Music as a Writing Tool

Have you ever sat down with the intention of writing a story and suddenly found yourself at a loss for words? Ever been inspired to write something but that inspiration dried up before you even finished the first paragraph? Call it writer’s block, creative constipation, or whatever you will, it can be a frustrating experience.

Music is a powerful tool for inspiration. Listening to a particular song or genre of music can help you get into the right headspace for writing. Similar to using a musical playlist when you work out, having a playlist for when you write can help you stay motivated. I choose songs that make me feel nostalgic and remind me of the memory I’m trying to recreate. For example, if I’m writing about a family trip to Nova Scotia when I was twelve, I’ll play songs I listened to on my Walkman during the long car rides there and back in the early 1980s.

Do you have a soundtrack for your life’s story?

Here’s an exercise for you to try. Ask yourself, if you were using music to describe a specific memory, what song or musical piece would you choose? Think about this each time you sit down to write, and if possible, play that music before you start. Each time you find a song that matches a memory, make it a part of your personal soundtrack.

Our lives are a kaleidoscope of different experiences. Your personal soundtrack should be a curated collection of songs and musical pieces that reflect specific times in your life. The music for my life’s soundtrack is from a variety of genres, but every piece evokes a strong emotion in me. When I listen to my soundtrack, I tap into those emotions and the writing flows from there.

Writing isn’t hard, but it’s not something that comes naturally for everyone. If expressing yourself in words is something you want to try, music is a tool that can help get you started.