Best Story Writing Playlists - YouTube Edition
- Lola Lujan
- Jun 16, 2023
- 3 min read
While there are some who prefer to write in silence or with the light ambience of a quiet cafe, I am not one of them. I need the perfect playlist for the specific book I’m working on. I believe that music can help me feel the mood of a scene more clearly and help place me into the universe of the story, especially during those moments when I am having a hard time writing at all. So I’ve compiled some playlists that I’ve used before and some that have gone viral for their perfect fit for specific genres.
Youtube
YouTube is an excellent source of music for story writing but it can be a bit hard to work when ads continuously pop up. If you’re anything like me and you’ve absolutely refused to pay for YouTube Premium, here are some longer videos so you don’t have to deal with ads (as often) that would be great to listen to when writing!
Fantasy
“your character is discovering something magical (fantasy writing playlist)”
By Abbie Emmons
Gives Harry Potter vibes at first but very magical feelings throughout.
“1 Hour High Fantasy Adventure Music | Voywage Dans La Lune - Jo Blankenburg”
By Lantern
High fantasy adventure time!
“Fantasy Bard/Tavern Music Compilation”
By Celestial Draconis
Tavern music that would probably be great even for DND session.
This playlist has lyrics which may be distracting.
“1 Hour of Ambient Fantasy Music | Tranquil Atmospheric Ambience \ Enchanted Lands Vol. 1”
By The Guild of Ambience
Your character must be going through some heavy self reflection at this moment. This gives spiritual realm vibes and I am totally using this to meditate later.
Mafia / Dark Romance
“Your hero is falling in love with the villain (dark romance playlist)”
By Abbie Emmons
Very specific vibes but I think general enemies to lovers with dark elements here.
This playlist has lyrics which may be distracting.
“Mafia Reading || Playlist || {instrumental}”
By agent03_Dominique
Hip hop elements with some of the beats but the vibes alternate throughout.
“High sexual tension between you and the villain | a slowed playlist”
By Mth
You know I had to put something like this in here.
This playlist has lyrics which may be distracting.
“Dark Romance Music Playlist for reading, studying, or just chilling”
By martini life
Probably one of my favorite dark romance playlists. The instrumentals at time just make me close my eyes and feel the music.
Royalty / Classical Ballroom
“nostalgic for a fairytale you were once in (classical music)”
By Hexen
Classical music does not always feel fantasy related as it is labeled. It gives ballroom romance fantasy at most.
“Fantasy Classical Music for Reading and Writing”
By HALIDONMUSIC
The vibes are just as the title implies. So the mood varies throughout but definitely something to consider when needing to fill the silence with classical ambiance.
“you’re the hero waltzing with the villain, realizing they were right all along (dark royalty core)”
By oliviaalee
Once again, very specific but it has a heavier atmosphere in comparison to the others that’s necessary for those dark classical moments.
“Classical Music for the Villains ou there *Epic Music*”
By A Vampire’s Playlist
Even villains need their moments, right? This has more epic/movie soundtrack vibes but can still captures those dark knight vibes.
Sci-fi
“pov: you’re a dystopian hero leading the revolution (re-upload)”
By Abbie Emmons
End of the world vibes. Bring it on.
This playlist has lyrics, which may be distracting.
“You fall into the fantasy world you were writing about; a dystopian fantasy playlist”
By Ame
More epic music energy, but I think this playlist is one size fits all with fantasy, dystopian, and sci-fi elements!
“Ambient cyberpunk Music for Reading, Studying, Work and Concentration”
By SpaceWave - Cosmic Relaxation
This gives cyberpunk, futuristic city elements with excellent graphics that only add to the world building. This is more on the ambient side so it won’t give you that action packed punch you might be looking for.
“Synthwave Cyberpunk Mixtape | Volume One”
By MrSuicideSheep
Here’s that action packed punch we were talking about!
Others
“A Soundtrack for the Anti Hero - Music for Pure Vengeance”
By Secession Studios
“alright, make me your villain (part 6) // villain playlist”
By sunsetdreams
Specifically for those villains out there. Or all my morally gray boyfriends and girlfriends out there.
Some of the songs in these playlists have lyrics which may be distracting.
“Relaxing With Japanese Bamboo Flute, Guzhen, Erhu | Musical Instrument Collection”
By Ambient With Flute
“Chinese Music Instrumental Music, bamboo flute vs guzheng.”
By Traditional Music
Any writers with an ancient Japanese or Chinese setting? These videos just do something to my brain in all the best ways.
Comments