Music: A Secret Weapon for Writing?
Photo by J.L. Martin
Do you listen to music while your write? How about playing a musical instrument? I think it can really help with creativity. I know I write more when I listen to music. Playing the violin (badly I might add) gives me a break from writing but still inspires me to write. Music must shake up the brain a bit and help to keep those creative neurons doing their thing.
At the moment I’m learning to play an old Irish jig called The Cliffs of Moher. Here’s the jig played on YouTube by the very talented Sorcha Costelloe. It’s played second and starts around 1:13.
The tune itself is very simple, like many Irish fiddle tunes. In a way it’s a lot like writing. There are only so many possible plots. That’s the simple part. The hard part, well that’s up to the writer. Like the fiddler, they need to get across their unique creation. In fiddling, that involves slides, ornamentation, and other kinds of techniques that after two years of playing, I really can’t do yet. I still try anyway. In writing, well, if I had that down, I’d already have my book completed wouldn’t I?
The cliffs themselves are in the south of Ireland. The cliffs are high and the water below is rough and treacherous. I like that because right now I need to throw my main character into the sea to liven things up a bit. Hopefully he’ll float. Apparently people surf now at the cliffs. There are no surfers in my book. But the music and the cliffs and the water still inspire me to write. I find the music and the theme of the music work their way into my writing. It feels good.
Do you rock out to music while writing? Do you play an instrument? Or, do you prefer to write in silence? Please share. I’d love to know if and how other writers use music.