Writing While Listening to Music

Music is a good friend to keep close to the creative writing process. I first heard about listening to music during the creative writing process from an author named Dave Eggers, who lives in San Francisco. Eggers is probably most well known for his book "A Heavy Hearted Work of Staggering Genius," which I have not read yet, but it is on my reading list. I read an article in a magazine on writing tips, in which Eggers says for his inspiration, he listens to music, LOUDLY.

The Connection Between Music and Writing

I have noticed that published writers often credit playlists they listened to while they wrote. Music helps the creative writer's work become more lucid because it helps the writer tap into his/her deepest emotions, which is the gateway for any good written work. Our natural instinct is to dance when we hear music, to feel the emotion in it. Similarly, when reading or writing a creative piece, the reason why writers and readers get so wrapped up in the experience is because they are feeling the emotion in the story, in the characters, and in the very words themselves.

Make a Playlist

Try making a "writing playlist" on i-tunes if you have it, or put in a favorite CD the next time you decide to do some creative writing. Your favorite music is likely to elicit your strongest emotional reactions, which will pour out into your writing. You know the certain lyrical phrases, chord progressions, or vocals that will give you goosebumps. You want your words to give others goosebumps. Music will help you tap into goosebumps.