Writing Scripts + Listening to Music

[Jamison]

I know a lot of people who can only write if they're wearing headphones. Most of the time, I find listening to music while writing a little distracting, but there are times when I'll put my headphones on and jam to "whatever."

This is probably a dumb topic to start, but I'm actually pretty curious. Do you listen music while you write? If so, do you find it helpful? Also, do you have any particular style of music, or even a specific artist who you turn to when you want to write?

[Jason T. Davis]

I do listen to music when I write, but whatever I'm listening to has to make sense for the scene or series I'm writing. Like, If I'm writing a really dramatic or sad scene, I can't be listening to Party in the U.S.A. (not that I would anyway) -- I'd have to be listening to something a little less uppity. I don't know if it actually helps in the long run. It's just something I do.

[Jay Paterson]

I always listen to music when writing, but only instrumentals so the words don't put me off. Like Jason, it has to relate to the scene that I'm writing. So yeah, I listening to instrumentals when writing.

[Jamison]

^ Yeah, I totally understand listening to instrumentals. If I do play music, most likely it's songs from movie or game soundtracks, which would mostly be instrumentals. "Two Steps From Hell" is my go-to group. lol

[Matthew James]

Yeah I agree with both Jason and Jay on this one. I listen to tons of music well I write. If my internet shuts down which it sometimes does, I never get anything done because I need youtube. The reason WINCHESTER has so much music in it is because usually it's what i'm listening to as I write than think to myself, man this is the perfect song for this scene.

[Jay Paterson]

^ And also why Winchester has an awesome soundtrack.

[Matthew James]

You my friend get the first like on VPN I believe! Unless something else has one I'm not aware of.

[Jamison]

^ Yeah, there have been a few "likes" already Sorry!!

[Tommy West]

I always listen to music when I write, I need something to get me in the mood and that's why I have multiple playlists for different shows/scripts. For example, the playlist for Easy is filled with stuff like Simple Plan and Marina And The Diamonds because the cheeky pop stuff works, but my playlist for scripts like Inside Out is filled with scores from movies like Sunshine and The Matrix. It just helps me focus that little bit more.

[Jamison]

Making playlists is always a good method. Might have to start doing that myself.

[roseveil]

I find Florence + the Machine to be particularly inspiring. Especially anything by the Cinematic Orchestra, Coldplay, The Fray, and the occasional OneRepublic song. It mostly depends on what kind of scene I'm writing, and I'll listen to song that have to do with the intensity of that moment. Makes for good writing.

[Jamison]

Been listening to music while I write a lot more often as of late. The entire pilot for "Gangland" was written with the help of Celldweller, Two Steps from Hell, and Audiomachine.

[Brady Brown]

Over the Love by Florence + The Machine was basically the only reason the sequence finale of Audition got written. XD

[Jamison]

I love "Over the Love!" XD Two Steps from Hell's horror album "Ashes" is helping me write "Hellbound." I'm really trying to turn up the horror for arc two

[Brady Brown]

AAAAH! HELLBOUND! I can't wait for it to return, mostly because Adam is freakin' AWESOME, but for the other stuff too. But yes, Over the Love, BRILLIANT.

[R.A. Picking]

When I was watching Man of Steel I noticed the main theme and how it sounded - Awesome. I think it would be good inspiration for what I'm working on right now. I usually go for the Instrumental Pandora stuff and I switch between the channels depending on what the mood is for scene. I'm excited to get back to it after this one day back to work after a holiday! I love being excited about something once again!

[Jack Malone]

I find it so difficult to stay focused when there's anything else going on other than me just writing. Sometimes I can listen to music if it's a scene I'm writing that requires more action than dialogue, but if its scenes that are going to involve a lot of talking, and bits of exposition especially, then it's ridiculously difficult for me to have music playing in the background. *is odd one out*

[Brady Brown]

I've been listening to a few songs while I *try* and write - "Flares" by The Script, "Hallelujah" by Panic! at the Disco, and most recently (like... hours ago) "I Wanna Be Yours" by Artic Monkeys.