The soundtrack of your pen?

[gb_lindsey]

Currently writing while listening to The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford OST, by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Moody and evocative, and highly adaptable to whatever I'm working on at a specific time. I've used this particular soundtrack as writing background for several things, and I'm wondering: what is it YOU all listen to when you write? Do you listen while you write, or maybe just before? Just after? What tune is in your head for a specific type of scene? Are certain songs interchangeable for other projects or do they only fit once? Are you the type of writer you prefers silence while you create?

~

Random writing exercise: Pick one phrase you heard someone say while out and about this past week and write an entire conversation based off of it. Just the one phrase, taken out of context of whatever was going on when you heard it.

Comments

[robinellen.livejournal.com]

I've never listened to music while I write, though I do like writing at a coffeehouse...background noise is good, but I suppose silence is better ;)

[gb-lindsey.livejournal.com]

I have found that writing in a cafe really helps me, too! I can't put my finger on why, exactly, but the atmosphere really gets the muse talking quickly.

[leemarchais.livejournal.com]

I listen to a lot of different types of music. Some of my favourites while I'm writing are Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites. I also like grand pieces like Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor, or Pachelbel's Chaconne in F Minor (great piece of muisc when it's the orchestral version, I think). Actually, here's a link to check it out. :D It's hard to find the good version. Clicky clicky (http://www.marchais-walker.com/02 Pachebel- Chaconne in F Minor.mp3)


I listened to a lot of Within Temptation for a while when I was writing one story. Operas are good, too.

Arias, like the Flower Duet and such make me happy, even if the song has no meaning. It sounds beautiful.

[gb-lindsey.livejournal.com]

Oooh, for me it's Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff especially has amazingly twisty and intriguing music, and it just settles my brain within moments. And then there are the people I go to in order to get my blood pumping: Ravel and Beethoven and Barber. It's not the speed of the songs but rather the emotional impact.

But then, I don't usually write to these artists. Perhaps I should try that. ^__^

[leemarchais.livejournal.com]

I like Chopin, too. :) And I know what you mean about emotional impact. That's one of my favourite things. The technical stuff is beyond me; I'm not a musician of any sort. My brother is the talented one there.

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i'm with the above commenter, no music if i'm writing. am too extroverted so music captures my attention and then the writing doesn't happen :P

[gb-lindsey.livejournal.com]

I used to write with music in the background all the time, until a period where I discovered that having the music create the mood for me was actually hindering my ability to capture that mood in my writing. So I haven't actively written to music in ages. It's been interesting.

[gb-lindsey.livejournal.com]

I love playlists! I have a bunch on my media player right now, for different projects. If I'm ever interested in writing for a particular project but having trouble getting back into that mental place, I switch on the playlist and by the time two songs have gone by, I'm usually there. But then I have to turn it off when I actually write. :(

I will definitely put together a writing exercise post! That's a great idea.