Using Lofi to Write Your Next Book

Do You Listen to Music while You Write?

I love the quiet. I grew up as an only child raised by single parents so usually silence was all around. But after many years of working in production my days are no longer silent. They are filled with mechanical noises, shouting over the thrum of the machines, or noisy roommates who don’t know what quiet hours are. I’m so used to the noise now that when there is a silence I must fill it. Most of the time it’s music.

I have always been a fan of music, singing in particular. Any song that came on the radio I would sing or hum along too. In school, I joined the choir where I auditioned for the honor choir(the best of the best in town). Surprisingly, I got in and for several years toured around or had shows amongst many others.

Even though singing and listening to music were my life I never once thought of listening to it while doing homework. Once again, back to the silence to concentrate. It was how I did all my tasks. I couldn’t have anything distracting me.

Until one day a friend put on a playlist. To her, she had called it modern day Irish lofi. What came out of the speakers next were modern day songs striped of their words and played as if originally Irish decent. I was flabbergasted. “Oh yeah when I want a certain mood I just look up lofi,” she told me. It was if I entered a whole new world.

The following day I planned to write one of my scenes for an upcoming trilogy I had been working on. I sat down, computer in my lap and a candle lit next to me. But before I could type a single word I thought of the lofi music. Why did I need to type in silence when I could have an ambiance of music playing in the background?

Quickly YouTubing dark academia lofi I clicked on a video and began writing. Instantly I jumped into the scene pushed on by the music that so perfectly fit my story. The words were flowing as the mood was set. And the next thing I knew I had written over 2,500 words. 2,500 words in one session! I honestly couldn’t believe it.

The next day I repeated the experiment curious if it was a fluke but to my surprise I had knocked out another 2,000 words at a rapid pace. It happened again and again. I choosing a lofi that fit the mood of the scene then knocking it out.

It was if I was given a key to success. One I didn’t take for granted even now.

To this day I still write with a lofi playing the back ground which has also transitioned to my everyday life. Having Easter brunch? Play lofi. Hosting Halloween get together. Play lofi.

It’s as if you are the Main Character with a playlist of your life from one event to another.

If you don’t already, I highly suggest finding a lofi track you like and play it while you write. Who knows you might be surprised at how much you get done. It might even help you feel emotions you might not have felt you needed on the page until it arose.

Here is the link to a few of my favorite lofi video. Go check it out if you are writing a dark academia novel or see if you can find one related to the vibe of your book.

Tell me in the comments below how many words you wrote during your session and which lofi genres you listen to!