How to use music or songs to accelerate your writing
Writers have many techniques to help them to write quicker. Some will like to hole up in their room and never come out until the chapter is complete. Some will go to busy public areas - like Starbucks or Borders to write. Some like a quiet environment to get their writing flowing endlessly on the screen or papers. Others like to have music in the background to make their creative juices flow. So, which one is applicable to you? Do you prefer a quiet place to write or busy place with loud music? For me, I use both. I like it quiet as well as having my favorite music and songs playing in the background.
I know a lot of writers who like to use music or their favorite songs to be played or sung while writing on their fiction or nonfiction. One of my writer friends back in Malaysia will use fast tempo music when she needs the boost to write fast. She will also play the teen’s favorite songs when she writes about adolescent characters in her novels.
I used my favorite music and songs mostly to induce my creativity and help me to get the feeling and emotion while writing for my characters who feel down or sad. For me, illustrating the character’s emotion through writing is the hardest part. So, I will get my favorite songs and play it on the background and the words seem to come easy.
Here, I share with you 8 of my favorite music and songs (linked to youtube.com) I use whenever I am going to write. It helps tremendously.
1. Kenny G – Song Bird and The Moment
Two of Kenny G’s music “Song Bird” and “The Moment” are the source of my inspiration whenever I want to write some beautiful memoirs or just get into the writing mood. I am listening to this music now while writing this post. Kenny G’s tunes never fail me to get into writing mood whenever I start listening to them.
2. Celine Dion – A New Day Has Come and I am Alive
I used two of my favorite songs from Celine Dion, “I am Alive” and “A New Day Has Come” when I am writing about being confident, the struggles to reach the top and anything that helps me to write positive things that happen to my characters.
The Cars – Drive
This is a sad song but I just love it. By listening to it I will get into the writing mood instantly. There is something about the lyrics that help me to be in touch with my feelings.
Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing at All
I will listen to this song when I am trying to write about the relationships of my characters to others. The song will help me to relax and just write. I like the lyric:
You say it best when you say nothing at all
.
Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
This song is helpful to get the lonesome mood and help to build the character’s feeling and emotion when being alone and being far away from the loved one.
Amy Grant – Baby Baby
If I want to write fast and in a happy mood, I will play this song. The song is very catchy and I try to continue my writing even though it will get me to dance a little! This is a very happy song and one of my favorites.
So there you are. If you want you can add my favorite songs and music to your song collection. These are just a small fraction of them. I have a huge collection of favorite songs and music to help me to write. Happy listening!
