♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦
Topic #398
If your WIP had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
Do you write with some sort of background noise or do you prefer silence?
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I’ve written in the past about the soundtracks that I created while working on those books that are already published. You can look at those here. Each one had a playlist. So that is no different for my work in progress: OP-GHO: Operation Ghost. You can bet, because it is a sequel, that the list is pretty similar to the one I had for OP-DEC.
OG takes place in the 1940s right in the middle of World War II. The music I generally listen to is period appropriate, so anything up to that point is viable for the list. Would I have some harpsicord? Obviously not. Thus, the year of the setting and other relevant circumstances matter for what goes into the queue.
I like to find old radio programs and recordings. I also don’t limit my background sounds to just music. I’ll put on the television to occupy the part of my brain that never switches off. For that, in the past, I have used a lot of cartoons. It’s super busy and light, and my brain doesn’t focus in on it much. Putting on anything that would take the focus from the work at hand is counter productive. Therefore, I don’t mind if my kiddo puts on her programs or someone puts on something to watch as I sit in my chair with my laptop, tapping away.
Focusing on the work not only takes time, but the right mood. Music is a great way for me to click back into my groove, and movies are no different. Film from the period especially helps me get back on track. A long commute from work always provided a great way for me to find inspiration when I endured them in my life. Now that I live much closer to the day job, and don’t have a straight route, I can’t daydream about my writing. Since my days go by working and my evening focus is my daughter, it is much harder.
Music and film continue to inspire me when needed. I’m not concerned that I’ll lose my drive to write. It remains a skill I have at the ready, and quite often use at work. I’m only getting better! So, when I do sit down to write, I’m rested and fresh, and usually very inspired from all the mental trips I’ve taken on the ideas I have.
While I often use music and film to help me fix my mood to write, I also find that silence can be a great benefactor of inspiration. When there is silence for an extended period, my brain will fill the gap with all kinds of musings. This is super useful for working out ideas I may struggle to fully realize.
I guess this just shows my flexible nature! Depending on the instance, I will lean into music, a movie, or silence to get the job done. Let’s see what the other author have to say by clicking on their links below. Also, enter your email address in the box on the top right to have this hop delivered to your inbox each Friday. That information is never sold or shared with anyone. See you next time!
I sometimes wonder what the people in my Sci-fi worlds would listen to. Would it be played on instruments yet to be devised or would they still listen to the music of Old Earth, even if they had never been? Perhaps the inhabitants of the far future will still be raving over Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin, maybe they’d be partial to some Pink Floyd. Perhaps their moons will have a dark side?
I have steered away from allowing myself to daydream while driving. I don’t trust the other drivers. So music is a necessity.
With me it must be silence if I’m writing, as I find music too distracting.