Music to Write By

So, I know there are authors who need absolute silence to write. I think you’d have to straightjacket me and put me in a padded room if silence descended on my life. You see, with four kids and three dogs, life around here is anything but quiet. And if it *is* quiet–there’s trouble. LOL

Let me also state there are some songs/artists that I cannot write to because the music pulls me out of the story. The bands I listen to while writing are ones that have a natural rhythm that somehow matches the pace of the story and lyrics/beats that aren’t so distinct that don’t create dissonance.

One of my favorite bands, Fireflight, is releasing a new album March 6, so I thought I’d share their debut single for that album…then share with you what songs/albums I listened to while writing various books. I wasn’t sure I could remember, but as the albums played, pieces of story came to mind.

Without further ado, here is Fireflight’s new single, STAY CLOSE, from their NOW album (releases 3/6/12):

For Talon and Trinity, I’ve been using a playlist that included 12 Stones and The Letter Black.

For Firethorn, I was able to find a groove with Kazi mostly when I listened to Fireflight’s Unbreakable album.

For a speculative story, Tej, I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for (get ready for this) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Don’t laugh. The score is done by Hans Zimmer. Amazing music. Always puts me in the mood to write. Check it out:

Do you listen to music while you write or read? If so, what’s pumping through your speakers/headphones/earbuds?