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| The Creative Forum: On Writing |
Aren’t they distracted at all?
Oh, I love music, just as I love reading and writing. But music has always been a distraction whenever I’m writing or editing. Whether it’s a song with vocals or just instrumental, I still get distracted. Writing doesn’t have to be a complete silent activity for me; I only get distracted by songs. Whenever I hear those tunes or vocals while writing, it kills my concentration and most times I catch myself singing along or humming. I sing along if I know the lyrics to the song. I hum if it’s a song I don’t know.
On one occasion, sometime last year, I was working on the first draft of a project, when I heard a song playing outside my room. A hip-hop song with a nice beat, I caught myself nodding and humming, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I raced out the door and traced the sound, then asked the owner to please transfer the song to my phone. Maybe I wasn’t very disciplined then. I returned to my computer, tried to continue writing, but I couldn’t. I was empty. Inside my head, I kept hearing the beat of the song that had distracted me. I focused on something else for a while, and then came back to the computer. Still I was distracted.
I had an automatic writer’s block that day.
I’ve had other similar experiences. And it’s always worse when I know the song. I don’t know if I get distracted because I’m a musician (self-trained) also, or if writing and music cannot just simultaneously operate in my own head. Maybe something like you can’t serve two masters at the same time.
But I know there are many writers who can do it.
And that’s it. I love music so much, but then it becomes a distraction whenever I’m writing, editing, and sometimes even when I’m reading a book. So what about you? Are you distracted by music while writing, or do you write better while listening to a song? Do you have a writing playlist?
NB: I was playing some songs by Enya while I wrote this post. I had to switch off my music player because I caught myself humming and singing along.
That's for you
ReplyDeleteAs a poet music is one of my muses
not all kinds anyway.
most times I would wanna write a new piece. I have ti keep the song playing while I write. it kind of helps Me stay in that place inside my head.
I wish I could, but it doesn't work for me. And yeah, I know that many poets do have music as their muses. Sometimes I even assume that music helps poets in writing their piece. But I might be wrong. As a fiction writer, it doesn't work for me. But maybe I'd start practicing.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I don't need silence because that's asking too much with a 4 yr old and 10 yr old. The music has to be on low and sometimes it really helps the creative process. I have a playlist typed to the story I'm working on, or the characters. If I find that one song that pulls up their love, hate, philosophy on life, whatever, in my head, I listen to it over and over.
ReplyDeleteI understand, Robyn :) But I still get distracted even if the music is on low. I can write in the midst of people and not be distracted even by their conversation (that's if they're not screaming) I can even write with a television turned on, but once the music comes, then I'm distracted.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I have heard that too. That some writers inspired by music and I get it. I mostly write in silence. I don’t get distracted by sounds around me, since I am lost in my own world, but I can’t say that music is really helpful. Expect once or twice. I was listening a song I really loved while I was writing and I caught myself really inspired and I was writing nonstop with the song playing repeatedly on high volume. So, I understand who that can help but for me it isn’t a constant thing.
ReplyDeleteHi, A. I'm glad that music can be of help to you. Some writers say they play a song to get in the writing mood. But then once they start writing, they turn off the music. Music hasn't been of help to me, but I hope that one day maybe it would :) I'd like to experience how it feels to write while playing music.
DeleteThanks for sharing your experience :)
I write to the theme music of Skyram (video game). It's pretty inspiring. No lyrics!
ReplyDeleteWow! :) Glad to hear that. It seems to be a nice song, because Olisa is talking about it too. Maybe I'll try it, do some experimentation and see if it's going to work for me :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
Hello Jeanette i love the that theme song
ReplyDeleteit has helps me relax and get ready for the day
I need that song!! :) Think I'll experiment with it, and with other good theme songs (I heard the soundtrack for the Inception movie is good)
DeleteBut if it doesn't work for me, then I'll keep to my ol' writing-in-silence ways :)
Definitely can't write to music.I'm a singer-songwriter and I would be far too distracted by what's in the music for that to work for me. Just ordinary, regular day to day noise is fine, but music is a def no-no!
ReplyDeleteSame with me, Fran. I don't have any problem with the regular day to day noise. I guess it's just difficult for we musicians to combine both activities. Glad to meet a singer-songwriter. I just checked out and joined your music blog.
DeleteThanks for stopping by. :)
I can do anything with music. I love it being in the background, as long as it's something I like. It can be classical or even something lyrical and loud. It helps me concentrate and sometimes I generate ideas from it. I gues this is different for different people. I'm a writer of everything, including music. I love literature and music, and I can mix the two.
ReplyDeleteBut if this doesn't work for you, do whatever you can. I use music because sometimes it's distracting or uncomfortable without it. Sometimes I catch myself singing to stop the quiet. Whatever works for you will work for you. Don't try to be the same as everybody else if it's not who you really are.
Hi! I'm glad to hear that music works for you and that you could get ideas from it. Well, I'm going to take your advice to not 'try to be the same as everybody' I just decided to give it a try and see how it goes. I don't think I've ever gotten ideas while listening to music, though I always get ideas while doing other stuff.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
For me,it all depends on the type of music.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mary. It doesn't work for me at all. I'm happy to hear that it does work for you, depending on the type.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I nominated you for the Leibster Blog Award at http://vintagesorrow.blogspot.com/2013/01/leibster-blog-award.html
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for nominating me. I've been nominated already and I did my post over two weeks ago. Well... thanks once again. I appreciate the nomination :) Best wishes!!
DeleteI listen to CINEMIX when concentrating (under Classical in iTunes) - Excellent background noise! I hate working in silence... lol!
ReplyDeleteAnything else when I need to wake up - I always have music on!
Vanessa :)
You hate working in silence? I love it. I love the serenity of 5 am in my area and that's when I work better. Well, we're all different, and this post makes me realize something - every artist has their own way of doing things. I'm glad that music works for you! :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Vanessa.
I always play music when I am writing because it helps me to focus just today I wrote a preface to the beginning of a book I am working on. Music personally helps me and helps me motivate to write.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex. I'm glad music helps you concentrate. It's never, ever helped me do any writing.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I can't write to music. I end up getting up from my work and dancing around the room, and I can't dance! I usually put up Africam or Pete's Pond, that are streaming videos from African watering holes. I love the sounds of the birds and night sounds in my headphones, and I can write up a storm with the sounds of nature in my ears.
ReplyDeleteHaha :) I love nature sounds. I think that's a nice idea, as long as it isn't music.
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)
I have to write and edit in silence. Music is a huge part of my life but not when I'm writing. I get to caught up singing and dancing! LOL (followed you back! Thanks for the follow!)
ReplyDeleteExactly the same with me :) And I don't think I can overcome it.
DeleteThanks for following :)
Oh, it's just the same with me! I need silence to concentrate and to give the stories in my mind room to thrive and grow. No music, when I'm writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for following!
Yeah. I like that. 'No music, when I'm writing!' sounds like one good stern writing rule for those of us who gets distracted by music. :)
DeleteThanks for following!
So I can't help myself, I gotta comment, lol. Hurrah for stalking your blog since I landed here through the #FF this week :D
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of those very cool things to learn about writers and their creative process.
I always write first draft of anything with music on, lyrics and all, but edit for 2nd draft and beyond with only classical music on (mostly piano, it's my fav). And rarely go without music on unless I'm reading.
I always use music for those 1st drafts because I get into a certain mood or state of mind easier with the music that creates it going on. But I sort of tune out the lyrics and song per se as I write, I've noticed. It just feeds the emotion I need for that scene or chapter or whatever and actually helps me focus on what I'm writing better then silence.
But then again I've always studied for exams or papers with classical music playing in the background, not overly loud but there. Helps my mind work better and faster for some reason.
Our attention span and creative process is as unique as we are. :)
Cool topic!
I'm glad you can write to music, Livia. Even classical music distracts me, maybe it's because of my attraction to sound formation. I'm still learning the piano, so whenever I hear any of its sound, my ears always stand on alert like a guard dog.
DeleteThanks for stalking! :) Have a great weekend!
Oh yes, I can def see why it would be distracting then.
DeleteWow, learning the piano? That's beyond awesome. Piano music is the greatest thing ever, it just has a hook right into my heart and each and every note tugs so beautifully. All music is beautiful, but piano is that little extra beyond gorgeous. So awesome that you're studying it!
*ninja-stalks back into the shadows*
Thanks for the compliment, Livia. I'm learning the piano from a friend, though. He's good with musical instruments, but I guess I'd have to do the learning professionally someday. I love music so much, maybe that's why I get too distracted when I hear its sound while writing. But for me, it's writing first before music, then all other arts can follow.
DeleteThanks for the stalking! I'm sure going to stalk back.