I usually end up making playlists for my stories, too, but I use them more to get in the mood to write rather than actually listening to them while I write. I do sometimes listen to music when I write, but usually only instrumental music, like classical stuff and movie scores. When there are words to sing along to, I do that instead of write LOL. I have found that music makes me more dramatic with my writing, so when I'm trying to lay off the melodrama, I don't listen to music. If I'm writing a big, angsty, emotional scene, then music can be helpful.
I don't think I could ever write in public like you do at Starbucks, Steph. I would be paranoid about people watching me. Plus, I like to get up and wander around as I'm writing, and that would look weird. I was never able to write with someone else in the room back when I used to share a room with my sister and then a dorm room with a roommate.
