Music is a key thing to get me into the mood for a book. Heck, I’ve even got so enamored on a song that I’ve concocted a whole story around just the one song. Once the book is written, I have nothing to do with that song or artist for a few months because I’ve just over played them. I don’t particularly plan on who I am going to listen to during the day. I just put my music on shuffle and take my changes for whatever comes my way.
However, if I’m going to be writing dark fantasy, I like to listen to Ballad Metal, what I call it, with such bands as Nightwish or Kamelot or even some instrumental collections to bring me into the other world where grim reapers or ghostly vampires exist. If my muses decide they want to focus solely on vampires, then I break out one of my favorites either Type O Negative or Concrete Blonde. When I get down and dirty and into the action scenes or big fights, then I pop in Disturbed or Cradle of Filth or Halestorm so I can see the battle happening before me in either the guitar riffs or the screaming of the lead singer. For other things it all depends. I shy away from country and rap only because I’m not a fan of the genres.
What bands help you get into the mood? Some authors post playlists for their books, is that something you like or would you choose your own play list if you could? Would you add to an author’s play list in order to associate better with the characters?
I don’t usually listen to music when I write, but I’ve been inspired by a lot (including the story people will see in the ZNB anthology Skull X Bones!) But the one time I did write to music, it was to Andres Segovia’s All Bach Program CD. So good!
That is awesome that you are inspired by music. Hey anything that gets the juices flowing.
I don’t listen to music while I’m writing, but I often create a playlist that goes with the book.
That is awesome. I’ve tried to do that, but I never get past like the first two songs or so.