I’ve written about the freelance writer’s home office, how a writer should sit at a computer, and soon I’ll publish a post about how to decorate your home office.
Now it’s time to discuss…
The Freelance Writer’s Music Choices
Of course this is based on individual preference, but it’s important to listen to music that won’t distract you from actually doing your writing. Remember, you can’t truly multitask well: you can’t give the music your full attention and also give your writing your full attention.
That’s why when I write I listen to music that is soothing and helps block any street/outside noise, or noise from elsewhere in the house, but that also is not jarring or has a fast beat.
My choices are usually classical guitar or Bach or cello music, typically with my Pandora subscription. I stream it either through my computer or through the stereo using my Roku streaming player.
Music Apps for Writers
As many of you know, I haven’t yet joined the smartphone revolution. However, there are more and more apps out there for the huge majority of you that do have smartphones. Jenn Mattern discusses one she likes here.
And When I’m Not Writing?
I listen to a wide variety of music when I’m driving or cooking or cleaning or doing yoga.
I‘m a big bossa nova fan with a specific Pandora channel for Baden Powell and another for Joao Gilberto.
I like classic rock: Led Zeppelin, the Beatles (later stuff). I have channels for both bands, plus many others.
I also listen to a lot of flamenco: Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo, Jose Merce, and many others. Ditto on the Pandora channels for these flamenco greats.
Speaking of great flamenco guitarists, check out the
Great Visuals in This Vicente Amigo Flamenco Vid
Your Take
What do you listen to when you write? Do you think it increases your productivity or hurts it? And what do you listen to when you’re not writing?
I can’t listen to music while I write, especially music with lyrics. Too distracting. I almost always write in silence.
Gene, I also find lyrics distracting. That’s why the music I choose usually doesn’t have lyrics.
We either listen to the lyrics or we write, but we can’t do both.
I taught myself algebra and trigonometry listening to Metallica on headphones. It was the only way to shut out the noise of learning math in a squad bay.
Currently, I listen to a lot of Deep House, which you might quite, John. I also mix in a bit of down tempo, ambient, psychill and, once in a while, trance. Good stuff for me for either writing or programming.
I’ll check out Deep House Dave.
Sometimes we have to use music to drown out other noises. It’s what I do when I’m in a coffee shop and someone near me is talking too loudly.
I love music too much to listen to it while I’m writing. From Pachelbel to Korn, it’s all fabulous and it’s all distracting.
Dianna, I can tell you really love music!
I listen to Hawaiian music, classical guitar and yoga music or what one friend calls my spa music. 🙂
Cathy, I also listen to some Hawaiian music, especially the instrumental songs or words in the Hawaiian language.
I lived on Kaua’i for three years and I really grew to love the music.
John: I have been vacationing in Hawaii since the 1980s. I love the culture and it never fails to bring such peace. The music transports me to a happy place. 🙂
I also love Hawaii and I’m very grateful I was able to live there. Listening to Hawaiian music always makes me happy.
Have you spent much time on Kauai? What’s your favorite island?
I have been to Maui the most number of times. I’ve also visited the Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai. I only visited Kauai once. It was the day after one of my 3-Day, 60 Mile Walks for the Cure, and the worst year for blisters. As a result, it really hampered my enjoying all of Kauai. I want to go back.
Right now, my favorite is Maui, but it sure has grown, and, like I said, I need to go back to Kauai. 🙂
Cathy, do give Kauai another chance. I think it’s the most beautiful of the islands, especially the north shore and Waimea canyon.
I don’t generally listen to music when I write, though occasionally I’ll stick on something instrumental (I like a wide range, but something with piano or sax tends to work well).
Sharon, most of the time I don’t listen to music either, but sometimes the right music can make it easier to keep going when I’m starting to run out of steam (usually in the afternoon).
Oddly enough, back in my college days, I could do fantastic work while listening to punk rock at ridiculous volume. Now that I’m an old codger, and getting paid to write, it’s a music-free zone.
Jake, my niece used to to do high school and undergrad homework in the living room while Law and Order was on the TV. You’d think it would affect her ability to concentrate, and perhaps it did. Still, she earned almost all A’s and completed a PhD.
Have u tried natural sounds? I listen to sounds of rain while studying or writing. Extremely therapeutic and generates concentration
Bernard, I have listened to tracks of falling rain and I find that very soothing and relaxing.
I listen to world music on Pandora when I am writing. Whether Celtic, Afrobeat, French cafe or Russian traditional, there is something about sounds from around the globe that get my thoughts stirred. It also works for me because I’m not trying to sing along because I have no idea what they are saying!
Mary, I think a key point is ensuring the music does not have lyrics you understand. As Gene said in the very first comment, it’s very distracting to listen to lyrics and try to write at the same time.
And I’m glad I found another Pandora user!
I rarely listen to music when writing. Not only does it usually distract me, it often gives me a headache. I love silence!
Carol, I only occasionally listen to music and I very much appreciate silence. I’ve chosen to live most of my life in rural areas and small towns in part because they are so quiet.
When I’m writing it’s silence… at least in my office. Even if it’s noisy outside I seem to be able to find some silence inside.
For other tasks that are not creative, like uploading a series of files… uploaded about 44 for an upcoming book writing class and other tech stuff I listen to talk radio… unless it’s difficult, then back to silence.
Once in a while I’ll listen to baroque when I feel the need for something that seems to spark ideas.
For about 14 years I had a series of ongoing higher education projects that didn’t require that much brain power. I was able to listen to music or to NPR while I did it. Sadly (for me), technology finally replaced the need for humans on those projects.
When I’m writing in coffee shops, I rely on Erykah Badu – very chill music to block out other conversations and lyrics that I’ve long-since memorized so that they no longer distract me from writing 🙂
When I’m writing at home, I don’t listen to anything except for the noisy cats in the background and a little hip hop on breaks in order to keep my energy up during long writing sesssions.
Sarah, I can also concentrate fairly well to certain songs with lyrics when I know the lyrics well. But the song still has to be a mellow one.
I have a rough draft of a post about writing at home with dogs and cats around. Stay tuned!
I like listening to music when I’m having trouble getting started on something. When I’m already deep in the groove I would rather have silence.
J’aime, sometimes I also use music as a way to cajole myself to do some writing job I’m not much enamored with, or some chore I need to do, like paying the bills or cleaning the house.
I listen to all types of music. With or without lyrics. It depends on the mood I’m in or that I need to be in to write. If I’m trying to write an emotionally resonate piece, I pick music that will put me in that mood. If I need to write an energetic and upbeat piece, then I pick music that will give me that energy. Etc. Love love love music.
Sarah, do you ever find yourself distracted by the music? Do you listen to it instead of doing your writing?
I prefer silence, instrumental music, or songs that I don’t know the words to. I get too distracted and I have the tendency to sing along and lose my train of thought when I’m familiar with a song’s lyrics.
Francesca, I also prefer songs without lyrics, whether I know them or not, unless they are in a foreign language I don’t understand, like Portuguese.
I also prefer music without lyrics. Seems that I listen to the lyrics to much and then get distracted. Even if they are in a foreign language I always try to find familiar words. So for me it is no lyrics.
But to get in the mood to write something I can listen to some old time music from the 70’s and 80’s, classical rock.
Edward
Edward, I’ll frequently listen any music I want when I take a break from writing, but music lyrics distract me when I’m actually writing.
I hesitated answering this, John, because I don’t listen to music while I’m working. My brain would be dragged off somewhere else in no time. 🙂 I will say when I get up from the computer, my music is usually more alternative than anything — The Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons and my favorites: Frightened Rabbit. But sometimes an empty foyer, Jack White’s music, and wild abandon is exactly what’s needed. 🙂
Lori, you are with most writers on not listening to music when you write. It usually is too distracting.
I don’t listen to music either when i write. It’s too distracting.. And by reading above comments I see that I’m not alone on this subject.
Hi, John!
I also use my Pandora subscription to listen to music. I’ve found that if it’s music I don’t know really well, I tend to want to listen to it in order to better enjoy it rather than let it become ambient noise. My very first station on Pandora was my Tool Radio (with a lot of Deftones, Breaking Benjamin, A Perfect Circle, Chavelle, etc.), so it’s extremely fine-tuned and can go an hour without a single song I don’t love.
It’s the perfect music when I’m writing, despite having lyrics. It has always put me in the best flow state. My toddler, however, prefers Reggaeton, which I find adorable.
You bring up an important point about Pandora Delena: the stations can be modified by adding specific artists. That’s what I’ve done with my favorite stations.
My partner Stephanie has added so many bands to her Linda Ronstadt station that sometimes 10 songs go by without a single Ronstadt song.
Hi John,
Most of my work is editing, which is essentially reading words and demands a fair bit of concentration. More often than not, I’ve got my headphones on listening to music on Spotify. I like Pandora, but get annoyed if something comes on a station that I don’t like even though it’s supposedly like the other music I do like on that station. And then I waste time forwarding to the next song. On Spotify, I can listen to any artist, any album, and even set up a playlist of songs in the order I want to hear.
I can handle lyrics, but in that case it’s usually softer music and there are certain albums by artists that I rely on and habitually play during long periods of editing. For instance, a lot of Radiohead’s later works and Bon Iver. It really helps keep me going at a pace with the work, so it’s usually about tempo and drowning out other noise.
I typically work in my favorite coffeehouse. There’s something about being around other people (but drowning out their noise with my music selections) that keeps me energized more so than at home in my office. I’ve also been able to listen to music while ghostwriting, but as I said the majority of my work is on the editing side.
Erin, several people I know are switching to Spotify from Pandora, and I’ll be checking Spotify out soon. I also occasionally get annoyed when Pandora plays something that doesn’t fit with the theme of the channel.
Coffee houses are great for me most of the time. Occasionally they are just too loud.
That’s true, John. Finding a good coffee house is a lot like the story of Goldilocks – gotta test a few out to find the one that’s “just right!” 🙂
Do you ever visit the Beanery in Ashland? I worked there as a barista in college many years ago.
I occasionally get to the Beanery, but I live close to downtown. I usually go to the newer Noble Coffee (Fourth Street down in the railroad district) or to Rogue Valley Coffee Roasters or Boulevard Coffee.
Bet you miss Ashland!
Well, I turn out to listen to whatever my baby is listening to! But if I had a choice I’d write in total silence. I’m way too ADD to do my best work with music with lyrics. Classical can work though too.
Hey John – arrived here while researching, as I just released Writers Flow – Music For Writing. These are extended pieces designed to enhance creative flow and mood.
Good luck on the page,
Vince