My latest short story "The Night the Lights Came On"

Monday, July 29, 2013

Soundtracks Fueling My Novella Revision

I have never been that big on listening to music while writing. I tried it and found it distracting. Then I found myself trying to get some writing done while my wife and I watched TV after the kids were down. I found that even if it was a show I hated, I couldn't help but watch the dang glowing box. My wife on the other hand is a multi tasking wiz and actually prefers having the TV on while she gets work done. I've seen her bust out tons of work, homework, and the like while occasionally glancing at the TV and listening to the story. I simply can not do that.

So I tried writing with music on, but only music without words. Mostly soundtracks. It was ok. I didn't like it as much as writing in silence but when it was the best alternative to getting three sentences down in an hour while the TV was on - it worked.

Then I tried listening to music while revising the novella I'm currently working on. I love it! For me revising is mostly reading and thinking about the story with a little writing here and there. It is a different brain space for me and for some reason listening to the mood music really enhances the process for me. 

I'm writing a fantasy adventure novella and I have mostly been listening to this video game soundtrack while I revise:

The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker Soundtrack


I'm honestly not sick of the Wind Waker soundtrack, I can't get enough of it, but I snagged this soundtrack when they were offering it for free one day and it has some pretty awesome songs that sound serious and epic. The game is awesome too. I think I'll listen more to this during some of my more intense scenes and/or emotional scenes:

Torchlight II Soundtrack
Torchlight II by Dan Absalonson on Grooveshark

Do you listen to music while writing or revising? What do you listen to? The same few albums or something different for every story? Movie soundtracks? Best of compilations from other decades? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!

2 comments:

  1. Might I suggest Sword & Sorcery LP: Balled Of The Space Babies. It's stunning.

    http://open.spotify.com/album/5YvKQRX5qlyj0yPCvw6Vyl

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    Replies
    1. Awesome! Thanks Donald, I will have to give that a listen. Thanks for posting the link making it easy, and for commenting!

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