When I’m drafting new pieces, I prefer to do so in silence, thus preventing any distractions from this fragile and mysterious art. However, once I’ve got a decent draft and worked out the kinks, I like to celebrate (!) and lightly edit while listening to music. And being a child of the 70s, I’m drawn to the mellifluous tunes of my generation, everything from Melissa Manchester to the Bee Gees and The Beach Boys. Recently, while working on a new short story, I delved into the soothing music of Rita Coolidge.
And to my surprise, I learned that May 1 is her birthday! This beautiful and talented singer-songwriter is 78 today. So please join me in celebrating my muse today. My favorite songs of hers include “We’re All Alone Now,” “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love,” and “All Time High.”
Do you have a musical muse? Do they vary according to your mood or the particular piece you’re writing? This is how it works for me. If you have a muse and you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about it. Who knows, you might just inspire me even more.
Editing is never as fun for me as writing. And in some cases, it can be as odious as folding fitted sheets or scrubbing out my waffle iron, so anything to help ease this work would be greatly appreciated.
Happy writing (and editing!)
Ashley Harris 
Thanks for reminding me of Rita C., Ashley! I didn’t listen to her enough way back, so I was happy to go to YT and get a refresher. I tend to enjoy editing more than drafting, but I can only have the lightest instrumental music playing in the background no matter what I’m doing — I’m pretty much a silent writer. 🙂
Hi to you! We are very much alike. I need to be almost through with pieces by the time I allow myself to listen to music, and it’s more like a reward for having gotten that far. The great thing about pulling up Rita on YT is that all the other 70s greats come up, too. More happy distractions. 🙂 I hope you are well and getting great inspiration any way you need it!
I can see how you find Rita Coolidge’s voice soothing, Ashley. Based on how I’ve seen your pieces evolve when I get to send you feedback during your stages of editing, the music must be working for you!
I myself listen to classical pieces or mood/ electronica?—not sure what that’s called, but Daft Punk’s “Tron: Legacy” and Max Richter’s “Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works” [i.e. Virginia Woolf] are examples.
Hi Marilyn! I like classical, too! I don’t think I’ve heard your pieces but I will look them up. I like a little Rachmaninoff myself. I hope you are well …we need to connect again soon!