My writing playlist is always changing. At one time it was all instrumental, but I found myself better off with music with lyrics played more quietly in my headphones. The songs that go on the list are either from movies, or make me think of scenes in movies, etc. It's a personal thing, obviously, but I find the songs "cinematic" somehow. The list is on Rdio: http://rd.io/x/QVX3jzNVlDw

Scott, your "fired up" playlist looks quite a lot like mine. If it isn't the same song, it's the same artist, so it's good to see someone gets fired up to the same stuff! When I'm writing, I love Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, or any sort of concept heavy work, be it instrumental or lyrical. The continuation and variation of familiar themes helps my brain really connect with the themes I'm trying to weave into my writing. Then again, I'm a musician myself, so I listen a little differently than some might.

That's an interesting question. I set up an instrumental station on Pandora.com, with a lot of Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Liquid Mind, etc., usually whatever comes up is fine. Though it's definitely the sci-fi/fantasy geek in me talking, I will say one song in particular that puts me in some sort of transcendental imagination trance every time I hear it is Ray Lynch's "The Oh of Pleasure" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmXFv7XwAE

I can listen to the Space Camp mix from Schwarzblog over and over. On my last feature I did a lot of Spotify Artist Radio based on Gui Borrato. I was working at a standing desk and I ended up doing a lot of The Running Man.

I have two stations I put together on Pandora.com used mostly to get the brain flowing. One is formed from Pink Martini and the other from Zero 7. Both bands are used in films quite a bit. Then, when I hit the page, it's Classical symphonies and conciertos only. No idea why, but it works every time even when I'm trying to procrastinate. A little Chopin or Beethoven in the air and I start typing.

Go into the Story, meet Living the Romantic Comedy. Some good recs in Billy's music thread.

Scott, I totally agree on the point that while writing pages, music with lyrics can be distracting. But instrumental soundtracks are often too slow of a tempo to get my juices going. And so- I've found a very happy medium, that, at least with the fast paced script I am writing, works wonderfully—House music. Artists like Kaskade, Deadmau5, Avicii, Penguin Prison, Glitch Mob, Calvin Harris, AND if I'm really feeling something dirty to get me super amped, I'll shift to some heavy hitting house: Flux Pavilion, Nero, Knife Party, etc. Maybe you guys who aren't in your early 20's are rolling your eyes, thinking I'm some rave-head who thinks robot noises are music, but listen to this and tell me you don't want to write a crazy heist scene to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGJxWOWpXpw

Soundgarden. Alice'n'Chains. Depeche Mode. sometimes, jazz -- ie, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck.

As a Brit writing out of my comfort zone - it's set in the Appalachia/Deep South which is somewhere I've never been - then I listen to music that connects with the imagery I have of those areas so Ry Cooder's Paris, Texas and also the theme to Southern Comfort. Other than that it's a little instrumental bluegrass or Gillian Welch. It takes me right there.

Definitely a Michael Mann heist scene for that youtube clip! For me, it all depends on the script I'm writing: 1930's period piece = all sorts of great early swing and Cole Porter-type pop. Time travel thriller = alt rock, electronica, radiohead. I had to write a B action movie on assignment and the Rambo soundtrack REALLY put me in the mood. Biblical adventure script = Peter Gabriel's score for the Last Temptation of Christ is incredible. Plus a lot of Requiem masses (Mozart and Faure mostly) Whatever gets you in the mood, I say.

I just use Pandora. You writing sic-fi? Set up an Avatar station. Drama? Ennio Morricone station please. and so on and so on... Pandora kicks ass.

Totally agree with that. Whatever transports you into that world best.

All jazz, all the time. Lately my brain seems to go into creative overdrive when spinning Antonio Jobim albums. Dig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxop_VZQsRg

I listen to whatever resonates with what I'm writing. my current script is set in Texas and I've been listening to country and Explosions in the Sky.

I listen to whatever resonates with what I'm writing. My current script is set in Texas and so I've been listening to country and Explosions in the Sky.

I listen to trance music during every stage of the writing process - except re-writing. Here the music changes to reflect the change in mind set I need to adopt. So I switch off the trance and bang on the Mozart.

Pretty much anything by Ludovico Einaudi. Great soundtrack/mood music.