[sindohte]

What type of music or particular musicians do you listen to as you work on your fanfiction? Do you prefer a movie soundtrack, such as Howard Shore's scores for FOTR and TT? Or do you listen to something completely different to put you into the mood.

A curious mind wants to know. And I also want an excuse to expand my ever growing CD collection.

[NancyBrooke]

Hmmmm. Good question. The story I'm working on now is inspired, in large part, by a particular song so I often listen to that two or three times before getting down to the key board.

Otherwise, I have found that non-specific noise is the most conducive to my writing, like silence or a coffee-house crowd. Consequently, I don't get much quality writing time around here! I need to hear the narrator/character voice in my head (okay, now that I've written that it sounds weird) and music, especially pop with its strong lyrical component, tends to override that voice. Classical is my second choice.

So, no help for the CD collection there.

(But outside of writing I listen to a lot of Female singer/songwriters, Richard Thompson, and Widespread Panic. Oh - and Buckwheat Zydeco's "Choo Choo Boogaloo" with my 2-yr-old - endlessly!!)

[dolarabee]

For myself, it depends on my moods. Then again, I find that the music I'll be listening to might greatly influence the part I'm writing. It comes and goes, I guess. Sometimes, the music is there, ever present in my mind as I write, other times, it just disappears, becomes background noise.

I go from anything light like Scott Merritt and Shriekback to old Metallica (oh, yeah, to the dismay of robbie) and the Virgin Prunes. Throw in classical and/or folk, a dash of U2 and other more mainstream artists, old rock, 'alternative' or whatever else, and it might start to cover the music that keeps me sane. Oh, and let's not forget the French bands - either from Québec or France!

I think I enjoy Zee's Empty Vessel so much because of the lyrics and refs to certain music pieces throughout her story. I can relate to most of them and they're always bang on with what's happening.

Anyhow, enough ramblings from me.

do. (who dearly misses the likes of Napster and Audiogalaxy)

[Scribe]

Don't laugh but Come what May from Moulin Rouge had a good deal to do with the Easterling and Heart of Darkness.

[Viv]

[Hathor]

Well, I can't listen to the movie soundtracks when I'm writing. This is no slur on the music, it's a pretty big compliment. The music is, frankly, some of the best I've heard, and every time I hear it, it's a full emotional reaction, especially Riders Of Rohan... mmm.

So that music directly affects my mood, so I don't use it for writing.

Normally, I just leave radio 1 on. I don't tend to need any particular music for writing, just general noise, and radio 1 is quite good for this. It's music I like (or at least tolerate. They don't play Westlike or Blazing Squad! Hurrah!) and enough talking to not have a gaping silence.

Of course, there's the odd song that just inspires me to write such as Konstantine by Something Corporate, or The Scientist by Coldplay

While we're on the topic (my, this is getting long), Led Zepplin's Stairway to Heaven pulls me to write everytime I hear the lines:

There's a feeling I get when I look to the West
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand watching...

(I apologise if I got any of that slightly wrong) Anyone else ever found any Tolkien lyrics in music? (LZ were big Tolkien fans, with other songs like Misty Mountain Hop)

[Maram68]

Well in my case if there is no music, there is no writing.

And every story has its music (like each one of my kids has its song) and it also moves the plot and mood of the story.

For LOTR I listen mainly to Loreena Mackennit (sp?), the OST of FOTR and TTT, Queen and the OST of Ladyhawke by Alan Parsons Project. Also some Wagner for battles and Albinoni's Adaggio.

In my OTHER ramblings, lately I am quite obsessed with Evanescence and Def Leppard, as well as Santana (old and new) and a shot of Meat Loaf.

But it also depends on my general mood. The close mates know that there is one song that gets me going when I hit bottom ... "I will survive" by Gloria Gaynor, played at volume 20 in my car stereo at 120 Km/h. After a ride with THAT I can almost write anything .

[sindohte]

I decided to reopen discussion on this topic because I have run into a blank wall. For about the past month or so, words have just been flowing out of my brain without any need for music to inspire. Now I find myself at the point where I need to get a jumpstart. Here is the situation - I need to write a love scene and I need some suggestions as to what music would be conducive to putting me in the frame of mind to crank out this particular scene.

When it comes to romantic music, my personal preference tends to be Russian composers such as Rachmaninoff with the lush and sweeping themes or Beethoven for the sturm und drang of his symphonies. While I am certainly open to musical suggestions that include vocalists, my preference is for input on romantic music that is instrumental in nature.

[Panneth]

I'm a huge fan of Shostakovich. I always listen to the romance from the Gadfly for lovey bits, but it's a bit short so I usually end up on Symphony No 5 (it suits every mood anyone could have ever). I've also got a great CD with the Bolt Suite on it and the Jazz Suites. They're great for anything lively and happy.

The Aquarium from Carnaval of the Animals (Saint-Sans) is nice and calming and very vivid so I find it helps me kick my brain into thinking mode and the Adagietto from Mahler's 4th (I think, it's the one from Death in Venice) is what I always use to write anything sad because it always reduces me to tears

Hope I've been kinda helpful!

[sindohte]

Oooo thank you for the Mahler suggestion. I had totally forgotten about his work A Death in Venice. I will have to track down a copy of that And that brings to mind Schubert's quartet, Death and the Maiden, which I do happen to have.

So any more suggestions? I have lots of writing to do

[Thuriniel]

As I write I listen to the trilogy soundtracks ... all three of them, so that's my suggestion! I find it a bit distracting when the music has lyrics to it because I start singing along. But I know that some of my writing has been influenced by music one way or another ... Aerosmith, Evanescence, Creed, The Kinks and Led Zeppelin are some of the names that come to mind.

Considering that I have gone through a huge writer's block and complete lack of inspiration here's some advice: a) step back from writing for a few days b) reread the fic ... it really helped me to get into the mood of writing again and be excited about it.

[sindohte]

Metallica indeed rules I love their S & M album, which is great for writing a battle scene. My hands down favorite by them is their Black Album. Very primal and kickass.

[Thuriniel]

The first time I heard Metallica I had already been initiated in the world of Hard Rock ... but hadn't had a taste of Heavy Metal yet ... I remember listening to "Master of Puppets" and being absolutely unable to react. I was an innocent 15 year old and it took me by surprise ... Finally my head stared moving in true Metallica fashion . Their Black Album is simple perfection.

I'm sending good vibes your way ... may the Muse be with you !

[Elentari]

[TrissMarigold]

David Arkenstone's music (inspired by Middle Earth) is great for writing (at least for me). Especially the theme of the Rohirrim. Music usually helps me get in the mood for writing but i prefere if there are no words that would distract me, so classical, instrumental music is my choice.

Listening to the radio definitely does not help. But i can listen to the songs that i know by heart, like U2 songs for example, or The Corrs, and then i won't concentrate on the lyrics that much, just hear it as a background music.

Triss Marigold