The Sound of Silence

I see a lot of authors talking about the soundtracks they play when they write. I always find it fascinating – and sometimes helpful when I go on to read the book and think about the music they found inspiring. (And then there are the times I find it distracting, thinking “Whaaa? You listened to that when writing this?”) And I have to say, I wish I had a cool soundtrack to tell you about, something inspirational that played through the background of the writing of Wisdom to Know. But the truth of the matter is that I can’t write with music on.

When I listen to music, I want to listen to the music. Or sing along (even if there are no words). Or do the random wiggling that, when you’re not so graceful and rather uncoordinated passes for dancing. But write? Not happening.

I actually learned pretty early that music was a distraction rather than a motivator for me. My 4th grade teacher did an experiment with our times table timed drills (1 minute to do as many math problems on the sheet as you could – do they still do these?) One day, it’d be quiet. The next day, she’d play something like The William Tell Overture or other, equally heartbeat enhancing, music. I did much worse on music days than quiet ones. Middle and High School proved it out further – studying with music on? Not actually studying. I need quiet, it seems, for my brain to click.

And so the soundtrack to my writing is the clicking of my keyboard (it’s very loud. It’s old, and it clacks almost like a typewriter, and I’m going to be very sad when it dies), the strains of whatever XBox or PC game my husband is playing (think explosions and the aaaahhhh of someone being killed), or, if it’s nap time, the sound of little boys trying to avoid sleeping, or, sometimes, actual silence while they sleep.

Are you one of those people who are more productive with music on or, like me, do you prefer it to be quiet?