What do you do to get in the mood to write?
I write chick lit (for those of you who didn’t know).
I like happy music… but I also love somber music. Here are a few of my choices while writing a story.
Wild Horses – Natasha Bedingfield
Comic Love, Dog Days are Over – Florence and the Machine
Animal & - Neon Trees
Anything by Adele, Kate Nash, Regina Spektor, or A Fine Frenzy
So there you have it, my secret weapons. A few songs to kick writers block out of the building. Or at least for something to listen to when I’m feeling the writer’s block.
Now many of you know when I’m really writing (big chunks) I also watch TV. I like something happening in the background. It’s a must. I may do nothing with it but it’s at least there.
What’s your method? Favorite songs you’d like to share?
45 comments:
Oh, "Animal" by Neon Trees (as covered by Glee) totally got me through my last WIP. It sort of summed up my Female MC's feelings about Male MC. "I won't be denied by you the animal inside of you."
Music really helps me get in the mood and I just love your list of songs!
I play the club music of today to get in the mood. Gotta get the blood movin'!
Once I start I have a BBC mystery DVD playing. I have no idea what's going on but the mood is set for a mystery. BBC has the best music to accompany a mystery.
I LOOOOOVE Adele. Pretty much obsessed with her actually. And she does have inspiring music for all types of situations... sad, happy and revenge :) BTW..hows your query research going. I just opened up my WIP to try and revise and I'm freaking out a little bit. Reading your posts calms me down though :)
Oh, I just like to have the window open next to me, and I prefer night-times.
Where music is concerned the Glee soundtrack does it for me.
When all else fails, I listen to a movie soundtrack. Some of my favorites are The Dark Knight, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, There Will Be Blood, and Pan Labyrinth.
But usually I have a specific soundtrack or Pandora station dedicated. My latest WIP is all about Maynard and Trent Reznor...
Music puts me in the mood - a little Rush, Dream Theater, In Flames. Yeah, the scary stuff.
Music definitely helps~ I have a youtube channel of favorite writing songs, but they do get distracting, LOL!
Music definitely helps~ I have a youtube channel of favorite writing songs, but they do get distracting, LOL!
I rarely if ever write with music on. I prefer silence, and frequently take my laptop to a room by myself when I want to write -- and especially if I am reading over previously written material to see how it sounds.
hmmm I like to write when it rains..... maybe i should move to Seattle haha
Thanks for your sweet comments by the way!
Love, love the Neon Trees and Florence and the Machine. You should try The Wombats....specifically the album 'This Modern Glitch'. I work out to it all of the time. But I am also a sucker for the oldies like Madonna's Immaculate Collection.
Totally depends on what I'm writing. But Adel almost always does it for me. (I love A Fine Frenzy too, but I've never written to them.) If I'm writing an intense scene I'll switch over to Flyleaf. Funny that you'll write with the TV on. I only do that when my little guy wants me to watch Sponge Bob with him. ;)
Nice list. Music is definitely a must for writing, for me at least!
Love Florance and the Machine! In fact I like all your song choices. I would add Parachute, One Republic, and Rob Thomas to your list. Those are a few guys who understand chick-lit ;)
I have coffee - and lots of it. Then I get over to my desk before I have time to think up excuses.
It depends what I'm doing. I don't like to listen to anything when I'm editing, because I find my mind drifting and not paying attn to the task at hand. When I'm drafting, I love music on. Some of my favorites are Florence + The Machine, Metric, Death Cab for Cutie, and Muse.
My inspirations and moods are usually all over the place - so I never know when it's going to strike! :)
Honestly, I don't go into starting a project by listening to music... tv distracts me...movies, too. I guess I need to be in the mood to do something else - which, happens to be writing most of the time.
I do love Adele, though! They've been dancing to her songs on SYTYCD - so wonderful! Tori Amos is good when I'm feeling random or angsty. When I need to find my inner teen for my YA, however - I turn to GaGa, Katy Perry, Kesha... I'm in love with "Not your Birthday" by All Star Weekend right now. I'm not entirely sure why.... :)
Since I usually write when the rest of the house is sleeping, I don't listen to music while I write.
Anything classical or Willie Nelson, a classic country singer.
I love how music sets the mood while I'm writing. Wouldn't want to have a happy tune when I'm writing a death scene though. =D
I can't listen to music while I write. I like it quiet. And that's kind of odd, because as a kid I listen to rock music LOUD while I studied and wrote. I'm wondering if it isn't a generational thing....
As for getting ready to write. The only way to get ready is to simply do it.
Anything by Florence and the Machine usually works for me!
Oh yes my somber choices go so well with teen angst--ha!
Love this!
Music keeps me focused. Part of my process has become to create playlists for each project. Songs my characters like and songs that are relevant to the plot end up on the list which then becomes the only 80-100 songs I listen to while writing that story.
I love listening to music while I write! :)
I often have the TV running in the background, but I also use music too. I tend to just put my iTunes on shufffle and go :)
Ah - music is so inspirational! I write children's books, so I just take my kids on an adventure. Even if we only hit the park we are sure to come across something that they say or do (or other kids say or do) that inspires me.
I skip to parts where I don't feel so stuck. I hate coming back, but it definitely helps.
The other thing is to force my hand word by crappy word. :)
That is so funny. I just blogged about my all night writefest but didn't think to go into the specific details. Point for you! I totally over looked it. I tell ya, it’s all about the details.
Here’s how I conquer the pen: Lights off. I prefer only the light from the laptop screen and the TV at my back, it’s turned on but the volume is muted. Headphones on, music playing (rock, pop, feel good stuff, or metal) I just lose myself in it...music can be a writers’ bestie, for real.
I’m enjoying your blogs. Rock on girl.
Wild Horses is one of my all time favorites!! I listen to soundtracks. Something about that always makes me feel in the story mood.
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Okay, I'm totally stealing this idea and doing a whole blog post on getting into the mood LOL:) I LOVE this. So cute - but then again, when are you not cute?
I love somber music to get in the mood for writing. One of my favorites is Thomas Tallis.
Wild Horses, awesome song. Although I like the Rolling Stones version so I guess I'm old. Hopefully the fact that my girls have introduced me to Regina Spektor, who I love, redeems me.
I definitely write with music.... Depending on the mood I am writing, I choose suitable music. Mostly I like bright contemporary music.
At times I love jazz and other times classical.
I must have noise, and I admit to having the TV on just for background sound, too. Type of music depends on what type of scene I'm writing--metal for action sequences, love songs for duh, love scenes. The Cure has been on the CD player for my newest WIP.
I love to go outside and look at the mountains and nature. It definitely get me in the right frame of mind.
WOW I don't know how you write with the TV on! I agree I need something on in the background, but usually just movie soundtracks, not the actual movie. :)
To get out of writers block, it helps me to do something active. Go for a walk, go to the gym... clear my mind and get the heart rate up.
On my lunch break at work I listen to my iPod. At home I pick a movie that suits the mood I'm trying to create in my story. I don't watch the movie, only listen to it in the background.
I always listen to the soundtrack from Garden State... Nice, mellow, rambling music that inspires without distracting.. :)
Mustang Sally always inspires my strong woman characters. Something about that song screams "I have estrogen and I'm not afraid to use it."
I must confess I'm one of those writers who needs absolute silence and a tidy room. Then I open the curtains wide, look out at our garden, take a deep breath and start writing. :)
Writing with TV is hard if I want to watch the show. But I can write in silence, with my iPod, or with the kids doing loud stuff all around me. I'll write anytime, anywhere.
I just have to be in the right frame of mind, which is a whole other story.
I prefer silence when I write. If I can't have silence then I'll have music that doesn't have lyrics. (I'm too easily distracted otherwise lol).
We share many of the same fave artists and songs! Regina Specktor is a recent fave of mine. I also have to have music playing in the background, always. When I'm really into a writing groove, I barely notice that the music is playing.
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