Music.

I don't listen to music when I write, but I do listen to music when I'm pre-writing (outlining/doing character sketches/working on scenes, etc.). It sometimes helps me set the scene. For example, one YA WIP is set in a small rural town, so it helped to listen to country music while figuring out the details of the setting.

I do often listen to white noise while I write (through a free iPhone app). Usually, it's the sound of rain falling, but lately, it's been the sound of ocean waves -- my current MG WIP is set at the beach.

I can't listen to music while I write--the writing takes 100% of my brain power. However, I sometimes listen when I revise or edit.

I like the white noise idea though; I might give it a try.

Oh, and I think music would be distracting in most books--at least until our ereaders can track what word we are actually reading.

I could see something like a director's commentary track on DVDs, only for the music and sounds the author recommends for various chapters. But I think it'd be a pretty niche thing that only a few readers would use, so I can't see it happening unless it becomes very cheap to do.

But that's only for standard novels. Audio books already have music and sounds.

Interactive books are a different thing. Some picture books already have buttons with sound and music. Once ereaders become more common for young readers, multimedia books will be easier to produce.

I'm with MWare - I can't concentrate with anything on - even the furnace makes me nuts. I need an empty house, excepting the animals, and total quiet.

Well, I'm a bit of a multi-tasker. If I'm having one of those days where the Inner Critic is getting in the way, I just put on some good punk music to kick its ass. I know, crazy, right? There I am, writing my old-fashioned victorian prose, and Green Day is blaring away in the background. It makes no sense, but it works for me. Pretty soon, the music becomes white noise and I'm in the zone.

As a single parent, I've learned. Either I figure out how to write no matter what is going on around me, or I give up on writing all together. There just aren't any other choices. So I've written chapters accompanied by Call of Duty explosions, Bart Simpson jokes, you name it.

As for ebooks accompanied by background music, I think that's a very clever idea that is sure to happen before long. The music would only have to be linked to the page, since the ereaders know which page you're on. At the beginning of the chapter, a short burst of mood music that fades away as you keep reading... I'm sure somebody's already working on it.

I bought Jodi Picoult's latest book for my mom. The MC is a singer/songwriter person. Picoult and a friend wrote a song for each chapter. You can go online and download the songs. I'm sure if you buy the ebook, the songs are just included and you have the option of playing them when you reach each chapter (at least if you have a new ereader that does sound...)

I make a playlist for every WIP, it just depends on what the story reminds me of. For my YA Urban Fantasy I have songs like 'You Can Do Magic' by America and 'A Day In The Life' by The Beatles.

With the MG story I started in November I have music more along the lines of 'Get It On' by T. Rex and 'Dancing With Mr. Dee' by The Rolling Stones. It really just depends on what does it for me.

Raising hand for silence when writing (and preferably when reading too).

I write without music, but sometimes it starts playing in my head in the background of a scene. Think of characters in a store, car, bedroom or elevator. What are they listening to? What just happens to play? I need the silence to leave room for this.

Against music/background noise on e-readers, although I don't have an e-reader, so my opinion is immaterial. All for authors providing a play-list or link to a list, for those who are really interested, but I think that music with a book would be a big headache for the publisher.
If you use 'real' music in your multi-media stuff, you have to get permission and pay the rights-holders. If you make your own stuff up, you lose the 'relevance' of using actual songs and bands, and, how many writers can actually write a decent song?
If it's just generic instrumental filler, ie 'mood music', why bother? If you can't write people into the mood, how long before you're relying on the gimmick to do the work for you?

frimble3 said:

If it's just generic instrumental filler, ie 'mood music', why bother? If you can't write people into the mood, how long before you're relying on the gimmick to do the work for you?

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Well, couldn't we say the same thing about illustrations?

I'm imagining books with multiple illustrations like Hugo Cabret or Spiderwick Chronicles. Those would interesting with mood music as well--that the reader could turn off, if so desired.

Most novels, no, I would agree it's not really necessary or helpful.

I write in quiet, sometime the TV is going quietly in the background, but that is more for my pet birds benefit.

As for music playing in my books- that would just drive me nuts. I don't read with music going either. I don't like noise being forced on me. I keep the speakers on my computer shut off for the same reason. I don't like websites and ads with music or video or dialogue.

MsJudy said:

Well, couldn't we say the same thing about illustrations?

I'm imagining books with multiple illustrations like Hugo Cabret or Spiderwick Chronicles. Those would interesting with mood music as well--that the reader could turn off, if so desired.

Most novels, no, I would agree it's not really necessary or helpful.

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The music/illustration comparison is a good one. In the same way that some books are enhanced by illustration, some books might be enhanced by music. But, as you say, not for most novels.

Thinking of this thread today... I don't just write to kick-ass punk music. I also listen to it while I do yoga! Rise Against, All-American Rejects, Yellowcard, the Ramones (Judy is a Punk, of course!). Like I told my mom, if I listen to the airy-fairy floaty New Age stuff, I'll lie down and never get back up. Punk keeps me going!

MsJudy said:

Thinking of this thread today... I don't just write to kick-ass punk music. I also listen to it while I do yoga! Rise Against, All-American Rejects, Yellowcard, the Ramones (Judy is a Punk, of course!). Like I told my mom, if I listen to the airy-fairy floaty New Age stuff, I'll lie down and never get back up. Punk keeps me going!

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Seriously! I fall right to sleep. I have little patience for yoga to start with.

I like complete silence when I write, but that's not going to happen unless I get up early, which I do. Or I tell the kids it's "reading time" which works for 20-30 minutes. Lately though, I've been putting on the headphones to drown out their noise. Mostly classical, because singing would distract me, I think. Then, all of a sudden I find myself writing in a dance number in my story. Hmmmm.