Comments on: Does your writing require some background music?

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:18:00 +0000

In reply to njn. I have a great affinity for music (and my son is studying to become an opera singer) but, for me, it just doesn't go together with writing...

By: njn

njn — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:48:00 +0000

There are times I like playing music, but it really depends on what I am doing. I think music helps engage both sides of the brain. I have some of my favorite, most meaningful, almost autobiographical songs on my computer, that I listen as a emotional cleanser. I can’t do much else while doing that.
I have had so much trouble writing fiction, that I can’t even remember if I use it or not. I doubt if I do.
But this last week, doing my medical transcription for a free clinic, I was using a tape for concentration and earphones. Kept me there in the chair longer. I had gotten a program called Eye-Q, supposedly to help you connect things faster. Don’t know how well it worked but I have used the concentration, thinking, and creativity CD’s a lot.
As far as I am concerned music is a prayer. And thank whatever spirit, I was brought up with music.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:34:00 +0000

In reply to Cathy. I totally agree re: lyrics. They cause me to start singing along which is totally distracting! Haven't tried focus@will but it sounds interesting. I'll take a look. Thanks for suggesting it.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:01:00 +0000

What an interesting discussion! I have tried many focus boosting tools. While my number one ‘go to’ is the pomodoro, I do use another called ‘focus@will’. They creators share what I think is pretty food science behind playing background music but they also declare particular rules to follow. They suggest finding a genre that appeals to the individual and, more importantly, that any piece that distracts, you must tell the program to go to the next track. In other words, we should not actually be listening to the music at all. None of the genres in the focus@will program have lyrics– I think this may be an important point.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:18:00 +0000

In reply to Tom Morrisey. I briefly experimented with Baroque music, which, as you likely know, Tom, some "experts" recommend. It didn't disturb me the way some music does. But I didn't find it hugely helpful either.

By: Tom Morrisey

Tom Morrisey — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 21:47:00 +0000

I teach writers workshops for novelists, and one thing I always say up top is, “Writing a novel is like cooking chili. Everyone has a different way of doing it, and everyone is convinced that his or her way is the best.”

That said, one of the Civil-War dividing points is background music. Some writers insist they need it, and I know at least one writer who listens to movie soundtracks, selecting music that complements the scene he is writing.

But I’m with you, Daphne. Music clouds the sound of the words. And music with lyrics? I may as well plop down in the La-Z-Boy and open a bag of chips, because I’m not going to get ANY work done while that’s on.

By: Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:40:00 +0000

In reply to Rod.

I know! I can’t figure it out either. I cannot work with any music in the background, no matter how lovely. I can, however, work with the sound of a ticking clock. This is what I write to when I’m following my pomodoros: http://buff.ly/1vAwPnl

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:35:00 +0000

Background music? Now I am jealous, even with a spacious void, I have trouble focusing. (thank god for spell-check thought focusing had two s’s. How should one write two esses, Ss? Maybe its my male brain…it can’t listen to music and do something, anything else. it has to be the sound of slience for any words to start bubbling into my brain and out through my fingertips onto the screen. Or perhaps it has to do with brain size, not enough room for both… they size doesn’t matter but maybe “they” are wrong? After all “they” also do the weather!