Do you listen to music when you write?

[the tiger fights]

Yes, listening to oldies keeps me going. After a while, you don't even realize that it's playing, but when you pull your head up to stop writing . . . it's great that it's there to greet you.

[Kowalskil]

Sometimes I like to listen to music when I write, but I also like to go outside, maybe for a drive first before I write or just sitting outside. But yeah music playing softly in the background is cool

Not for me. My brain need silence.

Ludwik Kowalski

[pavithrathiva]

actually without music i feel bore to write

[Gurkavitch]

I can't do it. I just end up writing the lyrics of the song I'm listening to. And if it's instrumental, I get distracted and start humming along.

[steveabcuk10]

I always listen to music when i create mostly popular music but the music and everything goes on silent when i go back over what i have written. Music is a great tool that excites the brain, like film director such as Stanley Kubrick many use music to direct his movies.

[mouseofcards89]

Either classical or hard rock, almost without fail. The only exception is if I'm writing in a public place during a civilized hour. Favorites include Disturbed, KMFDM, Slayer, Testament, Beethoven, Mozart, Dimmu Borgir, etc.

[Jimrada]

I like to listen to music when I write. What I listen to definitely depends on my mood, though I tend to favor jazz. I find that the rhythms help me with the pacing of my writing. That said, other times, I find that I need quiet to write. This is usually when I've got a pressing deadline. For some reason, music tends to distract me then.

[threak17]

I like to listen to either classical music, or anything by Kronos Quartet - (especially the early stuff).

[thirddd]

I need complete silence when I write poetry or literature.

I also compose music and find that I create better songs by being inspired by music that I listen to directly beforehand.

[Trcapro]

Sometimes I listen to music, sometimes I don't. For the most part, I do not find it distracting but I can't really say it necessarily adds any inspiration either.

However, sometimes the lyrics of a song that i like can help me to come up with some unique lines of poetry.

[froz]

When I am reading,I never listen to music..But when I am writing I love having music on..I have different playlists on my iPod for when I'm in a writing mood..

[Trcapro]

When I am reading,I never listen to music..But when I am writing I love having music on..I have different playlists on my iPod for when I'm in a writing mood..

That makes sense, your playlist should be built to reflect the type of material you plan to write about.

[froz]

I have a specific playlist I listen to because it sets the right mood, but I have to keep it playing pretty softly..

[Trcapro]

I wouldn't say I ever have to keep it soft but I can see how overly loud music could be a problem.

[DigitalEvil]

I actually listen to music while driving home at night. I mainly listen to things on Pandora, but have it tuned to some very deep, haunting music. I like the intensity and the creepiness. When I hear a song I particularly like, I will screen shot it quickly and then go listen to it while I write. I was writing a Zombie novel for a while (100k words in) and I did this daily for a long while.

It made my commute home from work an awesome experience because by the time I got home, I was ready to write!