Music and Writing
A lot of the writers I’ve met online, and whose blogs I read, talk about the music they listen to while they write. Most (if not all) the writers I’ve encountered use music, or music plays some kind of inspirational or motivational role, in their work or their life. There are probably neurological studies out there that discuss the links between verbal and musical creativity, and what centers of the brain they stimulate, and which pleasure-inducing or imagination-stimulating chemicals they both trigger… and as interesting as that may be, for now I think it’s clear writers tend to like music.
I love music, and always have. I grew up with music in the house, and have always felt a very deep connection to anything musical. My love of music goes way beyond mere music appreciation. Music affects me on a level it’s hard to describe to anyone that hasn’t felt it. Like reading the best book you have ever read, and finding yourself emotionally attached to the characters, feeling what they’re going through, losing yourself in their world, pondering the book for days afterward, having to remind yourself it’s not real… but secretly believing it is… that kind of effect. And after a while, reading isn’t enough. You’re finding yourself not just wanting to be a consumer of stories, but you want to be a creator of stories. It’s as if years of reading has welled up inside, and something has to give. Then you get your first typewriter, or word processor, or laptop, or whatever it was… and the dam bursts open, the floodgates smash, and out it all pours. That’s what happened to me when I first picked up the guitar, and then a keyboard. All I wanted to do was play. My parents couldn’t afford lessons, so I had no choice but to teach myself, and glean whatever help I could get from the friends I had at school that were taking musical instruction. I spent hours playing along to my favorite records. Schoolwork and sunlight took second place to my insatiable desire to be around and a part of music–to hear it, and to make it.
So, why am I not a professional musician? I don’t know. Providentially, things didn’t work out that way. But much of what I’ve said above about music also applies to writing. I’ve been able to read since at least the age of four. Suffice to say, I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t read. And while the subject matter I enjoyed reading varied, nevertheless, I have always loved books, and the fact that within the pages of a book I can lose myself in another world, explore countries, worlds, and ideas without leaving my chair, learn about things that fascinate me, become fascinated by things I never thought I wanted to learn. This of course led to the desire to create my own worlds, and write my own stories. That desire has ebbed and flowed over the years, but the desire to express myself with the written word has always been an important part of my life. Writing and music, music and writing, intertwined in my DNA, like the two strands of that double helix.
One of the interesting consequences of this is, I can’t do both. If I’m writing, I’m writing. If I put on music, I’m listening to music, and if I try to write, my writing suffers. It’s as if the two strands of my DNA are competing for attention. Or, for the computer geeks, it’s like I’m a single-core processor trying to manage two very processor-intensive functions. Only not nearly as efficiently as a computer CPU. Right now, while I’m writing this, I have white noise playing. I don’t like working in silence (though silence is better than music for writing), so this is a good way to provide noise that I can lose myself in without being distracted. In fact it really helps stimulate my imagination.
Does this mean I can’t listen to music when I work? No, interestingly. There are things I can do while listening to music, but they tend to be non-verbal tasks. Doing the family budget, and much of what I do for work (which involves data manipulation–pulling fields from databases, creating reports, and occasionally some programming) are all music-friendly tasks. I sometimes wish I could listen to music and write–it would mean being able to listen to stuff I’ve been wanting to listen to for a while, and get writing done at the same time, which would be a much more efficient use of the precious few hours I have in the day. But that’s not how I’m wired.
This was originally going to be a post about one of my all-time favorite instrumental CDs that those of you who can listen to music while you write might enjoy. But I’ll save that for another time!
What are your thoughts on the connection between music and writing? Is there anyone else out there that can’t write and listen to music at the same time?
Interesting how that works. I listen to music sometimes when I’m writing, though I have to be in the mood for it. Some days it just feels like a massive distraction, while other days it inspires my writing. Good that you can listen to music while doing other things, though. That would be a pain to have to set aside time for everything separately!
If I had to set aside “music” time apart from everything else–yes, that would not be good at all! It is interesting how it works, though. I’m not sure if I’ve always been this way. I’m trying to remember if I ever wrote and listen to music at the same time. I can remember drawing while music played… but I don’t recall reading or writing to music. Perhaps I did and I just don’t remember.
*waves hand* I’m incapable of listening to music when writing. I
have a love affair with singing and songwriting, so I can’t listen to background music without getting caught up in the vocals and the story.
I do like to listen to music in the ‘downtime’ though, situations like car trips and walking to work where I can’t write. I’ll occasionally find songs that click with the story when doing this, and they’ll help inspire future scenes.
Yes! I am not alone!! Thanks, Emma. So, how do you fare with instrumental music? Can you handle that while writing, or are you too caught up with the tune (or perhaps you get preoccupied writing words to it)?
I am so on the same page with you. I once told my husband that I wish I could live in certain songs. He didn’t understand what I meant, but it was the best way I could think to describe it. The song touches my soul in such a way that I wish I could hear it always. And creating music … nothing like it. Of course, I can’t compose, I only perform. But that’s okay, because I get my creative fun with writing. I can listen to any music while I do most other things–like cleaning, or working, even usually when reading blogs and emails. But not usually when writing, and sometimes not even with blogging/emailing. I guess it’s something about that verbal connection … never thought about it that way!
PS, I’m playing Gesu Bambino on the piano in church on Sunday. Ahhh! I’m so nervous!
Great post and you put very beautifully what I was trying to say in mine. There are definitely tasks I could do while listening and they are similar to those you describe. Some tasks like running or cleaning are made better by music. But I can’t write and listen. I definitely am single core processor like that! I think you make an interesting point about the link between verbal and musical creativity. Indeed a good lyricist makes their living from that link. Musicals can live or die on how they connect the two. But I’m like you, it’s too distracting!
Thanks for linking me to this!