So, I'm more of a "white noise" kind of person when I write. I typically don't listen to actual music unless its EDM because there's usually no lyrics in it... or Sacred Chorale (except when I'm writing Romance scenes...because 12 years of Catholic school and the guilts with writing dirty words when church music is playing.. its too much... but I digress)
ANYHOW. A while back I read this articlefrom Book Riot about a website called Ambient Mixerand here you can immerse yourself into the worlds of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings (I think it's Lord of the Rings anyway)... as well as some generic "thunderstorm" "Waves" etc etc type sounds. It's super cool.
I'm also in love with8 Tracks - its like what would happen if Spotify and Itunes and YouTube had a little song baby. You can find music based on the kind of mood you are in or the type of music you're looking for. I love it. Especially, when writing romance scenes.
I really prefer to listen to something quietly in the background when I write.It definitely has to be made up of songsthat inspire the material that I'm writing though. I can't just listen to a random playlist, so I actually end up putting a lot of energy into creating something to put me in the right mood.
I can't write in complete silence, so I always have to have music going in the background. I create a playlist for each of my stories with music that would fit into the book or inspires scenes within the novel. This year, it's very contemporary romantic playlist.
This year I've actually pinpointed several artists whose sound I think correlates to my characters. For Margie, I've got Basia Bulat. For Jana, I've got Lorde. And for Gwen,I've got Lucius and KT Tunstall's "Drastic Fantastic" album. So far, it's been really helpful to have certain music I can play to get into the mood for writing a certain character or scene.
i often debate about this. I have ADHD...and sometimes... pure silence leads my mind to wander more frequently....and because the mind of an ADHD person is constantly on the move and thirsty for stimulus...having music going can help...but on the other hand...ADHD people (myself included) can tend to get distracted easily...as is the case when i have songs with lyrics in them...that i know and like...
but sometimes, just white noise can be distracting too...sometimes not!!
COME ON BRAIN! MAKE UP YOUR MIND SO I CAN WRITE!
but i am with others...sometimes...just the TYPE of music can instill a certain mood. if i need to write a sad scene that will make you cry...i need to listen to songs that will make me cry. If i need warm fuzzy romance feels....i have a love song play list! It just honestly depends on the scene.
I'll be a story in your head. But that's OK:We're all stories, in the end.Just make it a good one, eh?
Thanks for the Ambient Mixer reference; I'll give it a try (hopefully, the Perfect Storm won't just put me to sleep ;-) ).
Recently, I've been relying on Pandora stations like this one(Up, Up and Away, which is a song I sang over and over when I was very young), though I had previously relied on Grooveshark playlists and StreamingSoundtracks.com.
Normally if I want to try and write a few hundred words really fast I turn on white noise. Its insane how fast I type when its going. I try to just not having any noise most of the time though as I usually find it distracting and the white noise stops helping the longer I use it. I will say I was just listening to Marina and the Diamonds "Are you satisfied" because its really fitting for both my MC and my villain.
In years past I relied heavily on Fastball, OK Go, 605North, Pendulum and the Red Elvises, (all on my mp3 player), but this year I discovered to my consternation that I could not listen to anything while writing. So it was just the screaming noise of the tinnitus in my ears that provided the soundtrack to this year's project. Judging by the nightmare scene I just finished, that is perhaps appropriate.
Here's something fun I've actually been listening to while editing for work, but it could also be great instrumental writing music. Some dude made jazzy versions of the Super Mario music. Nostalgic and fun to listen to! You can check out the YouTube playlist here.
IF I listen to something while I write, it is classical music. I can't have lyrics unless it's a song that specifically inspired the scene or story that I'm writing, and even then, it's not always a great idea. The other possible exception to the "no lyrics" rule is if the lyrics are in another language. Preferably not German, because I know JUST enough German that I'll catch a word I know and try to translate more. But generally speaking, no lyrics.
I would usually just rely on the local classical station for music. Unfortunately, they always have a pledge drive during November... But since a lot of my story this year happens to take place on a ship, I've used my "Sea Music" playlist a few times. It includes instrumental music from Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Muppet Treasure Island... and one track from Pocahontas.
So, I'm more of a "white noise" kind of person when I write. I typically don't listen to actual music unless its EDM because there's usually no lyrics in it... or Sacred Chorale (except when I'm writing Romance scenes...because 12 years of Catholic school and the guilts with writing dirty words when church music is playing.. its too much... but I digress)
ANYHOW. A while back I read this articlefrom Book Riot about a website called Ambient Mixer and here you can immerse yourself into the worlds of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings (I think it's Lord of the Rings anyway)... as well as some generic "thunderstorm" "Waves" etc etc type sounds. It's super cool.
I'm also in love with 8 Tracks - its like what would happen if Spotify and Itunes and YouTube had a little song baby. You can find music based on the kind of mood you are in or the type of music you're looking for. I love it. Especially, when writing romance scenes.
So.. those are my go tos. How about you?
I really prefer to listen to something quietly in the background when I write.It definitely has to be made up of songsthat inspire the material that I'm writing though. I can't just listen to a random playlist, so I actually end up putting a lot of energy into creating something to put me in the right mood.
Here's a link to mySpotify playlistfor this year's project!
I can't write in complete silence, so I always have to have music going in the background. I create a playlist for each of my stories with music that would fit into the book or inspires scenes within the novel. This year, it's very contemporary romantic playlist.
Feel free to check it out at the link below!
Ideal Hero Spotify Playlist
Mary Frances Gualandri
Romance Author
This year I've actually pinpointed several artists whose sound I think correlates to my characters. For Margie, I've got Basia Bulat. For Jana, I've got Lorde. And for Gwen,I've got Lucius and KT Tunstall's "Drastic Fantastic" album. So far, it's been really helpful to have certain music I can play to get into the mood for writing a certain character or scene.
i often debate about this. I have ADHD...and sometimes... pure silence leads my mind to wander more frequently....and because the mind of an ADHD person is constantly on the move and thirsty for stimulus...having music going can help...but on the other hand...ADHD people (myself included) can tend to get distracted easily...as is the case when i have songs with lyrics in them...that i know and like...
but sometimes, just white noise can be distracting too...sometimes not!!
COME ON BRAIN! MAKE UP YOUR MIND SO I CAN WRITE!
but i am with others...sometimes...just the TYPE of music can instill a certain mood. if i need to write a sad scene that will make you cry...i need to listen to songs that will make me cry. If i need warm fuzzy romance feels....i have a love song play list! It just honestly depends on the scene.
I'll be a story in your head. But that's OK:We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?
Thanks for the Ambient Mixer reference; I'll give it a try (hopefully, the Perfect Storm won't just put me to sleep ;-) ).
Recently, I've been relying on Pandora stations like this one(Up, Up and Away, which is a song I sang over and over when I was very young), though I had previously relied on Grooveshark playlists and StreamingSoundtracks.com.
Normally if I want to try and write a few hundred words really fast I turn on white noise. Its insane how fast I type when its going. I try to just not having any noise most of the time though as I usually find it distracting and the white noise stops helping the longer I use it. I will say I was just listening to Marina and the Diamonds "Are you satisfied" because its really fitting for both my MC and my villain.
Evil is not in the ends but in the means.
Currently I am listening to classical. BUT it won't be long before I switch to Christmas!!!! There are other months after Nano!
I always have a playlist that inspires or fits with the project.
Today's play list is heavy on Imagine Dragons, Bastille, and The Script (Somehow, The Script is always in there.) with a bit of classical thrown in.
I sometimes turn on the electronica station (http://www.jango.com/stations/321160432/tunein) or trance station (http://www.jango.com/stations/268696675/tunein) over at jango.com. Some of my favorite artists from those playlist include Daft Punk, the Glitch Mob, Deadmau5, and the Yoshida Kyodai.
In years past I relied heavily on Fastball, OK Go, 605North, Pendulum and the Red Elvises, (all on my mp3 player), but this year I discovered to my consternation that I could not listen to anything while writing. So it was just the screaming noise of the tinnitus in my ears that provided the soundtrack to this year's project. Judging by the nightmare scene I just finished, that is perhaps appropriate.
Here's something fun I've actually been listening to while editing for work, but it could also be great instrumental writing music. Some dude made jazzy versions of the Super Mario music. Nostalgic and fun to listen to! You can check out the YouTube playlist here.
IF I listen to something while I write, it is classical music. I can't have lyrics unless it's a song that specifically inspired the scene or story that I'm writing, and even then, it's not always a great idea. The other possible exception to the "no lyrics" rule is if the lyrics are in another language. Preferably not German, because I know JUST enough German that I'll catch a word I know and try to translate more. But generally speaking, no lyrics.
I would usually just rely on the local classical station for music. Unfortunately, they always have a pledge drive during November... But since a lot of my story this year happens to take place on a ship, I've used my "Sea Music" playlist a few times. It includes instrumental music from Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Muppet Treasure Island... and one track from Pocahontas.