Comments on: The Sound of Writing http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:53:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Melanie http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-597 Melanie Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:45:21 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-597 I finished "Once Bitten" by writing between the hours of 9PM and 5AM when the rest of the house was asleep. I wrote it nocturnally. I actually *require* the complete silence that only comes in the dead of night. Music is distracting, though in my head, sometimes a character has a theme song I might associate with them. See, I really like to sing along, too. -Mel I finished “Once Bitten” by writing between the hours of 9PM and 5AM when the rest of the house was asleep. I wrote it nocturnally. I actually *require* the complete silence that only comes in the dead of night. Music is distracting, though in my head, sometimes a character has a theme song I might associate with them.

See, I really like to sing along, too.

-Mel

]]> By: Kelly McCullough http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-594 Kelly McCullough Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:47:48 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-594 Music with lyrics and writing are incompatible for me, completely and utterly. They're both processed by the part of my brain that does story and it just fries all my synapses. Music with lyrics and writing are incompatible for me, completely and utterly. They’re both processed by the part of my brain that does story and it just fries all my synapses.

]]> By: lyda morehouse http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-592 lyda morehouse Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:15:57 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-592 On how to link to an iMix... Michele Hauf, the author I know who did this for her book GETAWAY GIRL, probably has some tips on her blog (try googling the book title + soundtrack). Mostly, however, I think she just publicized the fact you could download it, if you wanted -- in the book, on her blog, on Amazon Connect, etc. I'm not sure how much the publisher helped with this, if at all. Sorry I don't have more information. It's a cool idea, though, isn't it? Well, it would be if I was one of those folks who wrote to music. :-) On how to link to an iMix… Michele Hauf, the author I know who did this for her book GETAWAY GIRL, probably has some tips on her blog (try googling the book title + soundtrack). Mostly, however, I think she just publicized the fact you could download it, if you wanted — in the book, on her blog, on Amazon Connect, etc. I’m not sure how much the publisher helped with this, if at all. Sorry I don’t have more information. It’s a cool idea, though, isn’t it?

Well, it would be if I was one of those folks who wrote to music. :-)

]]> By: Marie Brennan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-590 Marie Brennan Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:31:05 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-590 <i>providing an link to an iTunes mix you can listen to while reading.</i> <perks up> Really? How does one do that? providing an link to an iTunes mix you can listen to while reading.

<perks up> Really? How does one do that?

]]> By: Zoe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-586 Zoe Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:13:19 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-586 For me, it depends. Sometimes I need to have music on to write; sometimes I need silence. The level of sensory input I need varies quite a bit. I always have a soundtrack for my novels, but I don't necessarily listen to the songs on the soundtrack while I'm writing; the soundtracks are just made up of songs that make me think of the novel. I like looking at other authors' soundtracks, but I can't listen to music while I read. It's too distracting for me. (Though I might be able to listen to music without lyrics while I read; I've never tried it.) I don't know why I can write to music but can't read to it, but that's how it works. And while I'm fine with writing to music, anything _spoken_ is too distracting for me. The singing in the music I listen to doesn't distract me, but I can't write if there are people talking nearby, and I definitely can't write with the TV on. For me, it depends. Sometimes I need to have music on to write; sometimes I need silence. The level of sensory input I need varies quite a bit. I always have a soundtrack for my novels, but I don’t necessarily listen to the songs on the soundtrack while I’m writing; the soundtracks are just made up of songs that make me think of the novel.

I like looking at other authors’ soundtracks, but I can’t listen to music while I read. It’s too distracting for me. (Though I might be able to listen to music without lyrics while I read; I’ve never tried it.) I don’t know why I can write to music but can’t read to it, but that’s how it works.

And while I’m fine with writing to music, anything _spoken_ is too distracting for me. The singing in the music I listen to doesn’t distract me, but I can’t write if there are people talking nearby, and I definitely can’t write with the TV on.

]]> By: Laura Reeve http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-584 Laura Reeve Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:08:16 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-584 Silence. The sound of my writing is silence (when I can control my environment). Unfortunately, my writing suffers when there's background noise, so I can't get much work done in coffee shops or even libraries. Is there a way to desensitize myself to ambient noise or music? I'll consider suggestions, as long as they don't sound unsafe to mind or body... Silence. The sound of my writing is silence (when I can control my environment).

Unfortunately, my writing suffers when there’s background noise, so I can’t get much work done in coffee shops or even libraries. Is there a way to desensitize myself to ambient noise or music? I’ll consider suggestions, as long as they don’t sound unsafe to mind or body…

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-582 Jennifer Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:06:26 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-582 I love to write to music. I try to match the music to the scene I'm writing. I've found that I write faster when I've got the action cues to follow, and I like that. If I'm writing gentler scenes, I choose slower tracks. Most of my music collection is made up of movie soundtracks, which is great for writing. I usually can't put on music with lyrics, or I'll end up singing along. Some of my best writing has come along without the benefit of music, of course, but *more* of the best has come into being with it. But with music...I can get lost in the sound and suddenly it's not me and the keyboard; it's me and the words. I love to write to music. I try to match the music to the scene I’m writing. I’ve found that I write faster when I’ve got the action cues to follow, and I like that. If I’m writing gentler scenes, I choose slower tracks. Most of my music collection is made up of movie soundtracks, which is great for writing. I usually can’t put on music with lyrics, or I’ll end up singing along.

Some of my best writing has come along without the benefit of music, of course, but *more* of the best has come into being with it. But with music…I can get lost in the sound and suddenly it’s not me and the keyboard; it’s me and the words.

]]> By: Stephen Leigh http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-581 Stephen Leigh Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:13:32 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-581 I'm one of those authors who has put the novel's soundtrack in the Acknowledgments of my last few books. I always have music going while I write -- like Jim, I'm a musician; maybe that has something to do with it. I can't write in silence; I don't even like to think in silence. If I have a choice, music is always playing around me... I’m one of those authors who has put the novel’s soundtrack in the Acknowledgments of my last few books. I always have music going while I write — like Jim, I’m a musician; maybe that has something to do with it. I can’t write in silence; I don’t even like to think in silence. If I have a choice, music is always playing around me…

]]> By: Kristine Smith http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-577 Kristine Smith Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:16:23 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-577 I have music-I-can-write-to music. In a general category, there's EuroPop or an American variation thereof, sometimes instrumental, sometimes with vocals. Shoegazer tunes. Gentler stuff. OTOH, some characters have their signature artists--I liked to write one with Peter Murphy (*not* Bauhaus) playing in the background. Another character went well with Depeche Mode. No pounding rock, or anything that makes me want to dance. The beat is too distracting. Light classical often works, as long as there are no vocals. I have music-I-can-write-to music. In a general category, there’s EuroPop or an American variation thereof, sometimes instrumental, sometimes with vocals. Shoegazer tunes. Gentler stuff.

OTOH, some characters have their signature artists–I liked to write one with Peter Murphy (*not* Bauhaus) playing in the background. Another character went well with Depeche Mode.

No pounding rock, or anything that makes me want to dance. The beat is too distracting.

Light classical often works, as long as there are no vocals.

]]> By: Jim http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-576 Jim Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:32:58 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/01/the-sound-of-writing/#comment-576 I always have music going when I work or write. I find it helps me focus - but then again, I'm also a musician, so music is a huge part of the way my mind works. Most of my music is instrumental, since that's the type of music I favor (I'm an instrumentalist; go figure). What music I listen to that does have lyrics usually falls under genres like folk, classical, jazz, etc. - easy listening, in other words. I don't have much use for rock or popular styles of music, for the most part. I'm the artsy type, so my music tends to match - and it's never far from me, no matter what I'm doing. I always have music going when I work or write. I find it helps me focus - but then again, I’m also a musician, so music is a huge part of the way my mind works. Most of my music is instrumental, since that’s the type of music I favor (I’m an instrumentalist; go figure). What music I listen to that does have lyrics usually falls under genres like folk, classical, jazz, etc. - easy listening, in other words. I don’t have much use for rock or popular styles of music, for the most part. I’m the artsy type, so my music tends to match - and it’s never far from me, no matter what I’m doing.

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