A Little Strange Music
Because Alex J. Cavanaugh is holding his Top Ten Countdown - Music Blogfest today and I'm not participating, I thought I'd blog about music and writing.
Sometimes I love to have music playing while I write. Other times, no. I wish I could always write to music. Have playlists for characters, soundtracks for novels and stories. Ain't happening.
I don't know the reason. My musical taste is eclectic - I enjoy it all. I sing, play piano, dance. It's not that I don't like music. Maybe I like it too much.
Other than gangsta rap and funeral dirges, there's not much I don't like. Old, new. Vocal, instrumental. Classical, rock. Opera, country. Pop, hip-hop. Salsa, Tejano. You name it, I like it. When it's playing, my attention strays from my characters and story and pirouettes over to the music. It shouldn't do that when I'm trying to write.
About the only time I can still write to music is when I'm firmly grounded with the characters and know what I want to do with current scene. Then it's OK for a little while.
I definitely cannot do fine editing with any sort of vocal music, even if it's sung in a language I don't understand. This I get, because at that point I'm paying close attention to individual words and cadences.
The strangest thing is, it's only music that bothers me this way. Dogs barking and carrying on, televisions blaring, telephone conversations - even all of these at the same time - are no problem.
It's just music.
I wonder why that is?
Does anyone know?
Does anyone else have this problem?
Comments
Interesting, I thought that was just me.
Have a lovely week!
You're not weird!
Maybe your distraction for music is because you like it so much you feel compelled to listen to it and focus on what you are hearing. I know for me if I even faintly hear a piece of music in the background amidst a lot of other noise I will tend to zero in on that music and shut out every other sound.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Talei - I put music on as soon as I finish writing for the day. Gotta have it.
Jan - Yes. When I'm writing the sound of the story is in my head. Each has its own unique melody. I'm so happy to know I'm not alone.
Lydia - Whew!
LR - I wish it worked for me.
Arlee - True story...Live-In Handyman and I walked into a shop a couple of weeks ago. I said, "Oh, I love that song." He said, "What song?" I said, "The one that's playing. 'Breathe'." He said, "I am breathing." I said, "No, that's the title." He stopped walking, cocked his head, and said, "Oh."
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Terry - I so wish it worked for me.
Holly - Same thing here.
VR - I'm the same way.
Elspeth - It seems a lot of us are the same way. It's nice knowing I'm not the only writer working with silence.
Jane - There do seem to be a lot of us in the no-music boat.
Elizabeth - It is funny that we're one way or the other with very few in between.
Talli - Yes, there is noise inside my head doing both tasks, too.
Kimberly - I do believe there are a lot of us.
Wendy - And still another one. I love the sound of rain.
Kathy - I have some guitar music, but it doesn't work for me either. I'm glad it does for you!
Jayne - You're lucky either way works for you.