--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For example, if it's a sad scene, I need…" description: "\"For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while, to get it right. Which is why I sometimes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/donald-ray-pollock-7796_degrees_for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-t_168864.png" --- # For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way… ![“For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while, to get it right. Which is why I sometimes listen to music when I'm revising. Music creates moods for me quicker than any other medium.” quote by Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/donald-ray-pollock-7796_degrees_for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-t_168864.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/donald-ray-pollock-7796_degrees_for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-t_168864.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/donald-ray-pollock-7796_degrees_for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-t_168864.png) > “For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while, to get it right. Which is why I sometimes listen to music when I'm revising. Music creates moods for me quicker than any other medium.” [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker uses music to quickly evoke emotions needed for authentic performance, highlighting music’s power to set mood faster than other media. **In simple terms:** Music helps trigger emotions quickly for better performance. Key Takeaway Use music to set the right emotional tone before tasks. Themes creativity emotion performance music Mood focused reflective Type practical advice When to use this quote - writing - acting - studying - public speaking Key Concepts emotional regulation sensory cues artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does music affect your focus? - Can other sounds replace music for mood setting? A Different Perspective Music may not work for everyone or may distract some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Listening to music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-to-music/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“Revising while you generate text is like drinking decaffeinated coffee in the early morning: noble idea, wrong time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-silvia/revising-while-you-generate-text-is-like-drinking-decaffeinated/) [Paul J. Silvia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-silvia/) > [I'm constantly revising and updating a piece until it's finally recorded. Once it's recorded, then it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/i-m-constantly-revising-and-updating-a-piece-until-it-s-finally/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Nothing quite has reality for me till I write it all down--revising and embellishing as I go. I'm always waiting for things to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/nothing-quite-has-reality-for-me-till-i-write-it-all-down-revising/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [In a story, for example, you'll start off with a character who is a little bit of a cartoon. That's not satisfying and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-a-story-for-example-you-ll-start-off-with-a-character-who-is-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I work on one page, revising and polishing until I can't make it better, then move on to the next. Some pages might get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-work-on-one-page-revising-and-polishing-until-i-can-t-make-it/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [ \[While designing\] I'm mixing two lines of thought really: me as a designer for women and then me as a man. At the start… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/while-designing-i-m-mixing-two-lines-of-thought-really-me-as-a/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Sometimes I can spend as long revising a manuscript as I spent writing it in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/sometimes-i-can-spend-as-long-revising-a-manuscript-as-i-spent/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [“I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve sat at my kitchen table working on these pages, been interrupted by a breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-ve-lost-count-of-the-number-of-times-that-i-ve-sat-at-my-kitchen/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [One of the things women poets have been engaged in - among the other things they've been doing - is revising parts of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eavan-boland/one-of-the-things-women-poets-have-been-engaged-in-among-the-other/) [Eavan Boland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eavan-boland/) > [Most writers want to share their essay or book much too quickly. 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At the outset a writer has often only a vague general notion of the plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/the-human-race-may-be-compared-to-a-writer-at-the-outset-a-writer-has/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [I believe Jack Smith might have written THE BOOK on writing and revising for publication. Clean, direct, succinct--a book that is full of pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-suarez/i-believe-jack-smith-might-have-written-the-book-on-writing-and/) Virgil Suarez > [I revise like crazy. I start revising before the pen hits the paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-revise-like-crazy-i-start-revising-before-the-pen-hits-the-paper/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) ## More by Donald Ray Pollock > [“Strangers complained about the stench, but the locals liked to brag that it was the sweet smell of money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/strangers-complained-about-the-stench-but-the-locals-liked-to-brag/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-don-t-really-think-the-outburst-is-recent-there-have-always-been/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Unless he had whiskey running through his veins, Willard came to the clearing every morning and evening to talk to God. Arvin didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/unless-he-had-whiskey-running-through-his-veins-willard-came-to-the/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [As for how I feel about any success I've had, I just feel extremely lucky. Writing is a tough racket, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/as-for-how-i-feel-about-any-success-i-ve-had-i-just-feel-extremely/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Part of the reason might be that I was born in 1954 and I look upon my youth with great fondness, like many old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/part-of-the-reason-might-be-that-i-was-born-in-1954-and-i-look-upon/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I've never heard of that anthology \[Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow\], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-ve-never-heard-of-that-anthology-vance-randolph-pissing-in-the-snow/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I first started out, I was trying to write stories about nurses and lawyers and a lot of people I didn't know anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-first-started-out-i-was-trying-to-write-stories-about-nurses/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [“It's hard to live a good life...It seems like the Devil don't ever let up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/it-s-hard-to-live-a-good-life-it-seems-like-the-devil-don-t-ever-let/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I'm not sure what the proper label might be, or the most accurate one, but someone once called my stuff Southern Ohio Gothic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-m-not-sure-what-the-proper-label-might-be-or-the-most-accurate-one/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Don't get me wrong: I think that everyone should put forth an effort to do better, but let's face it, some of us are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-that-everyone-should-put-forth-an-effort/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I look upon \[writing about religion\] as a nice way to get by in this precarious world, though I've never been able to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-look-upon-writing-about-religion-as-a-nice-way-to-get-by-in-this/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ \[Degree in English\] gave me a little more self-confidence, to know that I'd managed to complete something like that. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/degree-in-english-gave-me-a-little-more-self-confidence-to-know-that/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody else and live somewhere else. I've always felt a little uncomfortable around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-else-and-live/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [There are a lot of writers from the South who would probably have once figured they needed to go to New York to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/there-are-a-lot-of-writers-from-the-south-who-would-probably-have/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I think the biggest influence on the book, as far as the humor goes, comes, at least indirectly, from the men I worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-think-the-biggest-influence-on-the-book-as-far-as-the-humor-goes/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) [Explore all 87 Donald Ray Pollock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## More Degrees quotes > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. 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To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. 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