Curating a Writer’s Playlist

Let’s be real—writing is an activity that takes serious brainpower. But with the temptations of television, social media, and cute animal videos lying around within your reach, how can one stay focused?

Photo by Jonathan Cooper

Contrary to popular belief, silence isn’t always golden. In fact, multiple studies suggest that the right kind of music may actually help get your creative juices flowing. Your writing playlist is a personal productivity tool—so go ahead and experiment for the perfect fit for you. Here’s your ultimate playlist guide:

1. The Pump-Up Playlist

   
   

Just like when hitting the gym or going out for a run, writing sometimes needs a little push. To help you get started, it’s best to depart from your go-to songs and aim for hype songs that give an extra boost of adrenaline in your veins. Feel-good bangers may get you through the final pages of your paper. Try I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas, Happy by Pharrell Williams, Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift. Don’t be afraid to get caught dancing to the music!

2. Going Lyric-Less

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According to research, it’s not the volume or the “noise” that causes you to lose productivity when listening to music; it’s the speech. Your brain naturally wants to listen and interpret song lyrics, which pulls focus from your writing. Not to mention, certain music may cause you to sing along. Therefore, instead of your usual road trip playlist, opt for instrumentals like classical, jazz, or lo-fi music.

3. Classical Music Is the Classic Solution

   
   

Multiple studies have found that listening to classical music helps block distractions and organize brain information. The only downside is that some pieces are too calming, it can lull you to sleep as well. Keep things fresh by mixing up composers. Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Bach, and Chopin—there’s a whole symphony of selections out there.

4. Matching Emotions to Your Playlist

   
   

If you’re writing a story, try syncing your music with the scene. Curate mood-based playlists—melancholy, anger, disappointment, elation, and so on—and let the music evoke emotions that flow into the scene being written. Plenty of show tunes or songs from musicals contain heavy emotions that could be of great help.

5. White Noise and Ambient Sounds

   
   

Not into music? No problem! Studies show that natural sounds can actually boost moods and focus, including but not limited to muffled conversations, falling rain, and soft shuffling noises. Some may prefer to go au naturel and just rely on their environment for auditory motivation. However, not everyone has the luxury of working in a suitable environment for writing. Luckily, there are apps and websites that can simulate the perfect soundscape for you.

6. Movie and Video Game Scores

   
   

Have you ever found yourself laser-focused while watching a movie or playing a video game? That’s partly the music doing its magic. Movie and game scores stimulate certain moods, which could sharpen your focus and guide your emotions—perfect for writing!

7. Music in a Foreign Language

   
   

 Try listening to foreign songs. They aren’t exactly lyric-less, thus, they’re less likely to put you to sleep. Plus, lyrics aren’t the enemy if your brain doesn’t understand them. It’s the best of both worlds! Be wary of K-pop music, though; some of them can be really catchy.

8. Science-Backed Tunes

   
   

Some songs and compositions actually have research supporting their ability to make you focus. For example, Mozart and classical music from the Baroque era is proven to improve focus and information retention, as is other music with a 60 bpm tempo. Brian Eno, one of the leading composers of ambient music, creates tracks designed to lessen anxiety and reduce tension. Shempi by Ratatat is a rock track that evokes high energy without the distracting lyrics, a perfect choice for that last writing stretch.

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Sources:

• What music should a writer listen to? | The Writing Cooperative

• The Best Music to Listen to For Optimal Productivity, According to Science | ScienceAlert

• The Best Music to Listen to While Writing + a Few Writing Playlists | Lantern

• 8 Styles of Music to Help You Focus While You Write | The Write Life

• What Music To Listen To While Writing A Research Paper? | Vents Magazine

• 6 Songs That Have Been Scientifically Proven to Improve Your Focus | Spoon Healthier