Do you need silence when you write?

I need music. Headphones preferably. Not really to listen to but to block out the external world. At least to get started...after I get into the story, I don't even hear the music anymore.

I'm exactly the same way. It's weird, I was just having a conversation about this yesterday, and assumed that I'd already responded in the thread.

I have to have a variety of music, and put the playlist on random. Otherwise, then I end up hearing the same songs in the same order, and it jars me right out of what I was doing.

I prefer quiet. I absolutely can't have music, but I can write with random noises if I have no other choice.

Music screws up my scenes. My scenes have their own sort of music, and it plays inside my head when writing.

When I first started writing, I needed a new pack of smokes, a cold Cocola, the perfect music soundtrack, and a few candles burning. As I got older, and my family expanded, I gave up the smokes, the Cocola, and the candles. And now that my daughter's old enough to carry on conversations, it turns out I can write under almost any conditions, as long as Spongebob isn't laughing TOO loud in the background.

Thank god for that, too, because otherwise I'd never get anything done. I still need the music, though!

So far, the most productive writing environment I've found is the neighborhood bar. I can't deal with total silence (I get terrible ringing in my ears), but I can't write with music playing (I wind up focusing on the music and not the writing). The punctuated hum of barroom conversation seems to be a perfect compromise.

Plus, I can get a pint any time I like.

aspiringwriter said:

Actually I find it easier to write while listening to music

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Same here I can't write without music!

I have this format when I sit down to write:

Come in the room
Turn on the light (if its dark)
Turn on my 5-disc changer and stereo (put it on shuffle play)
Sit down and sign into scriptbuddy and start writing

Gotta have music. Plus Aly and Aj, Miley Cyrus, and Jordan Pruitt songs inspire me sometimes

The only sound I can tolerate when I'm writing is the buzzing in my ears. lol