Friday, March 16, 2012

On Playlists and Testy Muses...


Seems like most of the writers I know like to write to music. Their muses are inspired by songs and musical scores of all sorts, and they contrive very specific playlists to accompany each work in progress.

If I try that, my muse says "Shut the f*ck up!"

Here she is before one of our morning sessions:



Yeah, I know. She can be testy. And she likes it quiet when we work together.

Coincidentally, this is our topic over at The Debutante Ball this week. If you'd like to see me expound upon it more, pop on over here. There's also a really cute picture of an otter over there, if you need further inducement to click on that link. Adorable, I promise. You really otter check it out... (Sorry.) (Not really.)

If you like kittens better than otters, here:



So, do you like to listen to music when you write? 

Or even when you read? 

Do you make playlists?

Do you like otters? 

Or do you prefer kittens?

Do you find it quirky and cute that I'm padding out this post with all these questions?

Or is it just annoying?

19 comments:

Summer Frey said...

I do listen to music when I write, often with words and often without. Only on really really bad days when I'm having a terrible time concentrating will I nix the tunes.

I can read with anything going on. As soon as I get engrossed in the story, I become completely deaf to the world.

Unknown said...

I need music or a movie on to write, but if I'm in a flow, I can continue even if it goes quiet.

And my cat just bit my hand so I'm vouching for otters.

Unknown said...

i am inspired by music. many of my WiPs/SNIs came into existence due to a particular song.

BUT

i absolutely cannot write with music on in the background. i end up bopping along instead of beating up on my characters

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I can write either way, but I like having music in the background to set my mood. Usually one song will stand out and become the main character's theme song.

Kimberly Sabatini said...

Can only do music when drafting--but I use it a lot when I'm brainstorming and not "writing." Cute kitty!!!

Diane Henders said...

I can't write or do anything else productive while music is playing. I love my tunes, but brainless filing is about the only thing I can do while they're playing.

Jennifer Shirk said...

I need QUIET!! :)
Although I do like to listen to music before I write.

Emily R. King said...

Depending on what I'm writing, I prefer one over the other. But as I write more YA, I'm finding I prefer music. This is odd, because usually I demand quiet...as quiet as my four kids can be. : )

Susan Adrian said...

Last book was the first one I used a playlist for--and it really worked for that book, though before that I needed quiet.

I've learned to never say never. Each book has such a different process.

Kristina L. Martin said...

My novel writing is done to music. But my non-fiction stuff is in silence or the music is very quietly playing in another room.

Yep. I'm quirky.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I prefer quiet. The less distractions, the better. That being said, I believe I'll put some music on right now. It's entirely too quiet in here right now. The cats aren't even snoring.

Delia said...

Yes. Yes. Yes. Sometimes. I hadn't thought about it. But maybe. ;)

Carol Kilgore said...

Playlist? Took me a while to stop laughing. No.

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

No, I don't listen to music when I work. It's too distracting. I have been trying to make playlists to listen to when I exercise so I can think about the book but I don't feel like it's helpful.
I like otters and kittens equally. Your questions are endearing.
Did I forget anything? Oh yeah I don't listen to music when I read, either. Distracting.
Going to the ball. Meet you there.

unikorna said...

I am so glad I discovered your blog. I wish you good luck with your book and I'm looking forward to your blog posts :).

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Linda, I am with you!
My muse likes it SILENT.
For my birthday, my husband got me noise-dampening headphones. They are okay, but I still end up hiding in the basement a lot.

I can hardly compose this comment right now, because Daughter #1 is typing too loudly. Giving her death glare right this second.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I love music, but never ever when I write.

Steph Schmidt said...

I like music and silence. I think it goes in phases and maybe if Mercury is in retrograde or something.

For me, it will always be otters > kittens.

Naomi Baltuck said...

I prefer quiet, but if my daughter is listening to music without words, I can usually manage. Congratulations on your September debut!