Modern Good Reads discussion

Hullo! This week I want to know which genre you write in and how the music you losten to while writing inspires you.

I am a sci fi and (sometimes) urban fantasy and horror person. I listened to a ton of Ladyhawke, Ke$ha, Deadmau5, The Arrogant Worms, Jonathan Coulton, Metric, and Mika while I wrote my last book and it really helped. (Let me know if you want album names!) I used to write silently but music actually improved my writing.

Are you a silent writer? If not, what do you listen to? Traffic? Music? TV? The radio? Tell us about your soundscape!

I write historical fiction mostly. I hate to admit being a TV junky but the boob tube is on often when I write. However, Classic Rock gives me the most creative ideas and inspiration. Mozart and Baroque symphonies help me the most when I compose.

I am old enough, unfortunately, that the only music you listed that I've heard before is Ladyhawke.

Sorry but I must delete these for spam. Feel free to advertise in private but not here. Music only please.

Thanks Michelle. Rules need to be rules.

I'm big on using music when I write. Usually, I'll create entire playlists for specific characters. My last book was a vampire gangster novel set in the 30s, so I had a combination of classic jazz, swing, Frank Sinatra, and classic rock (because my MC has a rock & roll spirit despite the period).

Currently, I just started on the sequel to Ancient Blood, so I'm back in the head of a very different character. My playlist now is lots of Nightwish, Within Temptation, Weezer, E.S. Postumus, and 80s pop. Strange combination, I know, but it makes sense for the character.

In the past, I've explored new kinds of music for the purpose of writing. I was writing stories about a Native American girl, so I listened to a bunch of contemporary Native American artists and easy-listening vocalists that I knew she would like.

Sorry I didn't think that would be a problem to post the books we were talking about and post the soundtrack we created. I have mine on Myspace.
I listen to heavy metal when I write, mostly. Sometimes the television is on, but rarely. I had a hard time concentrating. By heavy metal I don't mean the real heavy stuff. It's strange because my music has to be just right. It can't be to heavy or too light. It has to have a certain aggressiveness to it when I am going through an action seen and a bit tenderness when I am going through a touching scene or a sex scene.

Jessica wrote: "Sorry I didn't think that would be a problem to post the books we were talking about and post the soundtrack we created. I have mine on Myspace.
I listen to heavy metal when I write, mostly. Somet..."

Good way to apply music to the various scenes. Music does temper prose.

Brian wrote: "I'm big on using music when I write. Usually, I'll create entire playlists for specific characters. My last book was a vampire gangster novel set in the 30s, so I had a combination of classic jazz,..."

I liked your statement: 'Strange combination, I know, but it makes sense for the character'. As an HF writer I use music for the mood of the times - haven't thought about applying it to characters.

Here is my strange and eclectic writing inspirational music playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trinU3...

Sorry about the delete; it was the mention of the crystals for sale. If it is just a playlist link, be sure to mention it so we know, and that is fine. :)

they are not for sale though, they come with book. they are free.

Yes but we are trying to avoid authors promoting their books in threads. We have a lovely Authors' Corner and even a Read 4 Review section. Come party up there :)

I listen to System of a Down, The Prodigy, and other obnoxious music while writing action scenes or sex scenes. The intensity of the music helps me find that groove of passionate energy, be it violence, love, just plain lust, or some combination thereof.

Its no wonder my sex scenes tend to get a little violent.

:)

To paraphrase Hitchcock (with whom I happen to share a birthday): Write your love scenes like murders and your murders like love scenes.

I have ADHD and I have to have music to write. I write a lot of technical junk at work and sometimes I have to shut the voices of the office work out so I can "hear" myself think. I have to entertain my brain with the music so I can concentrate. I always have listened to a wide variety of music.

If I am at work and am ticked about something you usually will see me listening to Disturbed, Korn, Rammstein, Linkin Park...the angry songs like Dropping Plates and Du Hast.

If I am writing I will listen to all that, but I usually go for middle ground, unless it's poetry, and write with Evanescence, The Band Perry, Matchbox 20, NIN, Adele, Ke$ha, Staind, 30 Seconds to Mars, Marilyn Manson, Pentatonix, Garbage, and some other strange things I've picked up...and a lot of sound tracks to my favorite movies.

When I was growing up and had a great sound system in my mustang I had a 12 CD changer. I had Marilyn Manson Coma right next to my Garth Brooks CD in rotation.

I really do think listening to music helps you. I know Julie Kagawa always posts play lists and I think Stephanie Meyer may have done that as well. I know at least for me it improves my mood.

I don't know if it tempers my prose, I probably look for certain music when I'm doing certain kinds of writing without even thinking.

Shannon,
You sound like a lot like me. I too listen to a lot of the same music you do, while writing. I think music,writing, movies, and tv shows play a very important role in shaping our stories and such.
I know exactly what you mean by music helping you to focus.

Jessica wrote: "Shannon,
You sound like a lot like me. I too listen to a lot of the same music you do, while writing. I think music,writing, movies, and tv shows play a very important role in shaping our stories a..."

Yes, very few times can I write in total silence. :)

I know I can write in silence or even in a restaurant with background noise and an Oldies station playing (which, strangely I do a lot even though I have a perfectly functional office that should be perfect for writing). However, I think I write better and get more immersed in my world and characters when I have my choice of music playing.

Brian,
I can write anytime and anywhere, but to block out the world, takes music.

I am so impressed by you guys. I only recently began to find a way to listen to music and write. I refer silence, to listen to the crazy words spilling out from my mind.

For me, I have a list of my favorites, that range from 80's hairbands, to 90's love ballads, and recent favorites... I find as long as it is inspiring to me, I want to hear it... but I do choose tempos that relate to the scene that I am writing.

Learning to do this has been great, it has helped me write more at home, rather than just when the kids are gone.

I make playlist for each character and that can be anything from Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin and Fall Out Boy for fight and action scenes to Ellie Goulding, Westlife and Hans Zimmer for love and other scenes. I listen to just about any kind of music. But some times when I find one that especially inspiring I may listen to it on repeat over and over again. It really bugs the family. But either way, my brain won't work without music.

I'm all about instrumental film scores. I have a whole collection of themes--from Gladiator, Shawshank Redemption, The Island, Last of the Mohicans, U-571, even Ashokan Farewell from the Ken Burns Civil War documentaries.

In writing my paranormal erotic romances, Evanescence has always been a tremendous inspiration. I don't tend to listen to music while I write, preferring silence, but their music plays in the back of my mind. It's evocative stuff, and helps me capture a mood.

I write Urban Fantasy. I listen to film and gaming soundtracks. I don't like to have anything with words, so these are perfect. My most recent find is Two Steps from Hell. They have some epic pieces that are awesome to write to.

I can write with or without music but when I am listening to music I like Imagine Dragons, Muse, AWOLNation and Macklemore. If I really want to get one a good I'll drink some caffeine and put on Adele or Pink!

i always listen to and get inspired by music with my books. i cannot write a book without immersing myself in music. all of my books have playlists or "soundtrack" with them. and the readers LOVE it! plus, i was a music journalist for a long time. i interviewed bands and traveled around the world to festivals, etc. i cannot write or do anything really without tunes!
i would post the playlist here but i don't want to be in trouble for "promoting" my book.
right now i have a new book in the works and one main tune for it. there's always the main tune for the book and then after that, everything else is cake.
\m/

When I'm actually writing I usually have some kind of ambient music that's not too distracting. It can be anything from classical solo piano to new age to 70s wonky stuff like Jean-Michel Jarre.

However, I also like to create "soundtracks" for my books. Basically, if I were to have a perfect movie adaptation of my book, what would the soundtrack be? The songs have to suit the mood of the book and follow its emotional arc, and would also be things my characters would listen to. For example, I thought of including Public Image Ltd's "FFF" in the soundtrack of one of my books, but on consideration I couldn't see my protagonist listening to that.

Hi,

Great topic, guys!

I'm a literary fiction writer who writes a lot of stuff from first person.

I generally listen to music that relates to the mood I want to create.

For instance, I've written heartbreaking scenes with Sigur Ros and Death Cab in the background; I've written haunting scenes with the theme song for Drive in the background; sometimes, I listen to classical. I wrote my latest blog post with Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" in the background - I have no idea why.

Love the topic!

My book The Viking's Apprentice is a middle grade (8+) fantasy adventure. I listened, laterly, to the Tron Legacy sound track while writing it and I listen to it for book 2 as well, which I am currently writing. Certain tracks go with certain scenes in my book. I just love it!

When writing novel I'm currently editing (which is about a concert pianist) I listened to a lot of classical music, partly to give myself a working knowledge for referencing particular pieces or describing music in prose, and partly to put me in the mood for writing about the protagonist. I enjoyed classical music before that, particularly Mahler and Chopin, but I think I enjoy it on a new level now. :)

Otherwise I just have the radio on, not so much to listen to it but to drown out anything else.

I like listening to music when I'm thinking about an idea, it helps develop it, but when I'm actually writing I rarely listen to music. The only music I will listed to while writing is classical.