The Soundtrack of Writing

Most days, I write with atmospheric lo-fi playlists playing in the background.

You know the ones—the soundscapes designed to transport you to a cozy tavern in a faraway kingdom or a mossy forest where a fairy is resting beside a stream. They're perfect for sinking into a story's atmosphere and settling into a writing session.

But every now and then, it's time to stop wandering and start sprinting.

When I really need to focus, I return to a playlist left over from an abandoned project. Despite the project never making it to completion, the music survived. It's packed with 2WEI, Tommee Profitt, Woodkid, and just about every dramatic song Riot Games has released.

Woodkid's Run Boy Run starts most of my writing sessions these days.

There are even scenes in Marmalade Skies that were inspired by the feeling of songs from Arcane. Not the plot, necessarily, but the emotion. Sometimes a piece of music captures a mood so perfectly that it helps unlock a scene I've been struggling to write.

Music has always been one of my favorite creative tools because it bypasses logic and goes straight for feeling.

As writers, we're constantly collecting inspiration from the world around us. Books, films, conversations, artwork, and music all become part of the creative compost pile. Eventually, something grows from it.

I'd love to know: do you listen to music while you work or read? Or do you prefer complete silence?