Writing and Music

"Music has the ability to move us—our 

memories and our imaginations." 

- Melissa Tydell 

(From: How to Use as Writing Inspiration)

Hey Everyone!

For years, again, I have enjoyed writing and I have learned many things over those years. One of things that I have learned about my writing is that listening to music helps.

We're always taught in school to not listen to our iPods (or any music device) because it would be a "distraction" well what I've learned, it's the complete opposite. There's even been studies done where it shows that student have done better in their work (especially in math and science) because they were listening to music or taking part in music (instrument, singing, etc.).

I can definitely vouch for that because I remember there were times where I had trouble with a couple math problems or writing an essay, a song would pop in my head and then the answer came to me or words would just start coming to me. Even though I wasn't physically listening to the music, it helped. It helped a lot.

So why are we taking the arts (music and theater) away? Who knows? I guess it's just "easier" to just have the students grab the book and read. Well, that maybe be good and dandy but it doesn't always help. I found that I did better in classrooms where it wasn't always "by the book" and we were able to be individuals and actually have fun learning. Amazing isn't?

Well, I'm going off track here. This isn't about taking the arts away from schools. I'll write another post that focuses strictly on that, don't worry I will!

Now, going back to my main focus for this post: writing and music. How does music help me with my writing? How can it help you? Whether you're working on an academic paper, news articles, blog posts, creative writing (novels, short stories, scripts, etc.), and others, music will help.

So let's going into detail on how listening to music has helped me. Remember how I said that it would to believe that listening to music devices would be a "distraction" well have we ever thought that maybe that distraction could be a good thing? No. Well, I definitely have.

When I'm having trouble with staying focus on what I'm writing (getting distracted from the outside world: television, people moving around, etc.), I immediately grab my iPod and plug in my headphones and I'm no longer distracted by the outside world and I'm now in my own little world and then suddenly my fingers start typing.

I don't really have an explanation but it works. I always guess it's because I feel the music go through me and it suddenly clicks some ideas that are hidden somewhere it my head and let them out once the music starts playing. Like the quote at the top of this post, music brings out our memories and our imaginations which will help strengthen our own writing.

I remember one night, recently actually, I was having a hard time to focus on my manuscript that I'm currently working on and the moment I turned my music on, I was writing and then when it was time for me to actually stop and get ready for bed, I realized that I had five-ten pages done. Amazing, isn't it?

There is so much music does for us. It also depends on the type of music that you are listening to. I listen to almost everything but I found that the slow rhythm songs help me the most but I'm fine with the uptempo songs as well. It just depends on what works for YOU.

Now, how can music help you? Well, you can use my idea and just if you're struggling, plug in your music and start listening and see where that takes you. If that doesn't work, you can always try other ways: turn on the music and just listen for awhile, then start writing; read over something that you have already written and then turn on the music, read that same part over and see if you still feel the same about that part or if you think it needs more changing; or do anything with music and it'll help.

No matter what you choose to do with the music and your writing, it will help. If you find that music doesn't necessary help you either then that's ok as well. What works for one person doesn't have work for everyone and it doesn't.

I recommend you to check out the link above, where I found the quote, because it will give you another idea of music and writing, and inspiration.

I know that whatever I do and whatever I need, I'll always have music with me. Music will forever be a part of me and my writing (as I hope you will soon find out and if you do, remember this post).

I hope you that you will give music a try when you're writing or doing anything artsy really. And if you have any other suggestions or thoughts about how music has either helped or not helped you, please leave a comment below.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3