Sunday, September 14, 2008

Music and Writing

I happen to be one of those writers who has to have music playing when I create.

Boy, that sounds lofty.

Let me be more honest. I’m someone who has to have music playing all the time or I risk going insane. I am not one with the sounds of silence, no matter what Alanis Morissette might want to say about it.

My issue isn’t that I’m not comfortable in silence. Well, okay, I’m not. But I’m not comfortable in silence because unless you’re in a soundproofed room all alone, there is no such thing in our world today as ‘silent’. And I have good hearing. And it’s selective. And worse, I have a vivid imagination. And it’s not selective at all.

Little tinkle that could mean the wind’s blowing the chimes or could mean someone just broke the basement window? Odd sound that might be the dog’s tummy rumbling or could indicate immediate danger of the earth opening up and swallowing the city whole? Repetitive sound the fans and air conditioning make? I hear all of them. And they distract me.

But if I put music on…then I only hear what I want to hear. And it’s not always the music.

For example, I play music when I’m on the telephone. So that I actually pay attention to the person I’m speaking with. Otherwise, they’re telling me about their latest brush with the law and I’m thinking, “Was that…was that a bug knocking against the window, or is a zombie about to attack?”

So music’s an integral part of my life. Therefore and by obvious extension, it’s a huge part of my writing life.

I need music not only to drown out the other things -- like the TV, the husband, the daughter, the pets, those damned fans -- that will distract me, but to inspire. And said music had darned well better have lyrics. In fact, I was originally going to title this Music and Lyrics, but didn’t want to make Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore all jealous. (But, I have to admit…I LOVE that movie. *cough* Okay, yeah, back to the topic. Whatever it actually is.)

I’m not a classical music kind of girl. Oh, I like plenty of it, but not to write to. With no lyrics, the music ends up, for me, just like the stupid fan -- I hear it and start going, “Is that…is that a bassoon or an oboe? I have no idea, but I think it’s a bassoon. No, oboe. No, French Horn.” That way lies madness. Trust me.

All this is to explain why I, a writer, have an entire page devoted to my playlists. And why some of my links are to band sites. (Because there is nothing cooler in this entire world than Aerosmith, okay?!? *cough* Sorry.) Because I can’t survive or create without them.

What about you? Strong, silent type, or rock ‘n’ roller all the way? No worries if you’re the former…we serve all kinds here.

Love, Gini

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6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello, wandered over from Scrivel. Nice looking site. If the book is as funny as most of your posts, should be fun.

MaryL

September 20, 2008 at 4:25 PM  
Blogger Gini Koch said...

Thanks much, Mary! And, yeah, I think the book brings the funny. :-D

Take a look around the site, and I hope you visit often.

-- Gini

September 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM  
Blogger WKEverhart said...

Music? I write in excruciating silence. It brings my hindbrain to the forefront. "Write from the hindbrain," a very wise Koch once told me. It works, but now and again I need a warm fuzzy. Bob Seger! Now there's a man who warm-fuzzies me.

September 20, 2008 at 9:28 PM  
Blogger Gini Koch said...

True, Willie, true. But for me, music lets the hindbrain free.

Though there's nothing wrong with a little Seger...working on my night moves as we speak ;-D

-- Gini

September 20, 2008 at 9:36 PM  
Blogger WKEverhart said...

Work on those night moves, Gini. And add a little Seger to your playlist. Who knows what inspiration might come from it!

September 23, 2008 at 7:32 AM  
Blogger Gini Koch said...

LOL, I'd love to, Willie. He's not available on iTunes, so I guess it's time to see about buying a CD. :-D

-- Gini

September 23, 2008 at 3:40 PM  

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