In a recent conversation with people in my critique group, they asked about any rituals related to the writing process. While good coffee (or tea) is often a must, and some space free of distractions is preferred, the one ritual that comes to mind is my use of music and sound to help sink me into the writing process and keep distractions to a minimum.
First, let me say how difficult it is to focus (for me) when music contains singing. Sometimes, I can get away with it if the lyrics are in a different language, but anything in English is hard to ignore. With that said, most of my suggestions are for music without lyrics. It’s just what works for me.
Second, as with all the content on this blog, there are NO affiliate links. I’m not making money off of my suggestions. These are what I use to help me get into a writing headspace.
Music: Method to the Madness
While writing my third book, the method I’ll describe took form, and I’ve used it successfully since during the drafting phase of other books. I tend to search for a soundtrack to the novel I’m drafting—something to set the tone of the space I’m inhabiting while writing. Once I find this soundtrack, preferably with looping sounds or simply long-form performances, I play this music every time I sit down to write. It not only provides a barrier between me and the world around me, but after a while, the sounds help to sink me into the writing headspace. When I hear this music, I understand it’s time to put other worries aside and write (for the most part, I’m not a robot).
As for the tools of the trade. A decent pair of noise-canceling overhead earphones work well to help create that barrier. If I’m going to a coffee shop or somewhere else where voices might offer a distraction, I tend to put in earplugs, just the cheap ones from Walgreens, and then blast the music over these. This ensures that I’m not damaging my ears by turning the music up loud, and the earplugs provide another layer of soundproofing to the environment.
With those points out of the way, here is the music I’ve used successfully to set the mood.
Two Steps from Hell
Don’t let the name scare you. Two Steps From Hell produces Epic music. Literally, the genre is epic, though their style leans toward a fantasy/sci-fi sound with big band arrangements using a myriad of instruments. While some of the songs have singing, most tracks are instrumental. Often, on the same CD, they will release two versions, one being only instrumental, which makes it easy to customize a playlist of preferred song versions.
The other great thing about this composing duo is their massive catalog. Many of their albums are on iTunes if you’d instead rather purchase them or Spotify if that tends to be your jam. Either way, there is a tone of content to curate a song list that can put anyone into that epic fantasy headspace.
Of all their albums, Unleashed is my favorite. It has a great mix of faster and slower songs. I’ve never gone wrong with putting this on to set a writing mood.
Kayhan Kalhor Music
Kayhan Kalhor is an Iranian musician who plays the setar and the kamancheh (featured in the linked video). His music runs the spectrum of emotions, and after listening to it at least fifty times, it is perfect for setting the mood of a far-flung fantasy world (especially if you place it in a desert).
He has an album out on iTunes, but the video above is my favorite of his work. And with over two hours for this performance, there are no worries about searching for other songs. If you have YouTube Premium, it’s nice not to deal with ads interrupting your flow state.
Again, the emotionality of his music is second to none.
Remy Le Boeuf
If you’re more into jazz, I must plug my friend (whom I played with in a jazz quartet in high school), Remy Le Boeuf.
His first album, Assembly of Shadows, provided the theme music to my fourth book. Like the other suggestions on this list, I repeatedly listened to it while drafting. This album has enough variation to inspire without distraction.
It’s on iTunes and elsewhere.
Vitamin String Quartet
To sound like the elder millennial I am, the compositions by Vitamin String Quartet are a great classical take on modern tunes. The Album they did of Fall Out Boy songs is my favorite (think heavy Bridgerton vibes). However, many different albums and artists exist, from Linkin Park to Lady Gaga to Metallica.
The arrangements tend to be different enough from the originals to allow me to focus and not get distracted. However, as with all of these suggestions, compiling the best list that works for your tastes might take a while. Since all these arrangements are lyric-free, there are bound to be songs that help hit the exact tone you’re going for in the current project.
Video Game Music Remix
There are a ton of music channels on YouTube. But if you can’t pay for premium, they often have too many ads for me to recommend, as those quickly take me out of the flow state. However, there is one I will suggest that I just can’t help but mention:
If you’re a kid of the 90s and played FF7, then this LoFi remix of these classic songs is up your alley. This might be a little too distracting for some, but as I said, it’s just too good not to mention. Also, if you like old video game music, you can find the original soundtracks of classic games. A plus to this is these songs were meant to be played in a loop for long periods while players gamed. They can provide effective loops to get deep into a meditative state.
Regardless, if you can think of an old video game you like, there is bound to be a channel on YouTube with a remix or the actual music in a loop. It’s worth a browse.
Rain / Noise App + Music
Why is a rain sound app on a list of music for writing?
Well, this app (there are many others; this is the one I use) has much more than rain sounds. I often use the brown noise to concentrate or the combination feature to mix rain sounds. I also used their music (which loops, so it’s never-ending) and mixed it with rain to write my last book.
All the sounds I’ve listed are free, though there are a ton of others that can be purchased for cheap. As mentioned before, I use earplugs and noise-canceling headphones at coffee shops. Putting on rain and jacking up the sound can drown out almost anything and create a relaxing headspace. Also, if you love the sound of rain, this can effectively set the mood for those cozy, wintery vibes.
These apps also have other sounds, from crackling fires to laundry machines. Many of these can be found on YouTube or elsewhere but are ad-free on the app. These suggestions ensure people can listen cheaply and without distraction because limiting distractions is the whole point.
Swan Song
These are some resources for using music to help you set up a writing space. If any of these work, please let me know. Also, if you have any other recommendations, I’d love to hear them in the comments.
It comes down to implanting any method to keep the dreaded writing demons at bay. Hopefully, you land on a regime that works for you. Or, if you’ve never experimented with using music, this might be a chance to try something new.
As always, I hope you found something of use here. Good luck on your writing journey.
Till next time, safe travels on your writing journey.