I am one of those people that does not like distractions when I am writing. Other than Ollie snoring beside my desk, I like to write in silence.
However, many writers not only enjoy listening to music as they write, they draw inspiration from it for scenes in their books.
Here is an article that explains how one writer channels music to add creativity to her work.
https://mythaxis.com/2020/10/04/how-music-influences-writing/
I need silence. I have so many voices in my head that I need to pay attention to. 😉
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Thanks, Faye. I feel much the same.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you for sharing. I write best in the morning but that’s when my caregiver comes, a nice woman, but she expects me to engage her the entire time. I think she keeps her job even in retirement so that she can talk to us like friends. I tease her at times to relieve some tension, and sometimes I do the opposite.
I was hallucinating one time and very into it mentally. I yelled at her when she asked me a question, not because I was angry, but because she distracted me, and it was a reflex. I learned that that day was the day her beloved husband died. So that always makes you feel good about yourself.
I like to tease her about how she pays to work for me since her tax dollars go into my check.
I can only listen to instrumentals when I’m reading. It used to help me sit down and read for a while. That’s passed now, and I no longer need it. It has to be quiet for me to write. The cats have learned to leave me alone for the most part. You probably know what cats are notorious for… I saw a meme with one duck taped to the wall as a joke.
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Thanks very much for adding your own thoughts and life experience.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I ramble. You can ignore me. I don’t know much about you. In which genre do you like to write?
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I would never ignore you. When It comes to fiction, I tend to favour historical fiction, or serial killers. Sometimes combining the two. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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✋🏻✋🏻Whatever i’m up to, music is playing beside. I love to listen music. Music influences our mind mysterious.
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I have a time for music, and a time for writing. I sometimes combine the two with blog posts about songs, but usually write in silence.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oops. bad typo. Should read: For me…
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For my it depends on my mood. I find that orchestral music is easier to write with, but sometimes popular music can inspire as well.
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Thanks for your comment. It seems that many writers enjoy a musical background.
Best wishes, Pete.
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If you are interested, I wrote a couple of articles on the connection of music and poetry, and writing during the pandemic. You can find the links on my WP site.
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I use music to set the mood before writing. BUT I CAN NEVER WRITE WITH MUSIC ON. Silence is a must for me too.
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Much the same for me. Thanks for your comment.
Best wishes, Pete.
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This post is very interesting as a sudent when I’m writing things for school I enjoy having music in the background of my working process.
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Thanks, Nick. As you will see from the comments, some others also enjoy music, but many do not.
(Including me) Best wishes, Pete.
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You’re definitely right that everybody draws inspiration in different ways. I am one of those people who always listen to music when writing! It influences my writing a great deal, I’d say music is my biggest inspiration for everything I do. I do notice though that if I’m listening to a sad song my writing will show that. It can be a hinderance though when I’m not trying to write about melancholy things. I have to set the mood with the right songs or else I can get distracted or off track.
Great post.
-Voyant
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Thanks for adding your own thoughts and experiences. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have my own writing playlist and its beautiful. Love this post.
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Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I generally use white noise or sounds of cafe, or nature sounds while I am writing. They help me focus
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That’s interesting. It seems many people need some sort of noise to help them concentrate.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you! I relate completely
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Glad to hear that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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As a composer working in theater, I have learned to write music to create moods, and have seen how the music effects both listeners and performers. Thank you for sharing a writer’s perspective.
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Thanks for adding your own experience, Kara.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree to Jennie, but for some writing i need music based distraction during writing too. Its my only way decreasing the blood pressure. Best wishes, Michael
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If it works for you, that’s fine, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It does! Thank you, Pete! Best wishes, Michael
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Music inspires my ideas, yet I need silence to write them.
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That’s the perfect combination, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think it is! Best to you, Pete.
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I’m more like you, Pete. When I’m reading or writing, I like to be in the quietest environment. I was always blown away by kids in my class who could read when five other noisy activities were going on in class. Somehow they could tune it all out.
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Yes, I used to see people on buses and trains in London listening to loud music through headphones and reading paperbacks at the same time.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know when I’m working on a post I always need background music.
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Many people do, but it has never featured for me.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I don’t bother putting any music on, though I am aware of Phil practicing his bass guitar in the next room, doesn’t bother me.
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I can usually hear the TV next door, if Julie is at home. But that rarely bothers me either.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m so engrossed in what I’m writing that I block out everything else. So there’s no point in playing music. I won’t hear it.
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That’s a good enough reason not to bother playing any, David.
Best wishes, Pete.
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i like it quiet when writing/blogging and reading. best to you Pete 🙂
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Same as me. Thanks, Wilma.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Classical guitar is my thing…..it helps calm me when I run into the aggravating BS of the day…..chuq
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I love to listen to music, but not at the same time as I am writing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have to have absolute silence Pete. Though the sound of the wind and the rain inspire me. Hope you feel better soon xxxx
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Thanks, Lorraine. Living in Beetley, I hear rain most of the time! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I like to put the sound of rain on while I’m writing. There is hours of it on Youtube and it means that I’m not distracted by lyrics.
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If you lived here, you could listen to real rain for most of the year. It’s raining now, and has been for 11 days.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for sharing this interesting video, Pete. Klausbernd and I are both the same. When we write, we prefer to do so without any distractions at all, no music, no radio in the background.
Hope you are both feeling a wee bit better today.
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Thanks, Dina. We are both much the same, and I doubt the chilly wet weather is helping.
Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X
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Aaah. I dread getting the flu or a cold at this time. The sun is fighting hard to come through so we’ll grab the opportunity to walk to the reserve without getting wet and see the new photographic exhibition. This is one of the very few exhibitions where you can spontaneously enter without pre-booking a time slot.
Give Ollie a big pat from me. x
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Still pouring down here! x
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I’m the same as you Pete, when I read or write, I like it quiet😀 I can’t concentrate otherwise, so I’m with you😀 That said, I can also understand how it works for other people as inspriring😀
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I also understand why so many people become more creative when listening to music. My problem is that I start to concentrate on the music, instead of what I am writing. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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So true! That’s exactly what happens to me as well! 😂
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ALWAYS music is on when I write. That article summed up how I am with writing and also reading novels. The short stories on my blog are inspired by song lyrics, so music is THE main inspiration.
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I am aware that in your case, the music of the era is crucial to your stories. It is my kind of music too! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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