I hope this isn't an old topic or anything, but I think it's interesting: I find that the music I'm listening too when I start off writing a story sometimes has an effect on the story, and I will always associate that music with the story afterwards. This is especially the case with music that has a story itself, e.g. opera. Does anyone else find this? Just curiosity really.
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Does music influence your writing?
- Thread starter Esioul
- Start date
I think it has been mentioned from some perspective - but it's a good topic and always worth revisiting from different angles. 
I certainly agree about the association - if you have a CD you've never heard and have a book you've never read, then read the book while listening to the CD for the first time, it's hard not to associate them.
I'm pretty sure that writing can work in similar ways.
I don;t know about anyone else, but I tend to associate the music with the writing, more than the writing with the music. Is that what you find? Or do you make a more direct connection? For my current work I have a good half-dozen CDs to listen to so maybe that's why?
I certainly agree about the association - if you have a CD you've never heard and have a book you've never read, then read the book while listening to the CD for the first time, it's hard not to associate them.
I'm pretty sure that writing can work in similar ways.
I don;t know about anyone else, but I tend to associate the music with the writing, more than the writing with the music. Is that what you find? Or do you make a more direct connection? For my current work I have a good half-dozen CDs to listen to so maybe that's why?
With my current long story I think the connection is quite direct. I can't quite remember how it came about, but I think I must have just got the CD involved (Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet) and somehow it really influenced the story. I think I do tend to have a particular bit of music or song for many of my stories, but this is the one which is clearest to me.
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy
Knivesout no more
I sometimes write songs - in which case, the music and the words inform each other.
I prefer not to listen to music while writing because it can throw me off the mood I am trying to channel. I suppose that is the opposite of what Esioul and Brian are talking about?
One thing I enjoy doing sometimes is writing description of imaginary music. It's good fun - basically, you imagine a piece of music purely in your mind and then instead of trying to figure the notes out on your chosen musical instrument, you try and write about how the music would sound! Certainly makes you sit and think exactly what adjectives and verbs mean and how to best use them.
I prefer not to listen to music while writing because it can throw me off the mood I am trying to channel. I suppose that is the opposite of what Esioul and Brian are talking about?
One thing I enjoy doing sometimes is writing description of imaginary music. It's good fun - basically, you imagine a piece of music purely in your mind and then instead of trying to figure the notes out on your chosen musical instrument, you try and write about how the music would sound! Certainly makes you sit and think exactly what adjectives and verbs mean and how to best use them.
I've never tried that, but it sounds nice. Can you give us a sample? I've been thinking a lot more about grammar, and how the position of certain words in a sentence canmake it sounds better, because I've started doing a language this year and Iv'e also been looking a what makes a good speech etc at college.
dwndrgn
Fierce Vowelless One
I recently read an article that asked a similar question of several authors and the response was both individual and similar. It seems that they either cannot have any music at all or have to have music while writing. Those that listened to music clearly chose their music to complement the story they were writing - to fit the mood.
According to them (I don't recall which authors were in the article but these were specifically fantasy authors), the mood the music creates had a definite effect upon the writing - choose the wrong music and the writing will not go well. So they were very specific in what they listened to while writing certain books and specific scenes. In addition, they changed often. If they listened to La Triviata while writing one book, they couldn't listen to it while writing another or portions of the other story would creep in.
I personally know that associations can play a major role in how you get work done, how you feel, and how you react to certain situations. I associate a certain scent with my high school trip to Europe. I cannot wear it without thinking of those times, thus I don't wear it and only smell it occaisionally while out at the store, otherwise I would lose that association. Additionally, music plays an important role in our mood and activity. I get a whole lot more work done (especially cleaning) if I can listen to old favorites to which I know the words and can sing along. At work, it is nice to be able to listen to very quiet music that is very familiar so that it can play along in my head but not disturb the work - new music would entice me to listen harder and distract me from what I need to get done. Music that doesn't break my concentration, specifically classical, is great for stressful situations or times when thought and concentration is important, like driving in a lot of traffic. Have you ever noticed that if you get lost while driving or run into a lot of traffic that many people unconciously turn down the music? I've noticed just about everyone I've driven with do this and find it interesting.
Blah blah blah. When did I become an expert on music? I sound so pompous! In any case, the above dull lecture was composed of my personal experiences only.
According to them (I don't recall which authors were in the article but these were specifically fantasy authors), the mood the music creates had a definite effect upon the writing - choose the wrong music and the writing will not go well. So they were very specific in what they listened to while writing certain books and specific scenes. In addition, they changed often. If they listened to La Triviata while writing one book, they couldn't listen to it while writing another or portions of the other story would creep in.
I personally know that associations can play a major role in how you get work done, how you feel, and how you react to certain situations. I associate a certain scent with my high school trip to Europe. I cannot wear it without thinking of those times, thus I don't wear it and only smell it occaisionally while out at the store, otherwise I would lose that association. Additionally, music plays an important role in our mood and activity. I get a whole lot more work done (especially cleaning) if I can listen to old favorites to which I know the words and can sing along. At work, it is nice to be able to listen to very quiet music that is very familiar so that it can play along in my head but not disturb the work - new music would entice me to listen harder and distract me from what I need to get done. Music that doesn't break my concentration, specifically classical, is great for stressful situations or times when thought and concentration is important, like driving in a lot of traffic. Have you ever noticed that if you get lost while driving or run into a lot of traffic that many people unconciously turn down the music? I've noticed just about everyone I've driven with do this and find it interesting.
Blah blah blah. When did I become an expert on music? I sound so pompous! In any case, the above dull lecture was composed of my personal experiences only.
I know exactly what you mean Dwndrgn. I am one of those people who turn down the music when I'm trying to concentrate on the road. I also like to listen to something familiar while I'm cleaning, most often it is "Queen."
When I am working I like to listen to music that I don't know so I won't be tempted to sing along. Definitely no repeatitive music, even if I'm not familiar with it.
I don't write often, but when I do I like it to be very quiet. A melody often comes into my head as I'm writing so outside music is more of a distraction than an inspiration.
When I am working I like to listen to music that I don't know so I won't be tempted to sing along. Definitely no repeatitive music, even if I'm not familiar with it.
I don't write often, but when I do I like it to be very quiet. A melody often comes into my head as I'm writing so outside music is more of a distraction than an inspiration.
Myla Starchild
Gal Pervert Extraordinare
I often listen to music while I write, and it influences the mood and wording of what I'm writing. My friends have a game of, while reading my stories, trying to guess what I was listening to at the time. They're often right.
Dead Riverdragon
Fuimus, non sumus
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2004
- Messages
- 121
Hi everyone, I've not posted here before but have judged lurking to be a poor excuse for a full time job, and from now on hope to contribute as well as leach wisdom from this most excellent forum
On this topic I'm of the school of writers who find it hard to produce anything of value without music to reinforce the mood. However, while the right piece of music helps set the tone, I think it's important to review/edit the writing without music afterwards (which I find to be the hardest part of the process; doing anything at all without music just seems so bland), otherwise you risk emerging with a piece that means much more to you as the writer than it ever will to a reader, unless they happen to share your musical tastes. Also for me it's essential to have a varied supply of music for different scenes- the last thing I want is to have some touching romantic scene ruined by death metal causing my hero to spout furious obscenities.
While I'm in a posting mood, could someone tell me the difference between normal and 'quick' reply methods? It may just be my crippled computer, but the default method seems to take a very long time.
Ta!
Nick
On this topic I'm of the school of writers who find it hard to produce anything of value without music to reinforce the mood. However, while the right piece of music helps set the tone, I think it's important to review/edit the writing without music afterwards (which I find to be the hardest part of the process; doing anything at all without music just seems so bland), otherwise you risk emerging with a piece that means much more to you as the writer than it ever will to a reader, unless they happen to share your musical tastes. Also for me it's essential to have a varied supply of music for different scenes- the last thing I want is to have some touching romantic scene ruined by death metal causing my hero to spout furious obscenities.
While I'm in a posting mood, could someone tell me the difference between normal and 'quick' reply methods? It may just be my crippled computer, but the default method seems to take a very long time.
Ta!
Nick
Hi Dead RiverDragon and welcome to the chronicles-network!
I certainly agree about different moods - I use different soundtrack music for different pathos. For example, "Enemy at the Gates" has a very different feel to it than "Return of the Jedi".
As for quick reply - there's a little icon of a pen and paper at the bottom right of every post. If you click on that it should open up the quick reply box - at the bottom of the page - for typing into.
I've noticed that Mozilla and Internet Explorer browsers treat this ni different ways, though.
There have also been a few server issues recently - I'll probably throw on a sudden server move this week.
I certainly agree about different moods - I use different soundtrack music for different pathos. For example, "Enemy at the Gates" has a very different feel to it than "Return of the Jedi".
As for quick reply - there's a little icon of a pen and paper at the bottom right of every post. If you click on that it should open up the quick reply box - at the bottom of the page - for typing into.
I've noticed that Mozilla and Internet Explorer browsers treat this ni different ways, though.
There have also been a few server issues recently - I'll probably throw on a sudden server move this week.
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy
Knivesout no more
Heh...I just suddenly had this vision of trying to write a tender love scene while listening to Cannibal Corpse...good one!
littlemissattitude
Super Moderator
dwndrgn makes a good point about associations with particular pieces of music. This has an influence on what I can and cannot listen to when I'm writing. What it comes down to is that I cannot listen to music that has some sort of personal emotional memory attached to it when I'm writing. That's because those songs will bring up those memories and emotions and take me out of my writing. Fortunately, there are only a few songs that have that sort of strong emotional memory attached to them, and they can usually be easily avoided when I'm writing.
The other issue is mood. I think I've talked about this before here. Particular kinds of music put me in particular kinds of moods, and it helps if the mood of the music matches the mood of what I am writing. As an example, I would not listen to Godsmack when I'm trying to write a tender love scene. Time period has an influence, too. For example, I would probably listen to sixties music if I were writing a scene that takes place during that decade. Being old enough to remember that decade and having grown up with that music, it would get my mind into that place and time and make the writing go much easier.
The other issue is mood. I think I've talked about this before here. Particular kinds of music put me in particular kinds of moods, and it helps if the mood of the music matches the mood of what I am writing. As an example, I would not listen to Godsmack when I'm trying to write a tender love scene. Time period has an influence, too. For example, I would probably listen to sixties music if I were writing a scene that takes place during that decade. Being old enough to remember that decade and having grown up with that music, it would get my mind into that place and time and make the writing go much easier.
Lucifer
Pontificating Brat
For working on Gymillrion, I listen to trance. Just like when I dance, I find that trance has the intended effect of "taking me away." When I have the music going, it gets to me on a subliminal leval and forces me to flow. I'll often play a three hour endless mix and miss the entire thing, only "surfacing" from the writing when it's over. The music prevents me from going back and nitpicking to death, editing and re-editing until I have to go to bed, because trance pushes me to get on with it.
I like listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack to push a sense of wonder.
For writing angst, I love to listen to Nick Cave's "Let Love In" or "No More Shall We Part."
Also, if I'm doing some scene theft (like the ballroom scene from Labyrinth) where I want the same feeling of the original media to be tapped in the writing, I'll listen to the music that was playing (in this case, "As the World Falls Down" by David Bowie.)
When I was writing Harry Potter fan fiction, I listened to a lot of 1960s rock and roll to tap into the rebelliousness I wrote into Sirius Black's teenaged character. Now that I'm working on fantasy, I miss that little piece of devil-may-care. I might try and sneak it in with later books, but right now Gymillrion is too new.
I like listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack to push a sense of wonder.
For writing angst, I love to listen to Nick Cave's "Let Love In" or "No More Shall We Part."
Also, if I'm doing some scene theft (like the ballroom scene from Labyrinth) where I want the same feeling of the original media to be tapped in the writing, I'll listen to the music that was playing (in this case, "As the World Falls Down" by David Bowie.)
When I was writing Harry Potter fan fiction, I listened to a lot of 1960s rock and roll to tap into the rebelliousness I wrote into Sirius Black's teenaged character. Now that I'm working on fantasy, I miss that little piece of devil-may-care. I might try and sneak it in with later books, but right now Gymillrion is too new.
Jayaprakash Satyamurthy
Knivesout no more
Listening to Nick Cave is always a good idea whether you're writing or not.
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