It's 1 April so it's time for the Insecure Writers Support Group!
The awesome co-hosts for this posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkindale, and Rebecca Douglass!
This month's question is an interesting one:
If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?
I usually don't listen to music while I'm writing, and if I do, I listen to music without lyrics or with lyrics in a language I don't understand. I also don't find I have a particular playlist for a specific book most of the time. With a few very important exceptions.
The Sidewalk's Regrets had a soundtrack, but it's a book about music and falling in love with music. The specific album I thrashed while writing that one was Teenage Snuff Film by Rowland S. Howard.
Guide Us also had a soundtrack, but a very different one. That book was fueled by musical theater songs.
The rest of my books don't really have specific songs associated with them, although I guess you could say Standing Too Close was partially inspired by the Police song Don't Stand Too Close to Me. The title anyway. And the fact there's an inappropriate teacher-student relationship in there.
Mostly, if I listen to music while writing, I listen to a playlist of classical music I call Classical Music for Metalheads. It has all the really bombastic classical music moments, the ones that show the clear line between classical and metal. It's great for amping up the energy.
Or, I listen to Arabic music which is achingly beautiful even though I can't understand the words at all.
And, I love Elgar's cello concertos. They're amazing to write to. So many different textures and emotions in there,
I have a new book brewing in my head right now. I'm not sure if I'm a good enough writer to tackle it because the main character is going to be a huge challenge to write. I need a little more time for him to settle (why do all my main characters at the moment seem to be boys?) in my brain, and there are some other characters that haven't fully revealed themselves yet. I wonder if this book will have a playlist. and if so, what it might be...
What kind of music do you like to listen to when you write? Do your books have playlists?
It is difficult to have music with lyrics playing while writing. The words tend to land on the page! I can't differentiate words in my head from words I'm hearing. 🤣
ReplyDeleteApril is the ideal time to refresh goals and turn small daily actions into major wins, utilizing the season's new energy for growth.
“Every day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations.” ― Catherine Pulsifer
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
I don't like to write with music on either.
ReplyDeleteYes! Classical music and metal have a lot in common. Just look at the band Trans Siberian Orchestra.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today.
Other writers feel the same as I do: it's difficult to write to music with lyrics. I write best to brown noise. I put a link on my blog for the one I use. Thanks for co-hosting. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally get that -- needing time for a character to settle. Whew! I wrote a story with a psycopath a while back and that really took a headtrip to get down. Not that he was the main character, but he was a major element.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day and thanks for co-hosting this month. I can definitely see similarities between classical and metal, especially instrumentals. I use music to set the mood or develop characters, but sometimes I use sound to block out distractions- whatever it takes to get words onto the page.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree about no lyrics. In general, I prefer quiet when I'm working. I will occasionally put on classical music, but I feel like that stuff (maybe all music) deserves to be listened to, not just to be background noise.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting IWSG this month. I like the idea of assigning playlists to my books. Haven't done it yet, but it could be fun.
ReplyDeleteYes, classical music works best for me at any time. I could never understand pop - any band or style leave me cold, while classical music always affects my emotions.
ReplyDeleteThe musical tastes of your newest character might just surprise you ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
I love how you enjoy so many styles of music. I just have to have silence after lunch because that's when I am ready to write. Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a wide berth of musical styles to enjoy. Good for you. I can't listen to songs with lyrics and write...I get too distacted by the words. But I listen to classical (although a bit more tame than what you enjoy, I think!). I'm a bit more of a Bach and Mozart kind of gal. Good luck with your writing! And thanks for co-hosting and sharing today.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a musical recap! I'd never heard of Classical Music for Metalheads, but I'm going to check it out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your range of music interests, from Metalheads to Arabic and beyond! All foreign to me. Guess I'm stuck in old favorites. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, Kate! I can finally comment because I gave in and used my laptop.
ReplyDeleteWhat eclectic and interesting musical taste you have, Kate! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteGreat covers, Kate! Good luck with your challenging character. Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteMy WIPs have their own specific playlist I’ve created and listen to. Instrumental, electronic and orchestral for fantasy/supernatural. And slow jams, soul and R&B for romance.
We're pretty similar in how we use music while writing. And Elgar! Especially if performed by Yo-Yo Ma! @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Classical music for metalheads sounds amazing, and I never thought of listening to music in another language. I definitely can't write with music that has lyrics in English - way too distracting. I usually write in silence or put on a Spotify playlist of binaural beats.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
Not all stories start off perfectly. The ones that niggle from somewhere are the ones we should surely write. :-)
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