I have a Spotify playlist called “In Case of Emergency, Hit Play.†These aren’t Christian songs for when my heart is in anguish. That’s a different playlist. No, this kind of emergency is strictly a writer’s problem. Whether it is writer’s block, or just a tight deadline I have to meet, this playlist has never failed me yet. When I hit play, my mind opens up, and my fingers play whack-a-mole with the keyboard. The words just flow. Listening to music while writing can be very effective. So, what is the secret formula? Which songs unlock that creative door in my brain? Four songs from Disney’s 2013 Lone Ranger soundtrack. Played on repeat.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/47JuL5Rd8jP7ryKaxMYkTL?utm_source=generator
Cowards and Celtic Christmas Music
You see, back when I first graduated High School, I embarked on a journey to write an experimental Western novella titled “A Red-Letter Day for Cowardice.†I wanted to experiment with a protagonist that was neither heroic, nor antiheroic. What if he was just the coward who, in a normal story, would show up for a moment, then the story would return to the hero. But instead of returning to the hero, what if we stayed with the coward? turns out, I had a lot to learn about story structure. The result was simply a comedic reluctant hero in the vein of a Bob Hope or Don Knotts film. But I will never forget the experience for one reason, and one reason only: I discovered the perfect writing music. So, what makes Hans Zimmer’s Western music the perfect backdrop for all of my writing projects?
Before I answer that, I must tell you about one of my older brothers. It was during finals, and he was stressed. Homesick. Counting down the days to his Christmas break, he began to play Celtic Women Christmas music as he studied. Hours and hours of study, and hours and hours of lilting Irish voices. When he finally came home for Christmas, and we began to play Celtic Women in the background, he began to feel anxious. A Pavlovian effect took over him. He was back in his apartment, cramming for finals. It turns out, it isn’t the music, but the experience.
Any Music Will Do
I chose the Lone Ranger music when I began writing my novella because it had the necessary Western action feel. It helped me set the stage. The rhythm of one soundtrack even mimics a train racing down the tracks! Writing every day and listening to this music drove neuropathways into my brain that are now deep trenches. I don’t listen to the music everyday anymore, but I always put it on when I need to write in a hurry. I am even listening to it right now as I write this blog post! Whether it is fiction, blog posts, or college essays, my brain associates this music with writing. They have become intertwined.
It can be any old music. The secret is in the repetition. If you try different music every day you will be too distracted. Ooh, I like this song. What instrument is that? One track in particular used to give me goosebumps every time I listened to it. That doesn’t happen anymore. The music has become background noise. Something to tune out the distractions of the outside world, and help my brain stay focused. My mind tends to wander when I write and it is too small to be left on its own. With this music, my mind is forced to stay focused. Whatever part of my mind isn’t fully committed to putting words onto paper, is entertained by the soaring music.
More Than Music
As I am writing my story Pirated! I will occasionally listen to a Sea Shanty to get me in the pirate mood. However, when I sit down to type, I still hit play on the Lone Ranger. This doesn’t give my story a Western flair. My pirates don’t all of a sudden say things like, “Reach for the skies, pardner. This ship is being held up.†I no longer remember what parts of the movie these tracks are from. In fact, I am not even a fan of the Lone Ranger movie. But that music…it has become disassociated with everything but me and my writing. It is now part of my routine. It is how I avoid writer’s block, how I reach my deadlines, and how I stay focused.
I hope that at the end of this post, you have realized that this is about more than listening to music while writing. Maybe for you it is a favorite beverage or snack. Maybe a special chair. Maybe you have a writer’s hat or jacket you put on. Perhaps Hemmingway didn’t drink and smoke because of the stimulants. Perhaps it was just part of the routine. Neuropathways. That secret tunnel to get to the creative room in our heads. Sure, songwriters can teach us a thing or two about writing, but instrumental music can help us create a routine. So, I’ll leave you with this brain tickler: what are your routines? What are your writing habits? Are you consistent? Is there a sacred time of day for you? A special piece of music? Food? Let me know in the comments below!
Author Bio
Just like his two older brothers, Kyle Morgan was homeschooled from Kindergarten through High School. When he is not busy writing, the next classic children’s book, Kyle loves spending time with his family, all things baseball, and watching black and white movies. He is a monthly contributor to Write2Ignite where he blogs about writing for children. His work has appeared in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, The Caldwell Perspective and StarLight Magazine. You can check out his Facebook page or follow him on Instagram.
