It depends on the scene. Sometimes, I need a beat—something fast—so I’ll listen to shameful look lots and lots of pop, the kind you can dance to. Otherwise, I’ll listen to classical, movie soundtracks, and various things.

If there’s a song with lyrics that perfectly fit a character who’s the focus of the scene, I’ll play it.

I mostly listen to goofy JRock and instrumentals when I write, so I don’t get distracted by the lyrics. There are few characters I associate with specific songs as almost character themes, so occasionally I put those songs on loop when writing scenes about them. I also put one of the instrumentals from Soul Calibur on loop when I was writing one fight scene because I thought the rhythm was perfect for what I had in mind.

My mom loves the song My Immortal. XD

Foxhole is currently my favorite band to listen to while writing. Post rock in general is pretty good.

I tend to get distracted when listening to music.
Some music has a suitably epic feel, though, so I like to use it to inspire me in important scenes.

Almost always. I listen to music when I’m reading and doing homework, too, but when I’m writing I like to have music that fits whatever’s going on in what I’m writing.

Likewise, er, but with essays. The only thing I found I could listen to, at a pinch, was Classic FM. At 3am.

Perhaps you’re listening to the wrong type of music?

No, it’s all types, even the rise and fall of the music can be distracting enough for me. Especially movie scores.

And which is why I said Classic FM, even classical music can sometimes be too distracting. ;)

Ooh, I do all the time. I don’t really like silence, and normally I listen to either classical or rock while writing. However, if the scene is, say, very emotional, I ‘ll probably listen to something relatively quiet. I do agree that sometimes music can get rather distracting though, so if I’m having trouble concentrating, or I can’t figure out what I’m doing, I turn off the music.

I do think best when I have music going.

And… I find nickleback to be helpful for my process. [sorry]

I can’t write to music with stuff I can sing to, because inevitably I start singing (unless it’s a day like today, where I have semi-laryngitis).Which is distracting. Occasionally I’ll play some Chopin or something, and I’ve been meaning to test out some of my favorite mellow Opeth instrumentals.

However, I do associate certain songs with certain characters.

I always try to sing along to Tarja and then things end up a disaster in two ways. One, I don’t get any work done, and two, I suck at singing like Tarja.

Michita – Three

Eternal Morning – Soundtrack to a Lost Film

Most things by Vivaldi

Most things by Nujabes

Me too… I suppose it has to be something A) in another language or B) without words or C) that I don’t know very well so I don’t sing along, but it can’t be something too epic or symphonic, because then I get distracted and too into the music.

Also, those are my three favorite movie soundtracks! Along with 300.

I listen to musical soundtracks, mostly, but I love Linda Eder. Mostly I listen to tracks if I’m basing a story off them (like the series I meant to do translating R&H’s Cinderella into a fanfic), but otherwise I like it silent – too distracting.

Hahah, but then I start humming along to classical— especially if I know the piece. Equally distracting. :D

Is it good? I want to see it…

EDIT: Today, I am going to try writing to Opeth, will tell you how it went.