My beta readers have returned their comments on Renegade of Opshar and I have a bit of thinking to do. It would be a spoiler to say what I have to think about. So, instead, I’m going to blather about the music I have been listening to while working on this story.
Like a lot of writers — maybe even most writers — I listen to music while working. As I get deeper into different projects, I’ll focus in on certain music and listen over and over. For instance, while writing one of my earlier novels, Too Many Princes, I listened to the Enigma Variations of Edward Elgar.
For the Minstrels of Skaythe novellas, I’ve listened to more classical-styled game soundtracks. Initially the music was from Dragon Age Inquisition, since I was sparked to write by that series. (Also, I don’t have the music from Dragon Age Origins or Dragon Age II in my library).
Partly with Wailing Tower and definitely with Renegade of Opshar, I shifted a bit to the music of Thomas Bergerson, who has done a lot of music for commercials, movies, and games. (Not for the Dragon Age games, though.) Bergerson’s music is… just big. Full orchestra, full chorus, a few additional instruments and vocalists.
Anyway, if you’re curious, here is a link to one of Bergerson’s compositions that got the creative juices flowing for Renegade of Opshar.
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I’ve come across a lot of writers online who write to music, especially when they are writing stories set last century. I’m one of those people, though, that writes better with a quiet background. It’s just easier for me to concentrate.
As most of my writing has been as a journalist, most of my writing has not been done with background music. That’s true of my fiction/scripts as well.
That said, there are exceptions. When I was writing about elven culture and arts for an upcoming book, I listened to some “elven” music.
And years ago when I was writing a play that was intended to be very disturbing, I turned my radio to in between two stations. I found a spot where an irritating tone was wavering in and out. It got on my nerves–which was perfect for writing that play.
That’s clever!