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Post by Mini Mia on Jul 3, 2006 15:44:27 GMT -6
What CDs are best for creativity? Nature Sounds? Hard Rock? Soft Rock? Disco? Heavy Metal? Dance? Instrumental? New Age?
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Post by Mini Mia on Jul 4, 2006 19:10:27 GMT -6
I've written works to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Off The Wall" albums constantly repeating... as well as to Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" album... and also just to the radio playing the top 40. Lately I find I like the house to be quiet.
Sometimes the music has to be so low I can barely hear it, other times that distracts me. Sometimes I have the music blaring so loud that it frees my mind so that the words flow, and other times it shuts me down.
I've heard that running water is good for creativity, so I went to BestBuy.com to find a CD with only the sounds of running water. I found all kinds of CDs with various nature sounds... the problem is they include music too. I just want CDs that only has the sounds of nature and no music whatsoever... so I thought I'd post threads at various boards searching for answers to where to find these CDs. And I thought I'd also get insight into what kinds of CDs/music others prefer while creating.
I have noticed that when I can't write, my mind flows as soon as I get into the shower. Recently I read where an artist suggested installing a water fountain in your home or garden to create by, and that has sent me in search of CDs with the sounds of running water. Much cheaper than having a fountain installed.
I finally found some CDs with only the sounds of running water, and no music. We'll see if I've wasted my money or not. I even found one CD with sounds of Kentucky nature. When I saw it included Whippoorwills, I had to get it. We haven't heard any on them around these parts in a very long time. Don't know what became of them.  Feel free to continue the conversation everyone, I might discover other CDs that also help me with my creativity when none of the ones I have work for me anymore.
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Post by Phalon on Jul 5, 2006 8:53:17 GMT -6
Interesting topic, Mia. For one to reply to such a question it implies that one has even one ounce of creativity. I will respond anyway.
For me, the music of choice to get ideas flowing is alternative metal; it's what I listen to; it's what I like best.
But I can not listen to any type of music while I write. Television in the background, interruptions from kids or Hubs, yes; music no. The writing then becomes the music, and the music, the writing. Because we write together in the House of Whoosher story, you've seen this in many of my posts. A few of my entries, probably too many, were built entirely around songs I was listening to while writing.
Most of what little bit of creativity I have I get listening to music while roller skiing. I get most of my ideas, and do my best thinking then. Music in my ears, heart pounding, rhythmic pumping....then it comes, and I scream yes, yes, YES!!!
Oh wait....that's something different. <smile>
Hope your water and nature sounds work for you. Personally, it would drive me nuts. We have a couple of fountains running inside the store at work, and have had nature tapes playing for background noise. When I wasn't running to the restroom, having to pee from the sound of water running all day, I was constantly ducking imaginary birds chirping on the damned tape.
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Post by Mini Mia on Jul 5, 2006 15:27:24 GMT -6
It could be that it isn't the running water of the shower that opens the flow of creativity. . . it could be that I don't have pen and paper in the shower with me, therefore I can't reread it and condemn it as utter crap.  It's always far more brilliant in my head than on paper. 
I'll leave the CDs on when they help, and then turn them off when they don't. I don't expect them to work every time, but if they help at any time, every now and again, they'll be worth it.
The best thing so far is a book I read recently. I think it helped me figure out what is causing my block and how to overcome it. The book: Writing Alone and with Others by Pat Schneider. I think the writing courses I took is what blocked me from my own personal works, as the teachers would steer me away from what I wanted to write to what they felt was of more publishable quality. From Horror to Literary works, and from the silly children's works to more realistic/believable works. This damaged my ability to believe in my own creative ideas and try to mold myself into what would be more acceptable to society. 
It doesn't really matter what the cause was, as long as I can finally work through it and start being my old creative self again. Or a far better creative self again.  I know I'm almost there, I can feel it on the tip of my tongue. (so to speak) 
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Post by Mini Mia on Jul 9, 2006 18:36:18 GMT -6
Ooooh.... perhaps it isn't the running water, but the mindless routine of showering??
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