Friday, September 6, 2013

Celebrate the Small Things - Musical edition


Friday!  It's here!  I know it's been a short week, since Monday was a holiday, but I'm still quite happy that we've reached another weekend.  If you haven't already, be sure to stop by VikLit's blog so you can sign up to join us on this hop!

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This week, I'm celebrating music.  I generally like to have music on while I'm working at my day job, and fortunately, I'm able to stream it through my computer.  It really helps to make the day go by, and I find that my mood is much improved when I can listen to music.  Not that I'm a grumpy troll when my office is quiet (at least, I don't think I am), but having music definitely makes me more cheerful.

I've been listening to a lot of country, rock, and indie music lately, but I find that when I steal a few minutes to write, I have to switch to classical or silence in order to feel my characters.  Not sure why that is, but there you go.

What about you?  Do you like to have music on while you write/work?  If so, what kind?  And what are you celebrating this week?

22 comments:

  1. I like to listen to music while studying, but at work not always. Because I have to answer the phone and I sometimes can´t concentrate on the call, if there is music in the backround. But it depends on the volume of the music, if it is soft enough it is okay :)

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    1. It's very tough to talk to someone and listen to music at the same time--I always have to turn it down so I can focus. :)

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  2. I love to listen to music when I'm working, at both writing and at my day job. Some days I think I'd be lost without my iPod.

    As to what I listen to, it varies depending on what I'm doing and how I'm feeling. All my WIPs have their own playlists, but serious writing days mean instrumental movie soundtracks (i.e., the Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones).

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    1. Love those movie soundtracks! :) I'm intrigued by the idea of a book soundtrack--there are definitely songs that remind me of my characters, but I don't listen to them while I work.

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  3. As a matter of fact, I am addicted to music, mostly if I am trying to lure out my creativity. It works extremely well, mostly if I can be in the garden. :)

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    1. I can imagine music among flowers would be quite inspiring :)

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  4. I love music and I enjoy having my favorite tunes playing in the background as I work -- especially when cleaning house :)

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  5. I enjoy having music on while I work because it kind of distracts me, but when I read I like the atmosphere to be silent.

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    1. Me too--I find music distracting when I'm trying to read.

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  6. Classical music really stirs the imagination... gets the creative juices flowing...
    Writer In Transit

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  7. Yes, I love having music on! Lots of people ask me whether I find it distracting, but I'm like you - silence is ten times more annoying!

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    1. I was so happy when I got a job where I have my own office, so I can listen to what I want, when I want :)

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  8. A little late to the party, Lara, but listen to music all the time. I have soundtracks (Harry Potter and Star Trek are my faves) a lot classic rock, country, pop rock, in my arsenal, though country leads the pack.

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    1. I love soundtracks--Harry Potter, Band of Brothers, Robin Hood--so many to choose from!

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  9. Busy weekend, Lara, but I couldn't pass this up (actually, I love reading your posts).

    Hm. I love to listen to music while I'm working, I sing in the car, hum to myself, tap my fingers to a beat... (Once, on an elevator, I was smiling, humming a Strauss waltz - I think it was 'Viennese Blood' - and tapping my fingers on the wall, quietly, to the beat. Someone got on, eyed me and said, "Well! I guess you're impatient, eh???" I raised my eyebrows and said, "I'm humming a waltz and keeping time with the beat." I didn't think it was such a fabulous comeback, but he shut right up and rode the rest of the way with his eyes on the floor.

    With my writing, though, I can't listen to music with words. It's too distracting. Funny, though: Songs often help to clarify my thoughts about a character or a situation.

    Diana at Diana Wilder, Author

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    1. Too funny! I love to sing along to music, and have to watch myself so I don't warble with my office door open--don't want to scare the students! :)

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  10. I feel like i'm more productive when I have Pandora on at work (I LOVE Pandora!) but less when I have it on when i'm writing because it distracts me. I guess it's because it doesn't take that much concentration/brain power to type up notes while it takes a lot to type up a story.

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    1. I totally agree--we could probably be real-life writing buddies, since we both like silence while we work :)

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  11. I love music. I can't write to it,but it certainly speeds up time in the gym ;)

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    1. There is no way I could make it through a work out without music of some kind!

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