Do You Listen to Music While Writing a Sex Scene?

Ann_Mayburn · Oct 27, 2010

Another thread was talking about things that get you in the mood for writing. Whenever I'm doing a bondage scen in my paranormal erotica that I'm working on, I always play Nine Inch Nails on my iPod. For those unfamiliar, its a very hard industrial band with lots of synthetic music. Dark and powerful, it really puts me in the mood for some good D/s play.

When I'm writing a nookie scene for my historical romance I put on Enigma. Nice and soothing, lots of eye contact and emotions involved. It's a Western historical, but for some reason country music just doesn't move me to write good sex.

What music inspires you?

Brindle Chase · Oct 27, 2010

I listen to music when I write any kind of scene. *lol* But I will switch play lists sometimes for nookie scenes. Enigma is a good one for a deeply sensual scene. NIN has never appealed to me, but I can understand why it might inspire ones muse! For a hardcore "screw my brains out" scene... Buckcherry works. *lol* I also listen to the soundtrack for Last of the Mohicans for some scenes. Hmmm... too many to list. My muscial tastes run the board and are all over the place. Lots of foreign music too.

Maryn · Oct 27, 2010

While I own both NIN and a little Enigma, I don't play specific music to get me in the mood for a certain kind of scene I'm writing.

Usually I write in silence, but if there's noise which is breaking my concentration, I play background-y music, which I stop hearing after a very short time, so it doesn't really need to play into what I'm writing at all.

I'm surprised by the many writers who can proceed with musical selections that have lyrics. (I'd be writing the lyrics in no time, I imagine.) It seems to be at least somewhat generational--both our kids (young adults) can do pretty much anything with music playing, while both their parents cannot deal with vocals when they're using the word-management part of their brains. (Well, maybe vocals in a language they don't understand.)

But hey, what works for you works, so stick with it, right?

Maryn, who made her son a NIN bedspread one year, black with silver lettering

CheekyWench · Oct 27, 2010

I listen to a lot of Explosions in the Sky & Interpol. EitS is instrumental so it gets me through a lot.. Interpol has really sexy lyrics to me, so that helps too.

Jax3683 · Oct 27, 2010

Brindle Chase said:
I listen to music when I write any kind of scene. *lol* But I will switch play lists sometimes for nookie scenes. Enigma is a good one for a deeply sensual scene. NIN has never appealed to me, but I can understand why it might inspire ones muse! For a hardcore "screw my brains out" scene... Buckcherry works. *lol* I also listen to the soundtrack for Last of the Mohicans for some scenes. Hmmm... too many to list. My muscial tastes run the board and are all over the place. Lots of foreign music too.

I have only had a few sex scenes, but I have to say I prefer Buckcherry for those "Screw my brains out" scenes as well!

(Maybe I should pass that tip on to my husband **giggle** )

SafetyDance · Oct 27, 2010

I don't listen to music at all while I write sex scenes; I find it offputting. But then I find it so for the act itself, so that's no surprise, lol. I'll never forget lying there, desperately trying to block out a Stewie and Bryan duet from Family Guy -- all I wanted was to lose myself but my brain said, noooo! Sing along!

If I was to put music on, it'd be Ghosts by Sinead Donaghy; possibly the sexist song ever. It's the slow, drudging rhythm of it and the layers within the melodies/words.

Maryn · Oct 27, 2010

I'm laughing out loud at the Nooo! Sing along! line.

I remember having sex with Mr. Maryn while the TV was on, one time, and he became mightily annoyed when I laughed at something a character said. Not conducive to ecstasy, right?

Maryn, who had to try four times to spell conducive

SafetyDance · Oct 27, 2010

Meh...since having my daughter, I can't spell "neccessary." It's humiliating, I used to be such a word Nazi. Babies do not grow new braincells -- they steal yours while in utero!

Also now have Bloodhound Gang on repeat in my head: "...and we can do it doggy style so we can both watch X Files." Such classy boys.

veinglory · Oct 27, 2010

Generally I have the TV on constantly while I write....

Paradox · Oct 27, 2010

I play Portishead quite a bit for the more sensual scenes. If it's historical, I try to play something contemporary with the period. Last night, it was a slow Duke Ellington tune for a 1920's cabaret scene.

Brindle Chase · Oct 28, 2010

Jax3683 said:
I have only had a few sex scenes, but I have to say I prefer Buckcherry for those "Screw my brains out" scenes as well!

(Maybe I should pass that tip on to my husband **giggle** )

*lol*@Jax... If my wife put Buckcherry on as we got into it... I'd get the clue!!!

Brindle Chase · Oct 28, 2010

Firebrain said:
If I was to put music on, it'd be Ghosts by Sinead Donaghy; possibly the sexist song ever. It's the slow, drudging rhythm of it and the layers within the melodies/words.

You meant Siobhan Donaghy, right? I love that tune!!! It definitely has the right rhythm for thump thump!

Brindle Chase · Oct 28, 2010

Here's some from my "In the Mood" playlist

In Sumerian Haze - Sirenia
Dilruba - Niyaz
Ishq - Niyaz
Requiem - Mozart
Principles of Lust - Enigma
Sadeness part one - Enigma
Wont see you tonight - Avenged Sevenfold
All of my love - Led Zeppelin
Ghost Love Score - Nightwish
I Feel Love - Donna Summer
Still of the Night - Whitesnake
Into the Night - Benny Mardones
In the Dark - Billy Squier
I Drove All Night - Cyndi Lauper
As the Rush Comes - Motorcycle
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

Synonym · Oct 28, 2010

Music distracts me when I'm actually trying to write or work at my day job. I might listen while I'm goofing off or getting ready to write, but I can't have it on when I'm actually putting words down.

Just me.

rhymegirl · Oct 28, 2010

What, no Barry White? I'm shocked.

SafetyDance · Oct 28, 2010

Brindle Chase said:
You meant Siobhan Donaghy, right? I love that tune!!! It definitely has the right rhythm for thump thump!

Yes! You know, I retyped her name about three times, thinking, that doesn't look right but I can't be arsed googling. Lol.

psykeout · Nov 1, 2010

Honestly, the deep thudding bass drums and droning guitars in death metal help me immensely.

Something about Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Blotted Science, etc. just makes writing so much easier. It's droning and since the lyrics aren't immediately sing-a-longs, it makes it easier to block it out.

Even the sensual scenes manage to come out well-done with that going on...

MissMacchiato · Nov 2, 2010

haha, I totally do listen to evocative music. I had one scene where a character shoves the guy up against the wall of a lift and makes out with him, prior to them almost running to get to a bedroom.

I use some strange ones, like

Is you is or Is you Aint my baby remixed by verve, and of course Barry W comes up occassionally. As does Marvin Gaye

nevealane · Nov 2, 2010

I usually write with a que of about 300 songs, it usually depends on what 'type' of sex scene I am writing. If it is one of those scenes where the sexual tension is so thick and it is about to explode, then I usually go for Portishead, Lupe Fiasco, or Sia... something with a Latin flare usually. If it something paranormal, I usually go for Eminem, crazy I know, but it works. And for the lovers love scene, a romantic scene, I go with Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gay like Miss Macchiato said, or something similar.
I will typically post a playlist on my website after I get done writing a particular scene just because I like to share with my readers what I was listening to as I wrote.

The Love Panda · Dec 8, 2010

If your ever stuck a little Marvin Gaye always helps to hammer out some ideas

*RomanceWriter* · Dec 9, 2010

While music can get me in the zone for certain scenes, especially emotional ones, before I write—I can't listen while I write. I just can't seem to concentrate as my brain wants to focus on both at the same time.

Satori1977 · Dec 9, 2010

I usually don't listen to music when I am writing, but if I do, it is whatever I am in the mood for, not something that inspires the kind of scene I am writing.

But I am going to google BuckCherry right now.

Do You Listen to Music While Writing a Sex Scene?

Smutty McTitters

Dancing on the edge

Baaa!

O.o

writing around the edges of life

L'Oreal. He's worth it.

Baaa!

L'Oreal. He's worth it.

volitare nequeo

Dancing on the edge

Dancing on the edge

Dancing on the edge

It's a New Year!

L'Oreal. He's worth it.

should be writing instead...

Bring on the Sweet, Sweet Coffee

Snow and Sex is what I know

Book Wookie

New kid, be gentle!

Listening to the Voices In My Head