I was writing today and wondering what other writers find help them write as I usually write with music playing when writing certain parts of the story such as listening to fast paced songs for fight scenes or in slower paced parts in the book I would listen to slower music.

I was wondering if other writers consider music as a tool that helps them or do you find it can be a distraction and what helps you write.

I listen to music tailored to whatever I'm working on.  For example, when I wrote about my Jamaican pirate I listened to Beenie Man.  Matter of fact I learned Patois from Beenie Man and translating his lyrics as well as the Scrib'd Patois dictionary.


When I'm working on my Japanese story I listen to the soundtrack from Okami.  It's a very quiet, dream like story so I need the peaceful music that game soundtrack lends.  I listen to songs from the '50's when I work on my Las Vegas story about a showgirl that starts in the '50s but ends up in 1968.

No matter what I'm writing I listen to music that puts me in the place I'm writing about.

The distraction to me is the TV.  If my son comes in to watch TV and I'm writing, he's gotta turn it off! 

It is important to organize your thoughts on at least a basic level. I personally use Kabikaboo (I found it on Linux, but I think there is a Windows version) for creating character profiles, location descriptions, major plot events, etc. and keeping them all sorted for quick reference.

I would also recommend researching the real world equivalent of whatever you're writing. Though fiction doesn't necessarily have to reflect the real world, you can get a lot of ideas from the real world inspiration of whatever you are writing about. It helps add that little extra detail that makes the world you create in your writing feel more complete. YMMV, of course.

I actually get up and physically act things out, particularly dialogue exchanges... I try to find mannerisms/ gestures that come naturally and compliment the things I'm thinking or saying, and that helps me write scenes which are easy to visualize - as well as figure out the ideal delivery of lines.

1. Good music, one that fits the tone of what I'm writing.
2. No external stimuli when I am actually writing.
3. Pre-writing text roleplay to simulate outcomes and character reactions. Solo or with a friend, both work for me.
4. Celebratory glass of whiskey.

I usually just get a flash of inspiration and write in silence until it's done. Afraid i cant post most of my things because its smut, but there are some cute story's about monster girls. There are these tiger type of girls, Jinkos, and I saw my little cousins crush her dads testicles when he came home, a head but, it was painful cute and turned into a story. Also having a thesaurus helps, always have one open.

Another thing to help would be to read other works. Look at how other people write, the style and wording they use. Steal some of there ideas, then make it your own. Never steal other peoples work, if you take a paragraph of some ones work, credit them.

Game cutscenes are fun to copy out and write. write word for word whats going on then when its over you can clean it up and make it flow, using it you can get an idea of what to do next and continue from there. Same with movies.

I just have a habit of getting up and wandering around my house every few minutes while I act out scenes in my head, particularly when I'm trying to write out a conversation.

Dunno why, it's just something I do.

TWKUK wrote:

I just have a habit of getting up and wandering around my house every few minutes while I act out scenes in my head, particularly when I'm trying to write out a conversation.

Dunno why, it's just something I do.

I'm going to use that, It sounds better than recording me speaking out the story.

Honestly, I'm probably one of those freaks who sits and writes in absolute silence, bar a few wayward words to myself while I write.

Oh, I like to drink booze and write what I can, the when I cant write anymore I go to sleep. In he morning I have coffee and edit and write more.

Music that gets me into the mood and emotions of the characters and environment

Sometimes just random thoughts come to my me, especially when I'm working on something tedious like video editing...

I only write whenever I am sad. I write so I can release whatever negative thoughts I have.

P.S. I'm glad to see there are a lot of people who write in GUN.

As many others have said, good music is always a great source of inspiration. However unlike some folks I can't listen to music and write at the same time. I'll usually relax with some atmospheric tracks for awhile before going to the computer and starting to type afresh.

Film music is my preference when it comes to this. Anything from John Williams to Howard Shore.

Every writer has their own personal taste when it comes to what strikes up their 'muse'. Speaking to other writers in the past, I've heard people say they can't put a single word to paper until they've re-enacted the entire scene beforehand in front of a mirror. It helps them get into the frame of mind of whichever character they are writing for at that particular moment. I suppose you might call it 'method writing'