I read somewhere that J.K. Rowling listened to classical music, one piece in particular, while she wrote Harry Potter.  I didn’t get it.  Why would someone listen to music while writing?  Wouldn’t that be distracting?

My writing professor also played music for us while we wrote in class, and I finally got it.  I think, at least for me, that music occupies those parts of my brain that want to be distracted by trivial noises.  Someone walking around, a car door slamming in front of the house, a TV playing in another room.

Plus I think that some music simply tells my brain, “It’s time to write.”  There are certain albums I only listen to now when I write.

I’ve also found that certain music works better than others.  Life Turns Electric by Finger Eleven is one of my favorites.  I also listen to The Best of Fuel and Angels and Devils by Fuel and The Mask and the Mirror, The Book of Secrets, An Ancient Muse, and The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Loreena McKennitt.

Probably my biggest inspiration, though, is a fellow Brigham Young University graduate, Lindsey Stirling.  She is unique.  Her albums, Lindsey Stirling and Shatter Me, are high on my list of music to listen to while I write.  Her story also motivates me.

Here are a couple of links you should check out:

http://www.mormon.org/lindsey

http://www.lindseystirling.com/

I’ve never been a big violin fan, but I love the way she plays hers.  Her story on mormon.org is particularly touching and I hope you take the time to watch it.

Cheers,

Bernard