Write to the Right Soundtrack

Last year, we did a poll on our Instagram to see whether our writers prefer to write in silence or with music. We wanted to know if there’s a preference for a writer’s soundtrack or the sound of silence.

Because an overwhelming 70% of you voted for music, I want to share my tips for creating writing playlists to build your perfect writer’s soundtrack, as well as a link to some of my favorites.

Organize your writer’s soundtrack by mood

One of the best tips I’ve ever received for creating a writer’s soundtrack or playlist is to organize it by mood. For example, you may need sad and moody music to get you in the mood to write a breakup, or you may need softer, more ethereal music for writing a dreamy scene.

On my Spotify account, I will often have a few mood or emotion-based playlists, like “Romantic,” “Battle Scene,” “Heartbreak,” and “Isolation,” and as I hear songs from my ordinary day-by-day listening that seem like a good fit, I simply add them to these playlists. This helps you to avoid the pitfalls of spending all day creating a writer’s soundtrack and no time at all doing the actual writing.

If you’d like some pre-made playlists for mood or scene-specific writing, don’t forget to check out the Novlr Spotify profile!

Lyrics or Not?

Songs that have lyrics are notoriously more distracting than helpful when writing. But lyrics can definitely come in handy for inspiration, even if they’re not ideal when actually writing.

I sometimes choose to listen to songs with lyrics if I’m trying to become inspired, for example, on a walk between writing sessions. On those occasions, I will usually listen to soundtracks for shows or movies that have a similar mood to the one I’m trying to evoke in my own story. For example, I’ll often listen to The Vampire Diaries soundtrack when I’m working on a YA story. And currently, I’m really enjoying the Outlander soundtrack because the novel I’m working on channels a similar mood.

When I’m actually sitting at my desk trying to put down words, I don’t want to have music playing with lyrics. For these occasions, I have a personally curated collection of my favorite peaceful music, often including meditation tracks.

Meditation music is designed to put your mind into a state of ease and relaxation, and for me, this is the sweet spot where my imagination flows. I highly recommend trying a meditation soundtrack next time you write to see if that helps you get into a writing zone. There are lots of other genres to explore for focused writing, though, like classical music, ambient soundscapes, post-rock, movie scores, lo-fi beats, and nature sounds. You can also sort them into moods for different types of writing to complement your inspiration playlists!

Every writer is unique, so try to experiment with different approaches to see what works for you if you’re not sure. Try writing in complete silence for a week, use white noise or nature sounds instead of music, create a playlist that matches the length of your writing session, or alternate between lyrics and instrumental music.

Creating the perfect writer’s soundtrack is an ongoing process of discovery and refinement. By experimenting with different types of music, organizing your playlists effectively, and paying attention to how various sounds affect your writing, you can create an auditory environment that enhances your creativity and productivity.

Whether it’s the silence of a quiet room, the gentle melodies of a piano concerto, or the rhythmic beats of electronic music, your ideal writing soundtrack is out there waiting to be discovered. So, put on your headphones, open your writing software, and let the music (or silence) guide your words. Happy writing!