

Anything Ennio Morricone and automatically start typing.

I agree with David W. Kepper, I've made several soundtracks for specific screenplays. Blade Runner is always a good choice. So's John Carpenter, especially his recent Lost Themes albums

Samuel Minier I agree, I love the Vangelis sound track so much.

LOTR is always a good listen for creativity. I've recently found "LoFi" music that tends to help otherwise I try to avoid music from the genre I'm writing so as not to fog my head with memories of scenes (if that makes sense). I live to a LOT of music when I am writing and will sometimes find genres to fit the scene or type of story I'm telling...

At the moment I am writing a scene for a book I am writing scenes for an action/fight scene in a supernatural superhero story so am listening to the band Apocolyptica which is a cross between classical and rock music and fits the scenes I keep watching in my head.

Sorry, I may have gone on too much with that answer!

@Tobey Alexander Yes to Apocalyptica, love we their Metallica covers

Hello Jack! Nice to meet you. Just like you, I am a writer and I understand how important the right attitude and inspiration are sometimes to write quality material. I work for a good educational service https://customwriting.com/ where we provide essays, term papers, and academic writing assistance. It really gets difficult. And often, jazz motivates me. But, it all depends on the mood. Sometimes it's better to be quiet.

It depends on what I'm working on. I have playlists for my stories. The current sci-fi story I have it's more 1st time we met, love soundtrack, while the 2nd story which is currently on 1st draft is a mellow, moody mix.

I listen to WWII songs (Vera Lynn, mostly) listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJAIzTmNE0U&list=RDvEB7BkPsWOk&index=2 and American music (Big Band) of the period, and SS marching songs (When We Are Marching is my favorite) Listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tCtfAI2Z_E. I also listen to my favorite classical music for mood (7th Symphony 2nd Movement). For horror-y stuff, I listen to selections from Swan Lake (used in the opening of the original Dracula film.) Vangelis' 1492 is great, too, as is Wagner's Taunhauser. And of course the Russian, the Sacred War. Listen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEB7BkPsWOk&list=RDvEB7BkPsWOk&start_rad... Capturing the ambiance of a historical era is tough.

I listen to SmoothJazz.com - sometimes the songs have lyrics, but not often. I find I can really zone while I have that on.