How Background Noise Beats Writer’s Block

Hope’s Hacks
(some ways to break up that writer’s block)
This month’s cure: Background Noise
What the cure is: Finding which noises help you write
Why the cure will help: Although some writers, like myself, prefer to work in absolute silence, others need some background noise to help them improve their productivity. Consider the following avenues of noise to break up that block:

Songs in other languages: I don’t know about you, but when Twenty-One Pilots starts blaring, I begin to have more words for the rap than for the Word doc in front of me. But if I can’t recognize the words in the song, I can’t sing along. Therefore, I can write instead.

 Instrumental music: Let’s take it a step further, no words at all. If you listen to anything from movie soundtracks to classical Bach, you might just find a rhythm that can help your writing tempo.

Sports/HGTV/etc.: Whenever my mom has to write a paper for her master’s program, she turns on the TV to an HGTV show, or at least a show with fewer stakes than Daredevil or any other edge-of-your-seat program. Granted, if you enjoy golf or baseball, you might want to flip to a channel that you can easily tune out.

 Noisli: This website provides background noises that have proven to increase productivity. Check them out here: https://www.noisli.com/

Soundtracks: Fantasy writers love to listen to some good Lord of the Rings music. Writing a holiday book? Writing a piece set in a historical era, find music that matches the tone of that time. Look up some Christmas playlists. If you hop onto Spotify, you’ll find playlists for just about every genre to suit your needs.

Your favorite songs: Maybe you just need a pump-up playlist to get you into the mood of writing. I do:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4d6UbEzAcwzu1udyR6WQnm Either while you write or just some tunes to listen to right before you do, create a list of songs you love. Maybe these can finally break down that wall in your mind.

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a recent graduate of Taylor University’s professional writing program. More than 300 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column “Hope’s Hacks,” tips and tricks to avoid writer’s block, reaches 2,700+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young’s blog, which receives 63,000+ monthly hits. She is excited for her modern-day Daniel “Blaze” to come out with IlluminateYA (an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) in June. She enjoys all things theater, cats, and fire. You can find more about her at www.hopebolinger.com