Some write in silence. Some write with music in the background. Some write with music playing through their headphones (or earbuds).
I’m curious to know what you, our readers, listen to while writing or if you write in silence. In the comments below, let us know your favorites. Maybe we can discover some new musical inspiration together.
I read somewhere that Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, credits the group Muse as her inspirational background music. She even provides a playlist on her website of the songs she listened to while writing Eclipse. (Here is that playlist.)
Years ago, Ted Dekker mentioned that he listened to hard rock while writing his intense thrillers.
When it comes to music, I am wildly eclectic. Most of the time, my workday is silent. It can be a challenge to find the mute button when the phone rings. But when I feel the need for some background music to cover the hum of the fluorescent lighting or noise from the office parking lot outside my window, I go in multiple directions.
- A classical baroque playlist on Spotify called “Baroque for Thinking and Study.” I could listen to Bach and Vivaldi all day.
- Solo piano music. I have a playlist with enough solo piano music to play continuously for more than 24 hours without repeating a song. Artists like Jo Davidson (her album Tell the Story, in particular), George Winston, Liz Story, Kurt Kaiser, Trissina Rose, and Jon Schmidt.
- Cello music. There is something about the timber and texture of the cello that soothes my mind. Albums like Cello Adagios, 100 Cello Sonatas, and Masters of the Cello.
- A contemplative contemporary artist playlist. The playlist is titled “Thoughtful Music” (with 36 hours of music). It includes artists like Vienna Teng, Melody Gardot, A Fine Frenzy, Enya, Charlotte Martin, Natalie Cole, Adele, Norah Jones, Imogen Heap, Natalie Merchant, and Sara Groves.
- Instrumental music artists like Timothy Vadja (particularly “Bootstrap Physics”), Michael Hoppé, and Max Richter.
- Other days the mood trends toward acapella music with artists like Eric Whitacre, Glad, Rescue, The Real Group, Take 6, Manhattan Transfer, Benedictines of Mary, and The New York Voices.
But if I need to let off some mental steam, the playlist gets a little louder. This one includes artists like ShineDown (their album Attention Attention), Flyleaf, Red, Fireflight, Skillet, Hoobastank, Linkin Park, Muse, etc. Or classic rock from Boston, Queen, Three Dog Night, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, etc.
What do you play when the creative mood is in full swing?
Could be something fun to share with your followers in your next post.
I, too, mostly write in silence. If I listen to music, it must be instrumental, preferably something that has no lyrics (classical, jazz, big band). Music I connect with words interrupts the flow of my words.
Well said! I’m the same way.
I really enjoy Rivendell, Skyrim, tavern, and general epic fantasy ambience music. 😄
Lately I’ve been listening to the YouTube channel Candy Music Room. It’s mostly quiet jazz in a Cafe atmosphere. Yoi can hear voices, but not words. It’s apprbecause my WIP is set in a café.
I listen to mainly classical music while writing, but music always. I use it to help set the mood that I desire. As I get deeply into the moment, the music and all else fades away. I am transported to the scene at hand.
The yip of the Chihuahuas,
the thunder of two Danes.
The hound dog howls for hours
to drive the Lab insane.
The mastiff is a baritone
to match the Pit Bull tenors.
In cacaphonic Twilight Zone
I’m tempted to a bender,
but then the Ridgebacks join the song
that they may seal the deal.
Cat comes out to see what’s wrong,
and then lets out a squeal
for I sat down, quite unaware
her tail was ‘neath the rocking chair.
*giggle*
So glad you enjoyed this, Pam!
Cute! Well expressed!
I need silence while writing. I’ve tried the music thing a couple times wihle writing but it only distracted me from my work.
I write while listening to Baroque music, especially Vivaldi and Bach. It is my favorite type of classical music. Years ago, I read that Baroque music stimulates the creative center of the brain.
Mary Ann, I try to avoid baroque while writing, ’cause as a writer, that’s not what I want to be…
I mean, Beethoven’s bad enough with his Rage Over A Lost Penny.
I am quite eclectic everything from old school r and b, old school country to Norah jones, and boney James,Dave Coz, and George Benson, some blues,even Taylor Swift it really depends on what I am working on. I even like the Gaither Vocal Band.
I write while listening to worship music, with lyrics, not instrumental. It inspires me to focus on God’s strength and power as I write. There are times a song’s message leads me to write a specific scene or chapter. I feel that when I am listening to worship music, the anointing flows in the room.
I do both, write in silence or play Clay Walker songs on repeat. A few other country artists make it on the playlist but Clay is the champion. It’s the right mix of slow love songs and toe tapping songs.
I was skeptical when I learned other writers have a music playlist for when they’re writing, but then I tried play some soft instrumental jazz. WOW! It words great! Blocks out other sounds, and I guess gives my brain a kind of rhythm?
Now I look for instrumental jazz or other types of music that match what I’m working on. And I’m thankful I tried it!
Jazz. Always, jazz. The complex orchestrations keep my mind energized while at the keyboard. I find music with no lyrics best for my creative moments but in between writing, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Michael Buble, Ray Charles, and anything Gershwin takes me to a happy place.
I love to listen to music when I’m exercising, but I write in silence. The quieter the better.
Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this interesting list. I’m excited to explore these songs.
I normally write in silence apart from the occasional whirring of my ice machine and meowing of my cats. Super inspiring. Maybe it’s time to give those cellos a try.☺️
I’ve always written in silence, but, will have to try with background music. Will let you know! Haha.
I write about eschatology, so I need silence when I write. I can usually tune out background noise, even when it’s my lawn people.
I’ve always written with no music on, as good music captures my full attention and distracts me. Music that doesn’t captivate me isn’t worth listening to. Silence is better 😌
But after listening to a Radiohead album, I can turn it off and be filled with ideas.
My sole requirement is that it cannot have vocals/lyrics.
I sit in my camper and listen to the sounds of life. Birds singing, wind blowing through the trees, dogs barking, cattle mooing, rain on the roof. A neighbor mowing their yard. Kids down the street, playing and laughing. They are the most inspiring songs, for me.
I listen to the soft piano music of Dan Meunier from Door County Wisconsin. It is light and airy, not intrusive, yet present. He has done about 30 CD’s and back in the day cassettes. I have them all on rotation. Some are familiar songs and others his musical creations reflecting the land and water of Door County. Even now as I write this email, Dan’s music in the air!
I write in silence, but as a former musician (by former I mean a very long time ago), music is like food for me. I listen to gospel and worship music for writing inspiration. It’s no accident that my latest book has the word “Harmony” in the title.
I have three kinds of playlists– brainstorming playlists, writing playlists, and character playlists. Brainstorming playlists are usually songs that I’ll listen to on repeat while trying to figure out a certain scene (For instance, I listened to Lindsey Stirling’s “Eye of the Untold Her” at least a hundred times seeing it as trailer music for my novel. Or, listening to Toby Mac’s “Catchafire” figuring out a scene where a character was creating a distraction through hip hop dance). Character playlists are usually used because there are half a dozen songs that fit the character and I like listening to them while doing house tasks (Like “Soldier”, by Fleurie, which absolutely fits my male mentor character, or “In the Blood” by Home Free, which utterly illustrates my protagonist’s biggest fear). Writing playlists are usually wordless or a lyrical playlist I’ve listened to so many times I can tune out the words. I love ambience playlists, like raining cyberpunk for my city scenes, fantasy forests for my wilderness scenes, and Middle-Eastern style music for my desert scenes. I also choose different playlists depending on the mood of the scene– battle scenes get intense music, slower scenes get gentle music.
Sometimes, I’ll just listen to absolutely random songs that are the heart and soul of the project I’m working on. “Born for This” by The Score and “Eye of the Untold Her” are my current favorites for my Dystopian Fantasy novel Protectors.
Instrumental is the best! I also have playlists for specific stories and characters.
I can write to pretty much anything, but my focus wanes if I’m too into the music haha. If I need silence I stick in loop earplugs to block out background noise. Highly recommend Jonathan Ogden’s album “Twenty Four”; easy, contemplative listening and fantastic background music for writing.
I listen to music before I write to set the stage for the scenes that will be created. When I’m writing, the room is quiet.
I find a song that brings a character to life or sets the mood/tone for the scene.
Since I am writing a story set in Tennessee, some of my character songs have been from country artists. “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Coombs is my latest heroine.
Tim Janis is my go-to for writing music. His music is so relaxing. Listening to it helps the words flow.
I always listen to music in my headphone while writing. Most of the time it’s movie scores to match the mood.
I write in silence – though I do like to draft my novels outside, so it isn’t really that quiet at all. However, I do make book playlists for my projects to listen to while brainstorming or to get into the mood beforehand etc.
I usually write my first drafts in silence. Later, during a more detailed revision, I listen to instrumental music. Usually, it’s classical music, but since I write historical fiction I sometimes listen to music from my era–the 19th century primarily. When I was working on my late father’s World War Two memoirs, I listened to music from his era–the big swing bands, etc. I get most of my music from YouTube.
Oh, I can’t write in silence, ever.
Depending on which ms I’m working on,(all “contemporary, ie; not earlier than 1975, at this time), I pick between older to mid-80s country; (Johnny Cash; Loretta Lynn; Tammy Wynette, [spelling]; Tanya Tucker, to The Judds; Randy Travis; Gretchen Wilson; Brooks and Dunn; Garth Brooks, etc.
Mid ‘70s-1989 rock/soft rock/rock ballads, (Queeen, oh, yeah! Raised my collective 9 children on Queen), Nazareth; early Heart; KC and the Sunshine band; The Bay City Rollers, (second oh, yeah); throw in some mid ‘60s in here as well; Bon Jovi; Steele Heart; Air Supply; REO Speedwagon; ELO,(Electric Light Orchestra; BTO; Allman Bros Band; Little River Band,(their Lady is beautiful); Styx; I could keep going.
Early 80s to late 90s Christian metal. Resurrection Band; Petra; early Stryper; White Heart; Guardian; Shout,(man, I miss them);; and on and on.
What a fun post Steve,
I used to listen to classical but about 5 or 6 years ago I began listening to KLOVE. And some of the songs spoke to the theme & subject of my novels. I listen all the time now. Perfect for writing christian.
I write best in a cafe with the hum of subdued background conversation and other neutral noise. Such noise and activity around has been shown to stimulate creativity, and so does coffee. I don’t write well with music that stirs my emotions too strongly. However, I also paint and draw, and I paint best listening to opera. Any opera will do.
I usually write in silence, but sometimes, if I want music, I have to do instrumental music. I created a list off Soundstripe.com. I also like Enigma and also the soundtrack from The Constant Gardener.
I can’t have other people’s words in my head when I’m creating new stuff or doing difficult edits. I found what I call my ‘nothing music’, Dish Network Aura channel. I’m like Pavlov’s dog when I hear it… must write, must write, write, write, write.
I’ve always written in silence, but about seven or eight years ago, after some challenging life events, I developed musical anhedonia (MA) and was unable to listen to (recorded) music — at all.
The MA seems to be passing. I’m excited to try listening to the music in the list you compiled as well as some of the music suggested in the comments.
For writing purposes, the music must be instrumental with no lyrics known to me; otherwise, the lyrics will confuse my thoughts.
Thank you for the list!
I cannot write to music. If it is a song with lyrics, the lyrics take over my mind. If the music has no lyrics, my mind gets busy writing lyrics. Besides, with my tinnitus, I have enough noise in my head as it is.
I have to have silence to write anything meaningful. If I have music on, it needs to be instrumental. Otherwise, my mind goes to the song lyrics instead of my writing.
When I’m not writing, I listen to a variety of music: classical (too many to name, though the cello is a favorite instrument), old folk tunes (“The Water Is Wide,” “Down by the Sally Gardens,” etc., by the likes of the Cambridge Singers and the King’s Singers), Irish folk music (the Irish Tenors), soundtracks (one favorite is “Jessica’s Theme” from The Man from Snowy River)), and Christian music.
I enjoyed this column so much! While I’m a “write in silence” kind of person, music stirs my creative muse when I’m stuck. I enjoy playing the piano in the evening and play mostly classical (Beethoven & Debussy) or inspirational arrangements (some hymns, more music from the 80’s and 90’s). I also enjoy Broadway tunes, overall classical (Tchaikovsky rocks!), and an occasional Bily Joel, George Winston or Gloria Estevan.
I have created Spotify lists for the three books I have or will have published (Jan 2025). But how do I share them? Can I share my Spotify list? Does someone have to be on Spotify to access my list? I’d like some input on this, please.
Thanks again for a fun article!
Karen,
The Internet makes it very easy. Search for “share spotify playlist” and
https://youtu.be/Vylvt-YqGBE?si=Oech_885pTkyCgqa
Easy peasy.
Thanks!!
Thanks everyone for the wonderful discussion!
Even found a couple new artists for future enjoyment.
Steve
Generally, I cannot have music with lyrics playing while writing. I usually prefer silence. But if and when I do play some tunes, it’ll be soaking worship or mellow classical.
I like to listen to sound tracks such as lord of the rings, dune, Edward Scissorhands, Assassin’s Creed, The Last of the Mohicans, Gladiator, or any classical that will spike and lull emotions to help me better represent a character’s mood.
I’m with Mark. I have built a playlist of motion picture music, all but a very few instrumental (vocals introduce words into my head which tend to lead my writing muse astray). Peggy Noonan recommended this years ago, and it really helps. To this day, I associate certain movie themes with certain scenes I wrote while listening to them. Occasionally, a particular theme will precisely evoke the mood and the scene to the point where I put that track on repeat and play it again and again until that scene is finished.