A curated collection of music that a writer listens to while working, chosen to set the emotional tone and fuel creative focus.
A writing playlist is a carefully selected set of songs or sounds that a writer uses as a creative backdrop while drafting, revising, or brainstorming. Some writers build playlists for specific projects, matching the mood of a dark thriller to moody instrumentals or a swoony romance to acoustic love songs. Others use the same focus playlist every time to signal to their brain that it is time to write. The music is not just background noise - it is a tool for getting into the emotional headspace of your story.
Music has a direct line to your emotions, and emotions drive good fiction. A well-chosen playlist can help you drop into a scene faster, sustain your focus during long writing sessions, and even solve creative problems by shifting your mood. It is one of the simplest writing tools you can set up, and it costs nothing.
Rothfuss has shared that he listens to specific music while writing, and his prose often reads with a musical cadence that reflects the story's bard protagonist.
Meyer famously included official playlists for each Twilight book on her website, with artists like Muse and Linkin Park shaping the emotional texture of her drafts.
Maas has shared Spotify playlists for her series, and her fandom actively creates fan playlists for characters, fueling a vibrant community tradition around writing soundtracks.
If lyrics distract you, stick to instrumental, ambient, or film score tracks. Save the singalong playlist for editing or brainstorming sessions.
Set a 15-minute timer for playlist building, then start writing. You can always add or swap songs between sessions.
Match the playlist energy to the scene you are writing. Keep a few different playlists ready for different moods so you can switch quickly.
Create a playlist of 8-12 songs for a story you are currently working on or planning. Choose each track to match a specific moment, character, or mood in the story. Write a one-sentence note next to each song explaining why you picked it and which part of the story it connects to. Then put on the playlist and freewrite for 15 minutes.