A question I see crop up in writing circles often is:
“Do you listen to music while writing?”
Whenever I’m bored enough to participate and say yes, the follow-up question usually asks what music “exactly” I listen to, which is almost always determined by the vibe of the piece or scene I’m writing.
Case in point:
[Spoiler alert — if you haven’t read all of Exiled, stop here.]
[Seriously.]
[Go and read it and come back, or not.]
[You’ve been warned.]
When Bjolan died, I needed something atmospheric, something emotional and dark. Music that made me “feel.” I wanted my skin to prick. Tears to flow.
A melody that would punch a hole in my dam and let the words rip.
That track?
https://youtu.be/W-hrBhA4XkM
For less heart-wrenching scenes, I’ll usually let Skyrim's ambient music (the RPG video game) play out in my ears for the very simple reason that these tracks were specifically designed to keep you locked in their world for hours.
Bet you didn’t know that.
Other times, I’ll listen to LOTR, GOT, and other fantasy-esque soundtracks to help keep my mind grounded in the realm of speculative fiction.
What this means for you, I do not yet know.
Other than — maybe — to tell you I don’t merely punch keys on a computer screen.
There’s intention behind my work and the scenes that fuel it.
In any case, if you’re curious to peruse my playlist, you can do so here:
I’m always adding new music to it.
If you’re not a fellow scribe, perhaps put one on the next time you’re in a hot bubble bath.
It might just soothe more than aching joints.
DJJW