Wednesday 7 April 2010

Writing rituals and Muse music

I have to have a few writing rituals/obsessional ticks/things I like (delete as appropriate) when I write/revise/blog etc.

1) A drink - tea, water, juice.
2) A notebook and pen.
3) My laptop, for obvious reasons.lol.
4) Music.

A while ago on the QT forums there was a post about music. Some people like to have music on while they write and some don't. I'm in the former...I need music when I write.


Music is one of those things that help me evoke emotions, inspire me and help build scenes. Hell, I even have a play list for my MS with songs that fit each chapter.

I listen to a very eclectic mix, classical, rock, pop anything. But my favourite band to write to is Muse. I've listened to Muse for years now and I've yet to find a song on their albums that doesn't inspire me. I even had a scene idea for my current MS while at their Resistance tour in November last year. Sad but true fact I got my phone out and wrote it down so I didn't forget!

Muse also inspires me not to give up with revisions/queries etc as with the following lyrics from Invincible:

Follow through
Make your dreams come true
Don't give up the fight
You will be alright
'Cause there's no one like you in the universe...

Check out more lyrics : http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/muse/

So what are your writing rituals and, like me, do you write to music?

7 comments:

JE said...

I need everything to be quiet. Totally still and lifeless. Just me and my brain working out the details. ;-)

~JD

Matthew MacNish said...

Like JD I cannot write to music, or at least I don't think I could - I've never tried. Maybe if it was only instrumental I could.

Mayowa said...

I pretty useless without music too. I like it light and slow, preferably somewith with violins or a sax (oh yes).

It ends up being Sade or Hans Zimmer a lot.

Unknown said...

I wish I could, but any noise breaks my concentration. Obviously not good at multi-tasking! But lucky you if you find this helps. :-)

Jessica Ann Hill said...

I have to have music playing when I'm writing. I actually can't concentrate without it. I also have to have something to drink (preferably with caffeine, but not a requirement). Oh, and the door closed. That's a big one for me.

Christine Danek said...

Writing to music is my ritual. I come up my best ideas to certain songs. I love Muse too.
Great to find your blog!

Danielle said...

I wish I could write to music, but it always ends up distracting me. I do need some background noise, so I have almost always have the t.v. on.