Writing Playlist
Hi everyone,
Hi everyone,
For my first real blog post, I have decided to talk about
playlists. Some writers like to write in silence and some like to listen to
music. Since I fall into both categories, I thought a discussion on playlists
would be interesting.
When I write to music, I have eclectic taste. It depends on my mood and what scene I’m writing. If it’s one of those not-in-the-mood writing days, I start out with the Rocky soundtrack. Pretty cheesy right? But for some reason, the music from Rocky gets me fired up and gives me a feeling that I can accomplish anything, even the impossible.
When I write to music, I have eclectic taste. It depends on my mood and what scene I’m writing. If it’s one of those not-in-the-mood writing days, I start out with the Rocky soundtrack. Pretty cheesy right? But for some reason, the music from Rocky gets me fired up and gives me a feeling that I can accomplish anything, even the impossible.
Below are some of the songs from my writing playlist.
Do you have a playlist? If so, what’s on it? Thanks for visiting my blog.
The Rocky SoundtrackCrawling- by: Linkin Park
Autobots- from: Transformers Soundtrack
Army of Me- from: Sucker Punch Soundtrack
Theme from Braveheart- from: The Braveheart Soundtrack
Crazy Train- by: Ozzy Ozbourne
Don’t you- by: Simple Minds
Last Resort- by: Papa Roach
Indiana Jones Theme- from: Soundtrack
White Rabbit- from: Sucker Punch Soundtrack
Enter Sandman- by: Metallica
Eye of the Tiger- by: Survivor
The Valkyrie: Ride of the Valkyries
Estranged- by: Guns and Roses
Rooster-by: Alice In Chains
Hi Bonnie!!
ReplyDeleteI have no playlist, just all my songs. If I had time, I might do the playlist thing. I used to create them on cassettes (labeled them "music for the car") when I was young and unmarried, with all the time in the world apparently. Oh yeah, I wasn't a writer then, either!!
Just an FYI on your blog - the white lettering on the dark background makes my eyes all wonky. You might want to reconsider the color scheme to be more eye-friendly.
Stacy,
ReplyDeleteWhen we were younger, it seemed like we had all the time in the world. Sometimes, I miss those days.
I changed the font color. Hopefully, it's easier on the eyes. Thank you for the heads-up. And thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog.
Hi Bonnie! Great kick-off post! I'm one of those silence people--I find the emotions of music just distract me from getting to what's going on for my characters. The only time I break that rule is if I am actually writing about music--my current hero is an old-school punk fan, and I've needed to listen to some of the classics in that genre sometime to help evoke his mood.
ReplyDeleteAmber,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
Ooo a punk fan, how fun. I bet he's an interesting character. I can't wait to read it.
Wonderful post Bonnie. It varies the times I use music, but I do love soundtracks. I also use Native American drumming when I'm distracted.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteSoundtracks are wonderful because most of them are instrumentals, so they're not that distracting.
Native American drumming sounds interesting, almost hyptnotic. I'll have to check into that.
Thanks for the idea and thanks for commenting.
Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteI almost always write to silence. Sometimes, if I'm thinking about it, I like to play soundtracks that evoke the proper emotions for me. I took a workshop this spring where we brainstormed to music and it was really a great experience. Maybe I should come up with a play list for types of scenes?
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteThe workshop on brainstorming to music sounds really interesting. I'm a pantser so maybe that's why I like to write to music. If I'm working on a fight scene, I like to listen to Heavy Metal. If I'm trying to create a scene that will need a lot of detail and imagination, I like the Soundtracks.
You should get a playlist together for the types of scenes and let us know if it made a difference.
Thanks for the comments
Super post, Bonnie! I've played music for some works, but mostly not.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find is that if I listen to a wonderful cd while I'm working on a particular story, whenever I hear it later, I will think of that story. :) It's kind of fun.
I have New Age, movie themes, like Alexander, the Bourne series, lots of both historical, or adventure/action kinds, Celtic. :) I have enjoyed playing music to get me in the mood if I'm too distracted. :)
Terry,
DeleteI know what you mean about hearing a song and thinking about that story. I was driving in my car the other day and In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins came on, it's also on my playlist, right away I thought about the last scene I was working on during that song.
So, you know how couples have songs, I guess books will have songs.
I've wanted to try some New Age music to write to. I think I will.
Thanks for the comment
I listen to Iheart or Pandora which makes playlist for me. Listen to LMAFO on my walks. It helps me keep a fast pace. If I'm reading a Highlander book I listen to Celtic music. Listening to music while I read helps me stay focused. I call it going under. Ear buds in and marathon reading. Love it.
ReplyDeleteLoretta,
DeleteOoo I forgot about Pandora. Now I'm going to have to try the LMAFO station.
I love to listen to music on the airplane when I read. It blocks out everything.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Hey Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteLove this post Bonnie - I'm mostly a write in silence girl, but I love the Twilight Saga scores, Pirates of the Caribbean Score, and the JJ Abrams Star Trek Scores.
Oh, and How to Train Your Dragon - love that one.
For fight scenes, I do love me some AC/DC and Ted Nuggent.
Your website is so cool Bonnie!
Here's wishing you success and happy writing.
Paula
Hi Paula,
DeletePirates of the Caribbean is also on my playlist. I loved those movies and I thought the music was terrific.
I haven't heard the other soundtracks, so I'll check them out.
My sister wrote her whole dissertation to the soundtrack of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
I agree AC/DC are great to write fight scenes
I usually write in silence these days, or using a brainwave entrainment program that makes it easier to focus. I have to be careful about writing to music with lyrics--it might be because I've worked doing transcription, but somehow the lyrics of the song will end up on the page without me realizing it. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn,
ReplyDeleteI had to google brainwave entrainment to see what it was. It sounds interesting. I may try it.
That's funny about transcribing the lyric on the page. I don't blame you.
Most of the time the music is just background noise to help me stay on task. It works like coffee only it doesn't keep me up all night long.
Thank you for commenting.
Ahh. Definitely need music to write. I usually have my music on full blast. Uhmm, a few songs that I would put under my "muse" playlist would have to be...
ReplyDelete-Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine
-Circles by KDrew
okay. That about does it for my playlist. Lol. Seven Devils because that's the song that sparked the whole idea of what my book is going to be based on. And Circles by KDrew...well, because it's Dubstep and I like the way it sounds lol.
Ana♥
Hi Ana,
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you stopped by.
So, I was curious and had to listen to Seven Devils and I loved it. I'm going to download some of their songs to my playlist.
Ooo I would love to hear more about your book.
Thanks so much for commenting.
BTW I couldn't be more happier with the website, blog, & banners. You did an outstanding job. Thanks again.
Bonnie,
DeleteOMFG! YES! Great song and Florence has an amazing voice. Ahh. My book is far from even being mentioned lol. But hopefully soon I'll be able to share details on it :)
You're welcome! And I'm glad you love your site and blog!
Happy Friday!
Ana♥
Ana,
DeleteI downloaded two songs from Florence, Seven Devils and Spectrum. Thanks so much for putting it in your post.
Let us know when you're ready to share the details on your book.
Hey Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteLove the website! Sometimes I write in silence as it helps me concentrate, but there are times when I'll pick a song that fits a scene (or character) and set it on repeat so it becomes part of the background noise and enhances the atmosphere rather than detracts from it.
For my new book, I'm creating a specfic playlist as songs come to mind. So far, I have "Frozen" by Madonn, "1000 Years" by Chistina Perry (and the Piano Guys version) as well as some songs from the Twilight Score.
I love that you listen to Rocky! Some of the sounds from those soundtracks are on my "Motivational" playlist!
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
I love Madonna, she is so talented and Frozen is such a smooth song.
The only song I have on my playlist from the Movie Twilight is Supermassive Black Hole by Muse. It just gets my fingers moving.
I love that you have a Motivational playlist. That's so cool. The songs from Rocky are great. I think they were created to inspire the Underdog, which is totally me.
Hi, Bonnie. I just came over from Stacy M's blog where you commented on my new book cover. *waves* I'm a classic rock and 80's hair metal fan, so I loved some of the stuff you listed. While writing, however, I'm one of those who prefers silence, unless the teenagers are being too loud and I need to plug in the headphones and play classical music. I can't write with lyrics. It's too distracting!
ReplyDeleteGood to meet you. :)
-Jimmy
http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/
Hi James,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to meet you, too. Thanks so much for visiting my blog.
Sometimes the lyrics are distracting for me, too. That's when I listen to just the Soundtracts. But sometimes, I need the Head Banger music. It just depends on my mood.
I didn't list all my songs. I left off quite a few that includes Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Nicklback, just to name a few. The 80's was such a great music era.
My teenagers have grown up and moved out. My dogs and cat are my distractions now :)
Good luck on your new release Seeing Ghosts. The cover is awesome and the story sounds really good. I looked for it on Amazon but couldn't find it. When is the release date?
Thanks for commenting.