Do you enjoy listening to music while you write or is it too distracting?

1. 69

   essiheartposted 13 years ago

   Do you enjoy listening to music while you write or is it too distracting?
   
   If you do listen to music; what genre do you listen to most?

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2. 77

   workingmomwmposted 13 years ago

   Music without words is fine - classical, jazz ... If it has words, I can't listen to it while I write because I start focusing on the words of the songs and not the words I'm trying to write.

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3. 60

   swb64posted 13 years ago

   Inspiring, brings out the true inner thoughts that silent writing - for me - sometimes struggles with.  But then again I enjoy hearing my PC fan as a noise in my room!

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4. 60

   nybride710posted 13 years ago

   I listen mainly to Christian music, but my preference for writing is total silence.  That's why I grab those opportunities when the husband and kids are out of the house!

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5. 73

   Meisjunkposted 13 years ago

   It has to be music that I love and have heard a million times. If it's a new song, I find myself distracted and trying to listen to it. Other than that, I love having it as a background. If it's still too much of a distraction even with music you listen to all the time, you can always go to rainymood.com for a storm/rain background.

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6. 59

   Lilkitten320posted 13 years ago

   I love listening to music while I write, it gives me inspiration and keeps me focused on what I'm doing. I listen to a variety of genres like rock, pop, r&b, and electronic. It depends on what I'm writing, for example if I'm writing a serious story I would listen to rock and if its an upbeat romance it would be pop.

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7. 61

   vannattaposted 13 years ago

   I usually listen to classical, or ambient music while I'm writing.  If it does have words in it, then it must be something that I've heard a million times, so it is easier to sort of fade it in to the background.

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8. 64

   Sarah Griffithposted 13 years ago

   It depends on what I'm writing. If I'm writing a hub, I don't usually listen to music because I need to concentrate. If I'm writing something creative I will have music on to help inspire me.

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9. 60

   PAPA-BEARposted 13 years ago

   Interesting, once I get started it is need, like traffic noise it filters in and out, actually unheard, yet a sort of comfort, or my 'weed'

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10. 78

    BenWritingsposted 13 years ago

    I HAVE to listen to music when I write :]
    
    I find the correct tunes for the feeling I want to express

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11. 0

    Motown2Chitownposted 13 years ago

    Bear with a little repetition if you will.  I love to listen to music while I write, but it has to be spa type music....gentle, and in the background.  I cannot, under any circumstances, listen to music with lyrics - as a lover of words, I get distracted by the power of the words set to music.  As a lover of music, there are certain things I can't listen to as "background" because I love them so passionately that they have to be my focus...like Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  Can't be background for me.  I have to listen with my whole heart - like reading a book over and over again, I find something new each time I hear it. 
    
    So yeah, music is great while I'm writing but it has to be something gentle and easy to hear and tune out at the same time.

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12. 61

    Truckstop Sallyposted 13 years ago

    I agree with so many of your followers.  A real pattern here.  If writing -- instrumentals please.  The words are distracting.

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13. 64

    Gyldenboyposted 13 years ago

    I do. I prefer music with no words. Yet, evokes a mood - a feeling.
    
    Genre, depends mostly on the part I'm writing in a story. Based on the scene. I'll stop writing to switch a song or playlist if the music doesn't fit the mood.
    
    Sometimes, to build up my energy I listen to song with lyrics. Particularly, a song with a cool music video or the opening of an Anime to get stoked before I start writing.
    
    I probably write better with music. If it's quiet, I don't write as much as I usually do.

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14. 61

    Joan1posted 13 years ago

    I love listening to music, whatever I do.
    But when I need to use my brain I get distracted by familiar music with lyrics, because I automatically start following the lyrics if I know them.
    
    That is why I listen to music without lyrics or in languages that I don't understand.

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15. 60

    parthaviposted 13 years ago

    When I listen to my favorite music (composed by the legendary Indian film music composer M.S.Viswanathan), I find that my writing ability is enhanced.

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16. 70

    DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years ago

    I have an amazing ability to tune out background noise, so music doesn't bother me.  Must be the result of being a mom!

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17. 0

    Daniella Lopezposted 13 years ago

    Certain music can distract me. I find listening to Classical music while writing to be very soothing and inspiring.
    )

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18. 68

    Kamalesh050posted 13 years ago

    Yes I do.  I play the kind of music I really like  but keep the volume down.

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19. 74

    stclairjackposted 13 years ago

    i love the radio,... it keeps me oriented to time,... and the distractions it provides often give my cramped little brain the break it needed,... ten i return to the work fresh,... i can do this 20+ times in an hour,..
    
    i absolutely cannot write in silence,... for me there is no such thing,... my ears ring, my brain spends way to much time trying to order all the small background noises,... it winds up as voices that i know arent there,....
    
    if the radio isnt available, i turn on the tv in the next room, ona channel that wont piss off or distract me.

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20. 61

    duffsmomposted 13 years ago

    Music while writing has to be classical for me.  Vivaldi is my favorite.  More contemporary music is too distracting while writing for me.

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21. 68

    TheMusiconomyposted 13 years ago

    I listen to Mozart. I noticed that when listening to Mozart, I focus better and I become more productive especially when writing.
    
    Go to Pandora.com. You can create a free streaming radio station. Type in Mozart and let it run.
    
    I promise you'll have the same experience I had. There is a phenomenon called "The Mozart Effect" which is basically a theory that the music of Mozart was structured in such a logical way that it focuses the mind and can increase test scores when played in the background during an exam.
    
    Very interesting stuff...

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22. 60

    lmoynihan082posted 13 years ago

    I love listening to music but not while I'm writing. Any background noise whether it's music, TV or chatter is very distracting but everyone is different I suppose.

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23. 60

    Variety Writerposted 13 years ago

    Music is very inspiring. I like to listen to it while I write, exercise, shower, clean, and drive. I love concerts too.

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24. 77

    moiragallagaposted 13 years ago

    I enjoy listening to music while I write, it helps set the mood, serves as inspiration and at times, helps act as a filter to drown out the other distractions at home.

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25. 76

    JamaGeneeposted 12 years ago

    Total quiet.  I live close to a busy street now, so I've learned to tune out most of the traffic noise.  Music of any kind is distracting, except for the odd TV or movie theme song that'll start playing in my head for no reason.  Every now and then, the song will point me to something to write about, so it's all good!

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26. 83

    renee21posted 11 years ago

    I do enjoy listening to music while I write.  It blocks out distracting noises.

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