Do you love listening to music when you write?
The right playlist can completely change your writing session—it can calm distractions, steady your focus, or even set the mood for the story you’re trying to tell. But with so many options out there, how do you know which one will actually help you write instead of pulling you away from the page?
According to Writing Routines’ article on music to listen to as told by nine best-selling authors, there are plenty of different tunes for you to play while you write. One of them strikes more true than the rest, classical music.
Classical music is one of the mainstay genres for any writer who prefers to listen to music while they write. The obvious allure of classical music is that there are no words to distract the listener.
If we’re going for wordless, there are tons of those playlists out there, but if you don’t mind having some soothing wordy jams for writing, here are some great playlists for writing that you will enjoy. These are in no particular order.
What Kind of Music Should You Listen to While Writing?
Choosing the right playlists for writing is all about personal preference.
For many writers, downtempo or instrumental tracks are a great starting point. They keep stimulation low, distractions minimal, and your attention where it belongs—on your words. You might even find yourself inspired to build a playlist that feels like the soundtrack of your story, a companion to your creative process.
When you’re picking a writing playlist, it helps to run it through a quick check. Ask yourself:
- Is it easy to sing along to? If the lyrics are too catchy, you may find yourself singing instead of writing. Instrumentals are often the safer choice.
- Is it soothing? If your goal is focus, high-energy or intense beats can be more distracting than helpful. Look for music that matches a calm, steady headspace.
- Can you set it and forget it? The best playlists run in the background without demanding your attention—just enough sound to make you feel less alone while you work.
- Does it spark creativity? Music that stirs painful memories or pulls you into old emotions might not be the best fit when you’re trying to stay present with your words.
The good news? Spotify has endless playlists to explore, so with a little trial and error, you’ll find the sound that supports your writing rhythm.
1. Atmospheric Chill
I had a friend of mine recommend the Chill + Atmospheric playlist to me. As a fellow creative, he found this playlist super helpful in stimulating his creativity.
This 6-hour long playlist has over 785,000 likes and has a lovely feel that makes you want to “float away on heady orchestrations and haunting harmonies…” as they put it. Before the “haunting” part turns you off, give it a listen. It’s super chill.
You’ll find artists like:
- Novo Amor
- Haux
- Blanco White
- Rosie Carney
- Gia Margaret
You can pretty much expect this playlist to be slow tempo for the duration of the playlist. Rest assured, this is the perfect background music for people looking to get lost in their own mind.
2. Your Favorite Coffeehouse
The Your Favorite Coffeehouse playlist is my absolute go-to playlist for writing. I listen to it so much thought, I have learned pretty much all the words to everything. Luckily, they update their playlist often.
This playlist has amassed over 3.8 million likes and will keep your background noise busy for over 7 hours.
If I could describe this playlist, it reminds me of something I would listen to while snug in a corner of a cafe drink pots of tea while I work on my writing.
On this playlist you’ll find artists like:
- Haux
- The Avett Brothers
- Passenger
- Leon Bridges
- The Paper Kites
- Rosie Carney
Some of the artists in this playlist are from the previous playlist I mentioned. And while a majority of the songs are pretty somber, there are some chipper feel-good ones that will bring a smile to your face.
3. Bruno Major Radio
Bruno Major is becoming one of my favorite artists. I absolutely love how soothing his music is. It reminds me of the kind of music you would listen to when it’s raining inside and you’re curled up under a blanket reading your favorite book and drinking a hot beverage.
Had it not been for Spotify, I’m pretty sure I would’ve never found Bruno Major in the first place. The Bruno Major Radio playlist is on the shorter end, time-wise, coming in under 3 hours, and has a decent amount of likes, more than 8,700.
This playlist includes artists like:
- Bruno Major
- Sabrina Claudio
- Daniel Caesar
- khai dreams
- UMI
It takes on a bit of a “slow dancing” kind of vibe, but I totally dig it as a playlist for writing.
4. Sweater Weather Instrumentals
Lord have mercy.
The Sweater Weather Instrumentals playlist is so perfect for when you’re writing and you want anyone talking or singing to you.
This playlist is entirely instrumentals so you can stay ultra-focused as you write. This playlist with over 73,000 likes and will take you on a warm and cozy acoustic journey for over 5 hours.
You’ll find instrumentals from:
- Aaron Reid
- Olma
- Channing Spence
- Leo Klepper
- Flynn Simmons
This playlist for writing isn’t just for sweater weather, although the name of it suggests it. It is perfect for days when you’re inside writing and don’t want to be bothered by anything else. I highly recommend this playlist for any and all writers on a mission to finish their novel or writing project.
5. Heart Strings
I threw this one in there in the case that you don’t really care about what is on your playlist as long as something is playing in the background and you like it.
You will find many of these songs will be quite relaxing. However, one of the reasons I love this playlist is it can inspire some emotional scenes if you are in need of that kind of drama for whatever story you’re creating.
If you’re into a variety of different songs or looking for music that will potentially provoke some emotion, which is useful for writing, this is that kind of playlist. This playlist was curated by singer-songwriter, Branik.
She describes this playlist as,
“The playlist will pull on your heartstrings. Maybe you are in love, longing for someone, needing hope and courage to move on. Maybe your heart hurts. Put your headphones on and float through an emotional ocean. I’m here with you.”
Not only does she feature her own music, but she also features artists like:
- Madi Diaz
- Paper Kites
- Joni Mitchell
- La Bouquet
- Hillary Reynolds
- Rosie Carney
You’ll find a lot of great tunes you’ve heard before and a lot of others you might not have. No matter what, this will be a playlist to keep your background occupied as you write. While it has only amassed 12 likes, you’ll have three hours worth of lovely tunes.
Now that you’ve seen my recommended playlists, let’s get to writing! But before we do, I want to share a BONUS playlist – mine.
Current Novel WIP – BONUS Playlist [My Official Playlist]
This playlist is really just for readers and to put some of the scenes in my current WIP to music. If you want to feel what my novel is like and not just imagine it in your mind, listen to this playlist.
Finding Your Writing Soundtrack
At the end of the day, the best playlist for writing is the one that helps you sink into the page. Whether that means classical symphonies, lo-fi beats, or a custom soundtrack that mirrors the story you’re telling, the key is choosing music that supports your focus and creativity rather than stealing it.
So experiment, explore, and listen closely—not just to the music, but to how it makes you feel while you write. Somewhere out there is the playlist that will carry your words forward.
