Every writer approaches writing differently. Some wake at the crack of dawn, others burn the midnight oil. Some write on legal pads, others bang out words on keyboards. Another difference is tolerated noise level. Sound, silence, something in between. Sometimes I prefer silence for writing. I’ve been known to plug the headphones in, put them over my ears and then forget to turn on the music as the story sucks me in. Other times I just can’t get a feel for a story until I make a playlist specifically for that story. Other times I’ll develop a new playlist just to write by. I have a number of playlists on my iTunes, here’s a few:
Kicking butt and taking names includes Prophecy by Remy Zero, Pump It by Black Eyed Peas, Make Yourself by Incubus, Stronger by Kanye West, and more
God, I’m so in love includes The Night is Still Young by Billy Joel, Ride by Cary Brothers, Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt, Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, Answer by Sarah McLachlan, Secret Smile by Semisonic, Wild Horses by the Sundays, and more
Race against time includes Tonight, Tonight by Genesis, What I’ve Done by Linkin Park, Bitemarks and Bloodstains by Finch, Teardrop by Massive Attack, These Things by She Wants Revenge, and more
Sad song mix includes Come What May by Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor, Tell Her This by Del Amitri, Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World, Sideways by Citizen Cope, The Weakness in Me by Joan Armatrading, Rest Stop by Matchbox Twenty, I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt, Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap and more
Movies have soundtracks and if you listen closely so do books. So here’s the current soundtrack to my WIP -
Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace, Teardrop by Massive Attack, Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins, When We Dance by Sting, Elsewhere by Sarah McLachlan, Cautioners by Jimmy Eat World, Closer by Nine Inch Nails, Apologize by Timbaland, Sooner or Later by Switchfoot, and You by Fisher.
Actually it was harder than I thought. The hard ones were the end and the lead into the black moment.
So what’s your preference, sound or silence? What do you listen to? Does you book have a soundtrack?