Comments on: Music on the brain

By: Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:00:32 +0000

I typically need silence when I write otherwise I find it hard to slip into “the zone” but when I’m thinking about the next scene in my book (usually when I’m driving) I listen to music to inspire the scene. It depends on what I’m going for but my favorite right now is anything by the Killers (They have quite a range but my favs are the Day & Age and Sam’s Town albums) and Florence and the Machine. This is new for me, I’m usually all about soundtracks.

By: Rachel McMahon

Rachel McMahon — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:43:21 +0000

I don’t know if my mind wanders, but my mood certainly does. I worry sometimes that it changes the course of what I’m writing. Other times I think it may be a good thing.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:53:26 +0000

Oh, I also like MCR. I especially liked their new album, which no one seemed to notice.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:52:48 +0000

Thanks everyone for all your great comments and suggestions! I really do have a lot of new music to find out about.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:52:08 +0000

One of my authors is also a fan of the movie soundtrack as writing music. I tend to find orchestral music makes my mind wander.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:50:36 +0000

Thank you for some great suggestions! So many bands to catch up with.

By: Rachel McMahon

Rachel McMahon — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:07:12 +0000

I do most of my writing at Starbucks, so I either have to listen to their music mixed with caffeine enhanced conversations or put in the plugs. Guess what I go with? Yup. I always write with music, but no lyrics are allowed. Soundtracks are great as long as I don’t recognize them. I tried listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack once, and I almost slipped some magic into my realistic MG.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:56:32 +0000

I also go through phases with music and usually songs in particular. An old or new song will catch my attention and I will replay it endlessly, finding more reasons to love it each time.

In general though, I find music can distract me from my writing as I seem to create images in my head of the world set to music. When I put my earphones in, the people in my immediate vicinity would be amazed at the choreographed dance moves and routines I am imagining for them.

This has a positive aspect though as music, and at times, art, have also inspired my writing. Lyrics and melody sometimes create a scenario in my head that I find necessary to put to paper. In fact, most of my ideas for writing come from scenarios I have imagined while listening to music.

The musical artists that have inspired my writing are varied in genre but include Marcus Foster, Kate Miller Heidke, Vast, Sam Bradley, Adele, Newton Faulkner, Bobby Long, Bond, Sia, My Chemical Romance, Bond and so many more I would (if I haven’t already) bore you with the list.

Sam

By: Wayne

Wayne — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:19:56 +0000

I’m a weirdo, because I love to work with the television on. I suppose it goes back to my childhood, always doing my homework in front of the TV. When I’m working my day gig as a commercial director/editor, I like to listen to commentary tracks on films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. When I want it only as background noise, I’ll turn on NASA TV, which I find oddly calming. And a little Doctor Who or Top Gear always makes me feel more sophisticated. (It’s the British accents.)

When writing my first novel, I alternated between watching marathons of Arrested Development on Netflix and listening to soundtrack channels on satellite. I also found DIS Radio online to be particularly helpful, as my novel deals heavily with Disney fandom. It is a small world, after all.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:52:20 +0000

Make that HanS Zimmer. Sorry, Hans.