A frequent topic of discussion on writing forums is the question of how we various authors write. Other writers and readers often want to know if we listen to music, watch television, drink or do drugs as a means of enhancing our writing time. There is no single consensus on this. For myself I write in complete silence and completely sober. I need to be lucid and able to focus solely on the mini-movie taking place in my head as I relay it to the keyboard.

However, I’m not always actually writing when I’m working on a book. A large portion of my first two books, Portal To Elysium and The Strong One were created by alone time while driving for long periods as I worked at my day job. Entire conversations flowed forth during these travel times and I would often have to park on a shoulder or find an empty lot where I could stop and scribble down some of the better verbal exchanges my characters would have. Other times I would work out the details of scenes or action sequences as the miles passed beneath my tires. When I lost that job due to downsizing I had to take an office job and my writing subsequently suffered. I no longer had those empty free times to be alone with my thoughts and made-up worlds. Fortunately, as I write this I am about to return to a similar outside position and hopefully an uptick in my writing frequency will return with it.

Driving around as much as I did I listened to the radio quite a bit. I like music and have a wide range of tastes that would surprise many people who don’t know me well. Listening to widely varied channels thanks to satellite radio I’ve gleefully found new artists I otherwise may never have come across. As I listen to music the ‘mood’ it sets can often help clarify a scene I’m working on or set its tone. Rock music, particularly with a hair band/hard rock feel, has frequently inspired me to cement ideas, scenes or sequences. For example, Poison’s Sexual Thing takes me immediately to the truck chase in The Strong One. If that book were ever to be made into a movie it is the music I think would be perfect from the moment Brianna slams the truck into reverse. Trisha Yearwood’s Heaven Heartache and the Power of Love should roll during the closing credits for Portal To Elysium (the song title is perfect for that book, but alas, Trisha beat me to it). The striptease scene in The Strong One takes place with Shania Twain singing Man, I Feel Like A Woman in the background.

Other songs don’t apply to specific scenes but do mentally connect me with a character or even a locale. Brianna Fordham always comes to mind when I listen to Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless or The Donnas. Its the kind of music she would listen to (and does, as careful readers will note). Annie Marconi listens to big band/swing music while she cooks in her vintage kitchen. Phil Collins’ Coming In The Air Tonight always makes me feel like I’m driving a convertible with the top down on a sultry summer night. Bad Company’s No Smoke Without A Fire makes me think of dark industrial places. And so on.

So yes, music can definitely influence my writing. However, that influence has to take place prior to the actual keyboard writing phase. If I were to attempt to write with the music blaring my mind will become distracted. Part of writing is not actually physically typing or putting pen to paper; it is the process of using one’s imagination and manipulating the thoughts and ideas that make up the creative process. It is a weird, wonderful and occasionally frustrating experience.