Music or not?
I write with the headphones on and the music playing. I work up a soundtrack for the book and play those few songs over and over and over and over again.
I suspect this is partially because I don't have an office. (I have a laptop and half of my bed.) The noise canceling headphones do quite a good imitation of a door--my family may be all around me but I don't hear them when the music is on.
The soundtrack thing is Pavlovian--I hear the proper song and I'm ready to work on that book. I'm not entirely happy about what that says about my brain and my independence/power of mind, but whatever...it helps me focus so I'll take it.
When I'm editing, on the other hand, I turn the music off. It's way too distracting.
I'd love to scan my brain and see why writing requires the double engagement of thinking and listening but editing requires the single focus. Hmm. I wonder if the music helps me turn off the editor while I'm writing? Any scientist with a brain scanner out there who wants to do a research project?
What about you--music or not? Does it matter if you're reading, writing, or editing? If you have a soundtrack for your book, want to share a few songs and why you picked them?
For my work in progress, I'm listening to:
- Bright Lights--Matchbox Twenty
- Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
- Won't Go Home without You--Maroon 5
- It Ends Tonight--All-American Rejects
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Neat!
I LOVE the idea of having a soundtrack for your book! What a great way to get yourself in the mood of your story.
Jennifer Shirk
"Always Fun, Always Feel Good"
http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com
http://www.jennifershirk.com
http://www.myspace.com/jennyshirk
Love your cover
Hi Jennifer,
I hopped over to your site just now (I like to know who I'm talking to...). The cover of your book is wonderful. Congrats!
I think the soundtrack helps because I do most of my writing in bits and pieces. I have this fantasy that if I were a full-time author, I'd remember what I was doing more easily. (Probably not true--I think the real issue is my brain, not my schedule.
)
As things stand with the day job + family + writing, when I'm snatching an hour here and there to write, I need something to get me right in the story. The soundtrack seems to work.
Good luck with your writing!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Um...one more thing
I just reread this post because I was trying to fix the list formatting and I noticed something. I just want to clarify...despite what you may think based on my song list, no, I'm not a 12-year-old.
(Note to self: Do not reveal personal writing habits unless they reflect well on self.)
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
ARRGHH!
I had my post all written and instead of post comment I hit "more information about formatting options" and LOST IT!
Sigh.
Ok. Long and short of it is, I write to mood music like Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, RyanDan...the classical crossover stuff. It's my standby and gets me in the mindset for emotional romance. But each book usually has a few songs. For The Soldier's Homecoming it was Far Away by Nickelback. For my upcoming January release I had My Wish and To Make Her Love Me by Rascal Flatts as well as The Tennessee Waltz and Let Me Call You Sweetheart - the last I downloaded during my ending 2 chapters and promptly burst into tears.
And for the record, I love AAR and Matchbox 20 and Maroon 5.
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
music and noise past and present
I used to write papers with music. It was necessary. I sort of went into this isolated study mode. I spent a whole weekend with no outside influence, including no TV, and it drove me nuts. I lived alone so I always had something in the background.
Lately however I have been craving silence ot quiet. It all started when I started doing ham radio and listening for weak signals in the static. But I think a major part is the constant noise now in society. TV or sound and advertising blaring everywhere, even doctor's offices. The ads also are reaching higher and higher volume compared to the programming. We don't even watch TV anymore, but rent DVDs to avoid the loud ads. We moved to a neighborhood that is really quiet..no sounds oftraffic etc and it did something. Now my real joy is reading in quiet. I can't believe it.
I would not mind some kinds of jazz or classical music in the background and some is great for helping me get to sleep better. Now I just want quiet, lots of quiet. It seems so rare nowadays.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
Ooh, Donna!
The Tenessee Waltz always makes me cry. My husband and I learned to dance to it and it's just a remarkable song. Based on your soundtrack I think your book sounds wonderful.
I used a Nickelback song for His Secret Past--Rockstar. It seemed appropriate.
I think mood music is a good description. I choose these very emo--love done me wrong or true love forever--kinds of songs. They get me right to the perfect place. For me it works even better if there's a visual that goes with the song. I used Baby I'm Amazed for His Secret Past, but it was the version by Jem because I'd seen it and fallen in love with it on an episode of The OC.
Thanks for dropping by!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Quiet is rare
Hi Merri,
Your comment made me think about how much noise there is around me. You're right about needing silence, I think. It's a very valuable and increasingly rare commodity.
I love to read in silence. I spend quite a bit of time awake deep in the night with the rest of the family asleep around me. The silence is really rich then and I love to read through it.
When I lived alone I loved the quiet. No TV, no music, just me and my cocker spaniel being content together. I imagine it will be difficult to get used to that again when my boys fly the coop.
Your new neighborhood sounds lovely. Do you have a hammock?
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Hey Ellen
I love music in the car, but we don't even have music in the house at the moment -- though we just bought an iPod with the speaker station (gotta love credit card reward points, LOL) for the house so we can have some music on and I might try writing with it on sometime -- we'll see.
I don't have play lists or specific songs, but I do find it can help my mood or imagination... I do write sometimes with the TV on in the background, though only in the evening. I never watch daytime TV, ever. So right now, during the daytime hours, it's very, very quiet for writing...
I'm not sure I could even think of specific songs for the specific books I'm writing, that would take too much work, LOL, but I do like just the notion of music while I'm writing -- unless it distracts me, which remains to be seen... In general, I like upbeat, energetic music -- John Mellancamp, BonJovi, Matchbox, 20, Tom Petty, James Taylor, and I would add Dandy Warhols recently... and some Dave Matthews, when he's not whiney and dark... LOL Then I want to add in things like Barry White (My First, My Last, My Everything) and Van Morrison (Brown Eyed Girl), etc... others... which is why an iPod is a good thing, I suppose...
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:July 22, Leanne Banks
Background
Hi Sam
You know what's funny? I have to have the music in headphones. If it's in the background on the stereo or even on the computer speakers, I can't stand it.
Oh my goodness, this is getting weirder and weirder. I should stop sharing.
I do love the accessibility of music now that it's downloadable. My husband is a fan of the "album" and thinks it's blasphemy to just listen to one song. I'm much more spoiled and willing to listen only to what I enjoy. Like Brown-eyed Girl. There's an awesome song.
I used Crazy Love by Van Morrison when I was working on His Secret Past. It's even mentioned in a scene in the book--there's a funny story behind it but I can't share because it would spoil the scene.
Cheers,
Ellen
P.S. Maybe now that you're a Rita finalist you might want to download some Queen--We are the Champions comes to mind. I bet it would sound awesome blasting out of your new speakers!
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
Oh, dear, sweet Ellen...
Remind me to tell you my cell phone stories sometime if you want to know what crazy looks like... LOL
In the meantime, this thread made me go looking, and when/if we meet up at RWA someday, I think we should all do this....heh
(the reason I love that Barry White song forever...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro4BhLj_VZk&feature=related
Hmmm...maybe this is what we can do in celebration of a Rita win??? LOL
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:July 22, Leanne Banks
Oh dear me!!!
Sam!!!
Now I feel like we should take up a collection to fund your trip to SF. If you did that dance, I would...well, I'd be right there with you!!
Where's Jeannie Watt when I need her? And Amy and Kay!! Too much fun.
Thanks for that laugh,
Ellen
P.S. The only thing I'm buying new for RWA is shoes I can dance in. Did I already mention that?
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
LOL
Well, if not this time, then next -- but it really has to be in a bathroom I think -- having the mirrors is the best...uh, not that I would know... I mean, I have very small baths in my house, so you know, I wouldn't know that personally or anything....
It is the best, though, isn't it? I miss Ally M so much, LOL. Good thing Larry is on Numb3rs, but he doesn't do the dance...
Sorry... tangent... you were talking about your process and your art... back to that... ;>
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:July 22, Leanne Banks
Funny
Sam,
Whenever we talk about your process and your art, the conversation always comes back around to your bathroom. Hmmm.
I'm not sure I believe there isn't at least a little dancing going on.
Ellen
P.S. I wanna hear about the cell phones!
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
I'm not going there...
LOL
But, you do have email.. :)
Sam
2008 RITA FINALIST: Untouched
NO RESERVATIONS, Blaze Anthology, July '08
Blog with Sam and friends at Love Is An Exploding Cigar
Guest Blog:July 22, Leanne Banks
Either Way!
Okay, Donna, I just did what you did--had my whole post written and then hit some button and it all vanished! Arrrggh.
Ellen, normally I require silence in order to write, but that's almost an impossibility in my house (I don't have an office, either). I also have a husband who constantly whistles Ode to Joy, so I've learned to write with headphones on, LOL! Not sure I have soundtracks for each book, but I definitely have songs I prefer listening to while I write....Kiss from a Rose by Seal, and Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day are some that come to mind.
If you decide to take up a collection for Sam to come to SF, let me know...I'll be the first to contribute (waving at Sam).
OVERNIGHT SENSATION, Harlequin Blaze - Sep 08
Hi Karen
My kids play Ode to Joy on the cello and viola with varied degrees of accuracy. How would your husband like to form a trio?
I love that Green Day song.
I wonder what writers did before there were headphones? Maybe that's why some of them drank so much?
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
It's a String Thing!
Ellen, both of my daughters play the viola, so I'm sure that's when he began whistling Ode to Joy! Okay, now he's whistlng Barry White...he overhead the YouTube video. Well, at least it's something different, LOL! Fifteen minutes of that, however, and I'll be looking for the headphones.
OVERNIGHT SENSATION, Harlequin Blaze - Sep 08
Headphones and Quiet
I use headphones a lot too....and if I'm home alone during the day and I want music it's definitely not loud...it's quiet. There is also a lot of the time that I intend on putting on a playlist, only to get working and discover 2 hours later that I forgot to hit the play button. I love the quiet.
Merri, we're in a heavy traffic/inconsiderate neighbour area, so one of the things I'm looking forward to a LOT when we move is the quiet. The morning I'm able to sit on my deck with the laptop, coffee, and the birds for company I'll probably break down and cry. I simply crave peace and quiet.
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
Peace
Hi Donna,
My husband and kids are always bugging me about a leaf blower and a snow blower. I keep saying "noise pollution." (Not to mention air pollution.) (Not to mention limited budget.)
I know for some people there are health reasons to use those wonderful tools and in those cases, go for it. But at our house we have a relatively small yard and four healthy people. The monotony of raking or shoveling, outside with just your thoughts or your family for company--that's great downtime to include in our lives.
Donna--I hope you find your peace and quiet!
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08
My husband is a fan of the
My husband is a fan of the "album" and thinks it's blasphemy to just listen to one song.
Let hear a cheer for your DH. He's one after my own heart.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
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