Noise?

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Nathan Bransford asked the question on his blog recently….. “Which kind of writer are you? Do you like having a bit of noise or do you need to block everything out?”

I’ve always known I’m the kind of writer that needs complete silence. I can’t listen to music while I write, I end up staring off into space or singing along. I can’t have the TV on as I end up watching it. (I’ve said before, I’m easily distracted lol).

See the blank page? I rest my case.

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I struggle in busy coffee shops as I find myself eavesdropping on conversations lol

But….saying all that, I do love a “Write In” 🙂 The phrase was coined from Nanowrimo, where a group of writers meet at a coffee shop and, ummm, just write….literally. You don’t chat, you don’t read other peoples work (ok, we usually chat a little bit lol). We have “Sprints” when someone is struggling, ie someone suggests a time and we all see how many words we can write in that time. Most people use their laptops, but I have seen people hand write. I can’t recommend it enough….it really focuses you 🙂

Soooo, if you have a writer friend, meet for a Write In, rather than a coffee and a chat (you can do that after) and watch that word count rise 😉

What do you prefer? Background noise? Music? Complete silence?

Yesterday’s prompt was “lips as red as licked red candy” after Vladimir Nobokov and why doesn’t that surprise me. I’m thinking this quote must be from Lolita, which I read back in the mid 90’s. I don’t remember all that much about it, apart from cringing a few times, difficult to read in places. I ended up writing a piece about a girl who is trying to find out which one of the guys in the office is sending her love notes lol

21 thoughts on “Noise?”

  1. I need absolute, total silence. I have my own office within my home. That is where I always write. I feel at home surrounded by my math and science books. I’m not sure I could write in a group setting. It may be interesting to try one day.
    Richard

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  2. I’m a coffee shop writer to the core. 🙂 I go three or four times a week (sometimes more) because its the only place where I can really focus. Everyone there knows me, so they know not to bother me when I’m writing, which is more than I can say for the dogs and cats and husband at home. Lol! 🙂

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    • I have a friend who is exactly the same hon. She gets far more done in a coffee shop than she ever would at home. I guess I’m lucky that I have all day Monday to Friday with no distractions. Although the cats and the dog try their best to get my attention 😉

      xx

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  3. I’m easily distracted no matter what. I usually like to have the tv on when I write, but silence is probably better for me.

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  4. I did a post on something similar called “What music and writing have in common” which for me is how I find music inspiring when writing, and it’s various influences on me in that regard.

    I like music for generating ideas, a bit riding the emotions if you like. It is also a good creative prompt if I get stuck. I sometimes use it on first draft stuff. Usually when I’m doing the actual writing I prefer silence with the option of plugging in if I need to.

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      • Well music is a big thing for me. I tend to be a person who gets the music itself first and the lyrics second. It works in many ways such as, emotional cues, tempo, a context, a memory, the place the lyrics put me or even just a means to stimulate my brain. So with that in mind, I would listen to or avoid certain songs / artists depending on what I’m trying to do.

        For the most part I don’t get words slipping in, unless it is something more light hearted e.g. a blog piece, but even that is rare.

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  6. Omg. I can’t write in complete silence. I can’t even sleep in complete silence. I need noise to get the juices in my brain to start rolling. I’m a hard core coffee shop lover, BUT on the other hand, I can’t write if the music that’s playing has words. I start singing along and all goes to hell. Lol.

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  7. If I needed silence to write, I would never write. I can write in all kinds of noise – with Charlie and Lola in the background, or children galloping down the hallway, or practising ballet (with all the grace of stampeding beasts). I prefer to write in a coffee house – somehow the bustle of it is inspiring to me, and also there’s the fact that I can’t just go and do the laundry, or hop onto Facebook – or at home with music on. I love to listen to music while I write. I choose the music that makes me think of the character I’m writing, or something that fits with the mood of the scene. It really helps me connect well with what I’m writing.

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  8. I only ever write for myself, I wish that I could, but my thoughts wishes and planning all have to stay silent on a page, for no-one to ever see, however, sitting in a coffee shop, railway station or the silence of my house once the husband and children have departed for the day, but I must not have anyone near by talking to me, otherwise I end up writing / typing down what they say. How helpless am I. But I do envy those of you that have such talent to be able to put it all down on the page, for the rest to consume. 😀 xxxx

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