“Whistle while you work” - Writers Forum

The Backward OX · 04-26-2008, 02:52 AM

I’ve read of a number of writers who must have music playing while they are being creative.

I can’t do this. My mind can only cope with one thing at a time, and if I were to hear Julie Andrews trilling “The hills are alive with the sound of music” while I’m trying to write a murder scene, what would happen is that instead of seeing the murderer creeping up behind her victim with a raised knife I would see all those snotty-nosed von Trapp brats rollicking across the meadow, and the whole thing would flounder to a halt in a morass of confused images.

So how do YOU do it?

CodeRed · 04-26-2008, 03:18 AM

Honestly, it varies on the kind of writing that I am doing. Without going into too much detail, there are some times where I need absolute silence - and Heaven save anyone that speaks to me while I'm trying to concentrate.

Other times I like some classical piano; it's relaxing and I don't get distracted by lyrics. Still other times I prefer to listen to 'Flamma Flamma' by Nicholas Lens - a very tribal work of opera that is sung in Latin, so even though I know the English translations for the lyrics, I still don't get distracted.

In my more lighthearted moods, I just set my music player to play songs from my library randomly.

Lastly, there are certain times when I need to access something on a more, shall we say, sacrificial level; and there is a specific album that I listen to in those moods, too.

The Backward OX · 04-26-2008, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodeRed

Lastly, there are certain times when I need to access something on a more, shall we say, sacrificial level; and there is a specific album that I listen to in those moods, too.

The mind fairly boggles.

It's one of the things I like about the so-called anonymity of the Net - you (think you can) say things in perfect safety that would get you run in if they were uttered in Rundle Mall.

CodeRed · 04-26-2008, 03:39 AM

Hey - I've said it openly many times before, you're the first person whose mind has been boggled by it though. Besides which, the sheer diversity of city folk ensures that I'm not one of those that gets particular notice on the odd occasion I do venture out to the city (last I remember, you lumped me in as living out in 'the spinifax', and I don't like to go to the Mall that much - those two giant balls in the middle of it give me the wiggins).

rumpole40k · 04-26-2008, 06:53 AM

I can only have music on, if there isn't any competing noise. Music won't affect my writing, but if the TV is on (for example) and there's music playing I get distracted and so the noise canceling headphones bring me into a world of silence.

ash somers · 04-26-2008, 07:23 AM

julie andrews is a saint

Foxee · 04-26-2008, 08:45 AM

The mind fairly boggles that Ox can turn anything into a negative. Must be a gift.

Katastrof · 04-26-2008, 08:49 AM

If I'm stuck on a piece of writing I can only listen to songs without lyrics or else the lyrics will distract me. If I'm on a role any type of music will do. And sometimes if I hear a song that matches the mood of the story I'm trying to write, inspiration seizes me and I can write tons of words.

The Backward OX · 04-26-2008, 09:06 AM

"If you should run into a golden-haired angel
And ask her tonight for a date
She'll tell you somewhere there's a rich millionaire
Who is calling again about eight"

flashgordon · 04-26-2008, 11:59 AM

I NEED music, or at least some background noise, for me to write. If there is complete silence, I focus in on that. If there is background noise, I can tune it out and focus on the words in my head.

JWalker · 04-26-2008, 03:26 PM

I can only listen to certain genres of music while writing eg. acoustic, indie, instrumental and sometimes rock. Listening to the words of a song usually helps my mind relax and let the words flow onto the page.

JW

Vee · 04-28-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodeRed

Hey - I've said it openly many times before, you're the first person whose mind has been boggled by it though. Besides which, the sheer diversity of city folk ensures that I'm not one of those that gets particular notice on the odd occasion I do venture out to the city (last I remember, you lumped me in as living out in 'the spinifax', and I don't like to go to the Mall that much - those two giant balls in the middle of it give me the wiggins).

I'm just happy to see a small collection of aussies here.

As for music, given the nature of my current writing - all the Oz pop rock classics.

I see by the end of the thread I've misinterpreted what it is about. So my question to Ox though is - don't you just want to kill those snot nosed brats?

JosephB · 04-28-2008, 08:24 AM

No one in the NBA can jump as high as Julie Andrews on that stupid poster. Given where the horizon line is and the slope of that hill, she's like 4 feet off the damn ground. And in heels already. And carrying a guitar and a giant purse.

archer88iv · 04-28-2008, 08:38 AM

Generally speaking, I listen to a giant pile of MP3s (mostly robbed from a friend when I helped him back up his "important documents" during some computer troubles) on random. If I'm doing well, I won't notice what's going on with the headphones.

On the other hand, If I'm not, I'll nitpick about which song is playing until the cows come home. But at least having the music to nitpick and fuss with makes certain that I don't have to leave the computer to find an excuse not to work, which--in the end--manages to keep me near what I'm shirking, at the very least.

The Hopper · 04-28-2008, 10:27 AM

I like to listen to music when I have hit a strong creative streak. I have been listening to music while studying since I was in elementary school. I can actually sing the words to the songs now and still follow a story line. I think it is because music is part of me, I listen to it on my MP3 at the gym, in the car, and when I write - not to mention at a party or the club. For a while I could not watch TV and write, but then I have had that problem since I was kid, I would stop everything when something interesting happened on TV, that or I would end up writing what I heard on the TV instead of what I wanted to write. I think I am getting better at it now though. I am learning to tune the TV out when necessary. Hope that helps.