Music for Writing

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

What do you listen to while writing? Why?

My list includes ...

Pink Floyd.
The Smashing Pumpkins.
Various Silent Hill soundtracks.
The Pan's Labyrinth soundtrack.

I like my writing music to be steady, droning, ominous, and repetitive. It should fit the tone of the surreal horror and dark fantasy I usually write.

[Man on Fire]

Whisper by Evanescence
Hall of Fame by Script
And whatever I was listening too when thinking about the characters or plot. Mostly my favorite bands then.
Also, if I'm writing the review, music that fits the reviewed thing. When I reviewed Bodacious Space Pirates I did it to Allestorm's "Heavy Metal Pirates".

[Kitten Champion]

Depends on the level of anxiety I'm feeling.

If I'm anxious, rain sounds or gentle classical - basically white noise to get over any fidgeting, itching, or generally focus-drifting behaviour. I'm partial to Haydn and Chopin.

If I'm relaxed already and am just trying to stay awake and motivated, I like Johnny Cash and the Beatles.

If I'm lacking for creativity, I have the OST to Durarara!! which is surprisingly effective.

[Toastkart]

I use pretty much the same playlist for all my writing needs.

It includes:

A lot of symphonic/gothic rock/metal (who is what depends a lot on who you ask) such as Within Temptation, Epica, Delain, Sirenia, Streams of Passion, etc.

A lot of pure instrumental music like Lindsey Stirling, The Piano Guys, and Mythos.

A lot of video game soundtracks from a variety of games, with a bit of a heavy leaning towards Jeremy Soule for his work on Guild Wars.

A small smattering of various songs that would probably be considered more mainstream than what I've already listed.

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

When I reviewed Bodacious Space Pirates I did it to Allestorm's "Heavy Metal Pirates".

I checked out Allestorm because of this. Thanks. :smallsmile:

[JoshL]

Well, what I write IS music, so that doesn't count :smallwink: However, if you like droning creepy music to write to, I'd highly recommend Lustmord. The Lustmord/Robert Rich collaboration "Stalker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcLdO3AKK-o&list=PL0amCaqXR6LG41QiIHSH6khIpsqfN93py)" is a good place to start. Also, not all Current 93, but "In A Foreign Town, In A Foreign Land (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKSClKE0Szg&list=PLsKtmKdUh8nyejyje45Y3bJqkcN-nVl9P)" is the soundtrack to a Thomas Ligotti book, and as creepy as you would expect.

[The Extinguisher]

Mostly lots of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cba9LCW5d6A) angry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1L5zJ2afLs) dudes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Z-zdo1maA) with acoustic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eWjnpQodWo) guitars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRjbms2hcu4).

[Xeratos]

the same music I listen to normally, as it's mostly just background noise to me that helps block out other, more distracting, background noise. That having been said, I did listen to a lot of Powerglove (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1n69jTArI&list=RD02trGkPerU3-k) while writing my first novel.

[OhMyGodImOnFire]

I listen to a whole array of music, from anime openings to electronica to movie music, of which my favorites are made by Two Steps from Hell. Basically, anything that doesn't have words or words I can understand, otherwise I get distracted :smalltongue:

[JediSoth]

When I wrote my fantasy novels, I listened to the Dragon Age: Origins and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm soundtracks, mostly. I spent a lot of time listening to Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Doctor Who (various series) soundtracks for my YA sci-fi.

I find it helps my brain get in the right mood for a particularly genre. I try to avoid music with lyrics because I find them distracting.

[Forrestfire]

I mostly listen to the villains' themes from Dragon Ball Z (especially Frieza's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhCn_q04qBk)).

Not sure why, but they help me think.