Add some music to your writing!
All my posts this week are dedicated to becoming a more prolific writer! If you’ve missed out so far, here are the links to each post to help you catch up: Do you suffer from hypergraphia, Tips on becoming a more prolific writer, and finally, Avoiding burnout and boredom as a writer.
There’s a lot of overlap among these posts, and that’s fine, because being a more productive writer is a very dynamic process that can involve doing more than just taking action – like changing how you think about and approach writing. Today’s post is no different.
What kind of environment do you like to write in? Some prefer noisy with lots of activity while others prefer quiet places with no one else around. There is no right answer to this question. Personally, I think places like the library are too sterile for me to write in, and at the same time, I could never sit in the corner of a crowded bar penning my prose.
Add some music to your writing
For me, listening to music is a must while I write. However, I don’t turn up my computer speakers or plug my iPod in just to have something playing in the background. No, music is often a great muse for me. It gets my creative juices flowing ( Ireally hate that expression, but it seems to fit well here). There is just something about listening to all the different layers of sound and how they mix together that helps me while writing.
I’m not saying listening to music makes my writing any better. I’d never make a claim like that. However, I do believe that there’s a liberating quality to music that can help the mind open up while at the same time, keep that damned internal editor quiet (at least for a while). Maybe the music distracts the subconscious from the words I’m writing down. I don’t know. But it works well for me.
And if you’re looking for unique ideas to incorporate into your writing, the lyrics of many songs might be one place to look. I often write down tiny snippets of phrases from various songs because I like the idea/concept they suggest. I’m not saying to copy lyrics directly, no, that’s bad! Rather, it’s the ideas they inspire.
For example, one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs is called "Box of Rain". The best line in the song goes:
Walk into splintered sunlight/ Inch your way through dead dreams to another land.
Again, I’d never use those words in anything I write because they are not mine, but the ideas/concepts those words inspire can lead to interesting ideas for fiction and even poetry.
Don’t listen to music?
Some people don’t listen to music while they write. That’s okay too. I only bring up music because it has been the one real constant in my life as far as art is concerned. If silence is your muse, then by all means, pop in some ear plugs and write away!
The broader idea behind this post is to show that the environment you write in matters. And even individual factors within that environment can make a big difference. Music is just one of those factors. There’s also lighting, where you sit, writing instruments, home or away and numerous other things to consider when thinking about your writing environment.
After saying all that, it still boils down to personal preference. I can sit here and preach all day about the benefits of listening to music, but if it doesn’t work for you, then I’m just wasting my time. So experiment with your environment and find that place where your muse is free to come out and play!
Related Posts
- 10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Writing Today!
- Do you suffer from hypergraphia?
- Shake up your writing locations
- Bad writing contest: an award no writer wants
- 7 Tips for Good Writing
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