Music That Helps You Write

Now, I've been away from these boards for a long time, so I'm not too sure if this topic's been done before or not. If it has, forgive me.

Anyways, when I'm tapping away at these keys (working my fingers to the nubs), trying to create that ultimate piece of fanfiction, I, of course, often run into moments of frustration when I either just don't know what to write or how to make it flow. Usually, all I have to do is pop in the right CD or mix and I can feel the creative juices flowing once again from my brain to my blistered nubs.

So, somehow, I got the notion to post on this board music that I often listen to when writing. I don't know if it'll help you or not, but, hey, maybe this has a place in the Writer's Resource area.

Here's a short list of some of the songs that help me type:

Chevelle's The Red is perfect for when I'm trying to express a character's angst or anger. The flow of the song fits along with this state of mind, with the obsession with the color red, symbolizing the anger they feel inside.

For incredible sadness or depression, Stonsour's Bother is awesome. Really, a song telling you to just let someone die in a wallowing pit of depression fits this bill nicely.

As for love, I listen to a wide variety of things that make you feel all warm and pink and fuzzy and other weird adjectives. I often listen to good ol' Phil Collins for this, or Vertical Horizon (Everything She Wants is a great song, IMHO). A hard category to write, really. Music often helps me smooth this out.

One of the hardest categories for me, though, is action, as it covers such a wide spectrum of possibilities. I always need a song with a beat for this, so Linkin Park often starts blaring out of my headsets when I'm writing a blazing gunfight or a lightsaber showdown. Or, even more lately, I'll pop in the new album from DareDevil, which I was surprised by the amount of decent songs it contained.

On the whole, though, I'd have to say that my number one listening/typing song would have to be Metal Gear May Cry. Never heard of it? I wouldn't be surprised. It's an amalgamation of two orchestrated video game scores, and the end result is nothing short of John Williams or Howard Shore quality. I implore you to follow this link and have a listen:

http://remix.overclocked.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR00690

So, if you've somehow stumbled upon this topic and would like to contribute what songs help you get the magic started, go right ahead.

You might just help someone get past that hurdle they've reached.

-Reb

 

I think my fic is secretly a really long songfic, because nearly every post is inspired by a song.
any and all Staind is good for angst
I don't write much lovy/passonate stuff, but when I do, I listen to Misery Whip, by Everclear. despite the name, it really puts me in a really... um... UST, or RST (think 'resolved') mode.
I don't really do combat, but I agree that Linkin park would be very good for that.

 

UST, or RST
I believe RST is just S.

I once wrote a fic while listening to Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson. If you want readers to like you, do not do this.

 

Though it's great if you're writing in the style of Star Wars film noir

 

It all depends on what I'm trying to write. If it's crazy action, Moby's rendition of the James Bond movie theme. For love scenes, Air's "Playground Love".

 

I have to listen to classical music while I'm writing, so that I don't get distracted. But while I'm just thinking about my fic, I always listen to Dave Matthews Band, because Dave really reminds me of Jacen, for some reason, and my fic is about Jacen.

 

Anything intensely emotional. I found the last track of the Gladiator soundtrack to be like that. Sorrowful, but peaceful. I wrote a dead Anakin/Obi-Wan/Yoda story to that. And a dying Padme story.

 

I listen to classical or innovative music [which is basically modern classical, no words but lots of cool stuff like keyboards and synthizisers put together to make really nifty music] Because any music with words will distract me. If I get to frustrated going to play the piano will often help get the mind moving.

 

I find listening to the star wars and lord of the rings soundtracks help a lot. But other than that...

action: The matrix (obviously) and a few hard rock CD's I own.

angst: well, listen to "Qui-Gon's funeral" or "The Breaking of the Fellowship" or "Samwise the brave: manges to put me in that mood.

that's pretty much my writing span. I love movie soundtracks and it helps for mood music A LOT!

 

When I write, I often listen to older songs.

Twisted Sister
AC/DC
Skid Row
Aerosmith
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Barenaked Ladies

Those are all for just random things. For angst, I listen to orchestral music, most often from sad moments in movies or on TV. Also, I really like "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers for deaths of a lover. It's really good. I don't have certain song for certain feelings.

 

Right now, it's

Mush -
Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Angst -
Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
Paint it Black by Vanessa Carlton

However, mostly happy songs (A Walk to Remember soundtrack, Grammy Nominations for 1999 and such) because it's hard for me to write and listen to punk rock.

JS

 

Paint it Black by Vanessa Carlton

I find the Rolling Stones version of the same song to be really good for revenge & angst for some reason.

I usually actually made character soundtracks I listen to whenever I write those characters. It sounds like a really stupid and geeky idea, but it works for me for some reason...

In general, I do use a lot of soundtracks though. In particular-Vampire Princess (Miyu) TV series soundtrack, all the Star Wars soundtracks, and final fantasy VII through X sountracks.

 

I don't find that geeky at all. I make soundtracks for characters also.

Like for a character that's had a troubled past, I've attached several Nickelback songs to him (Learn the Hard Way, Too Bad).

As for songs with words, I often only listen to them once I've heard them enough to memorize the lyrics to a point where I don't really need to focus on them. Like when you are watching a movie for the first time and it has an awesome soundtrack. You watch the movie, but once it reaches an ebb in the action, you allow yourself some time to sit back and focus on the music.

Star Wars movies have always been like that for me, for example.

-Reb

 

This is a cool topic!

I actually have playlists made on my computer made up for the different kind of a mood I'm writing in. (Well, this only works if I'm not writing in class.)

If I'm writing about Wes Janson, or I'm just trying for humor, I have a playlist with lots of cheerful music. Rhapsody in Blue, In the Mood, stuff like that.

If I'm writing romantic or sad stuff, I tend to listen to a lot of slow instrumental stuff and Enya. Also the Love Theme from Attack of the Clones--I've never heard a more beautiful, moving piece of music in my entire life.

If I'm writing action, I like to use good old rock music. If it's action with girls kicking butt...nobody beats Aretha Franklin.

And last but not least, if I'm writing angst, I listen to a lot of angsty sonding songs...Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, We Are All Made of Stars by Moby, things like that.

~Rogue

 

I have to agree w/ JediKlea - I generally can't write when the music has lyrics in it- I get distracted (unless it's an opera- type singer which I can't understand anyways ) I think that stems from when I was in college I learned to write my term papers to movie soundtracks, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Fav's to listen to? Well usually since I'm writing a SW piece- I'll listen to all of the SW soundtracks. But I do throw in "Indian Jones" and others also- pretty much anything by John Williams.

 

You need something over than the film music?

 

The Flight of the Bumble Bee made me write several chapters to Jaina's Journal. My dad just put it on and all of the sudden I was writing like crazy. But I'm very picky too about what type of music is played in the BG. If there were vocals on a record I wasn't expecting, the whole mood is ruined.

 

Just about anything without actual lyrics helps me write. And I can write just about any mood to any music, strangely enough. The lyrics usually prove more of a hinderance unless they're low and repetitive. I have a hard enough time picking the words I want to put into my fic without having song lyrics getting in the way.

I usually play folk or celtic music. Though occassionally a good rock song from an action movie, with a fast pace and an urgent sound, is good for writing an action scene.