Do you have music on when writing?

[Poppy]

Does anyone listen to music when they are writing - or do you find it too distracting.

I often have it on in the background.

Poppy ~xx~

[lost&seaching]

hmmm not usually sometimes a piece of music has inspired me to write about something i feel or something that has happend to me this happend on two occasions quite recently but in general i like to sit quietly so i can concentrate and go with my flow

[colmint]

I do not have it on when writting although I have had a thought(s) from music
thenturned it of and written

colmint

[Poets Muse]

I listen to music all the time when i'm writing but can't stand it when i'm reading

[pandia]

I sometimes have it on low whilst I write the first seeds of inspiration - usually as prose or a list of linked phrases at the early stage - but once I get deeper into my poems I have to turn it off. Music with words is fatal, as I generally start to sing along (not nice for anyone close by!) but even classical music (as in my 'Classical Chillout' cds) get me humming or tapping along, which then disrupts my 'poetic rhythms'.
On the other hand, if I am lacking inspiration I have often put music or the radio on, to kind of take a step back from myself and to engage my brain in something other than getting the right word or line. Once my brain thinks 'oh, we're not doing poetry anymore then' (because the music is on) the right phrase usually pushes its way through and the music goes off again while I write.
Thanks for the interesting question Poppy, I have never analysed myself that way before!

[Barley]

I like listening to trip hop and other instrumental, chill-out, ambiet stuff. It helps to set my mind wandering, and images start popping up.

Music always makes me imagine stories, pictures, and scenes. I'm a vivid daydreamer. My school report years ago said that I took a long time over my work, and complained that I just sat there daydreaming, in a world of my own. My own world was always more interesting!

Nice question by the way, and fun hearing other's responses.

Barley :)

[Poppy]

I like listening to trip hop and other instrumental, chill-out, ambiet stuff. It helps to set my mind wandering, and images start popping up.

Music always makes me imagine stories, pictures, and scenes. I'm a vivid daydreamer. My school report years ago said that I took a long time over my work, and complained that I just sat there daydreaming, in a world of my own. My own world was always more interesting!

Nice question by the way, and fun hearing other's responses.

Barley :)


I am a bit like that, music takes my mind on a 'walk about' (not that it needs any encouragement) and I find it helps with images and setting the right frame of mind.

I daydream, because of it, my concentration is all over the place, but I see it more as a benefit.
I can whisk myself away to 'magical' places when the goings get tough.

Thanks for all the answers, very enjoyable reading them all.

Poppy ~xx~

[Luminosity]

depends on what kind of music really. classical and jazz I find can stimulate my thoughts sometimes, anything else I find too distracting. I am occasionally inspired by other kinds of music, although I generally prefer to have it off while I'm writing.

[Shanalorm]

Not usually but somtimes it is the other way around
I start writing when I have a certain song playing
and It inspires me.

[BenJohnson]

I do when I start but the album has usually finished well before me so I end in silence :)

[Andreas]

Generally not, but I've done it, I think silence is better , so there aren't obstacles in the communication between brain and pen.

[The Unknown Soldier]

Well my biggest inspiration (Jim Morrison) is a singer, so, I definitely play The Doors sometimes when I write.

There's also this awesome instrumental version of The End, it sets my mind wandering off to innumerable planes of existence, all within fractions of a second.

[Ron63]

Does anyone listen to music when they are writing - or do you find it too distracting.

I often have it on in the background.

Poppy ~xx~

I used to listen to classical music but these days I can't think clearly if I had music playing. What I do listen to is a CD I have with sounds of nature; thunder, rain, birds singing, animals in the background etc. I find it extremely relaxing. I also have one with sounds of the sea, stones rolling on the shore, swishing of receding waves and so on, but I can't find it. My daughter used it and now it's been mis-placed. :(

[Don_Joe]

www.rainymood.com

For all of those who love the sound of rain. I know I love putting that on whilst reading.

[faight]

I like to have some music going; but usually nothing with lyrics in it. I find myself colored by someone else's rhythms when I'm listening to someone singing. I do like to find something with an interesting beat (dub-step, jazz, instrumental blues or bluegrass). Sometimes' I'll just play a drum-track by itself. I find that I get good rhythms and interesting word clusters that way.

[Chris]

I'm always listening to music, although I do tend to turn it down a bit when I feel I need to concentrate a little more.

[sunkle]

No, I'm a bloke, I can't multi-task!

[Poppy]

No, I'm a bloke, I can't multi-task!

:D Only you......

[Muse maniac]

generally I come up with poems in my head, either accumulated over weeks or months, or I'm just browsing here and suddenly come up with something and just post it up here. So most the only actual proper laboring I do is editing. I need to concentrate for that part so no, I don't listen to music. Whenever I listen to a decent song I always have to move around, so it would be a bit to distracting for me. Nice question

[Roxylishus]

I prefer not to listen to music when I am writing. I do enjoy sitting outside to write (weather permitting) Its very quiet where I live and the only sounds are the birds singing or the bees buzzing and thats the kind of background noise I can write to.

[Stars&Pills]

I rarely have it on when writing, not as a rule, I just don't naturally seem to do so. It would probably distract me though.

Although when I'm feeling certain emotions or having an inspirational or emotional block I'll put certain songs on to help shift such and then try writing again.