“Without music life would
be a mistake.” ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
Do you listen to music when you write? Or do you need absolute silence?
Since I started writing fiction, I write to
music. When I worked as a writer and editor in offices, music was a definite no-no,
though I often felt the need to put headphones on and listen to a string
quartet, or something, anything, to get the office blather out of my head. But
it turned out to be a great exercise in concentration. I can write just about
anywhere, if I have to, and focus.
When I started writing SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS, I listened to
music that put me in the mood as background music for my characters and their
scrapbook crops. My scrapbookers listen to all sorts of music. DeeAnn loves the Rolling
Stones, Sheila mentions Usher, and Beatrice loves her Vivaldi.
But when I’m writing about them, I don’t listen to the music
they like. I listen to what puts me in the mood to connect with
them. The kind of music that reminds me of the emotional tone of my book. Does that make
sense?
During the writing SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS, I listened to a lot
of Alison Krauss, Hem, and Sara Watkins. All of this music is sort of a
folk-bluegrass mix. But it has a current feel to it. All sung by
women, of course. (Click on any of the linked words and you will be taken to a Youtube page to listen.) Of all the songs I listened to, Half Acre by Hem reminds me
most of SECRETS. Interesting, because it’s about Michigan, not Virginia, but
the emotional landscape is what counts.
When I was writing the second book in my series—its new
title is SCRAPPED—I listened to a lot of the same, but this book has a kind of
otherworldly feel to it in some sections. So I listened to Enya, Loreena McKennitt and Azam Ali during the writing of those sections.
These days, while I’m writing the third book in the series,
I’m listening to the Civil Wars, a new-ish bluegrass duo that is fantastic.
Their music, while decidedly modern, is rooted in old bluegrass. The feel of
straddling both worlds is conveyed so beautifully in their music. And that’s
one feeling I use to connect to my story—and one that I hope my readers will
feel.
Sometimes I can get distracted by the words in music. When
that happens, I listen to Vitamin String Quartet—a string group that plays a lot of popular music. I gotta tell you, I love this group. I
have a soft spot for strings. My daughter plays the cello—or should I say
struggles to play the cello.
Now I can’t imagine writing without music playing in the
background. It really helps to free my mind, along with give me more focus.
Do you find music helpful when you’re writing?
