Usually I put in a movie that the kids can't watch so that they will leave me alone, but the ol' MP3 player is always turned on too. Don't ask me how, but I can tell you what's happening in the story I'm writing, what's on the TV and what I'm listening too. It's a gift and a curse.
Questions of Faith was born out of a Meatloaf song (My Life's a Lemon) and I was at work when it waltzed on in. I listen to everything but rap - rap is too hectic for my peace of mind. I've written to classical, pop, 80's, heavy metal, my Brother's band (Vex - which BTW was just named the Best Extreme Metal Band of 2006 here in Texas). So it really doesn't matter to me as long as it drowns out the every day noises that drive my muses to distraction.