MUSIC is one of the key inspirations for writers. Writers from Europe and China shared their ideas on how music has influenced their writing career at a seminar held in Hangzhou yesterday.

Organized by the Shanghai Writers' Association and Shanghai Daily and co-sponsored by Hangzhou Information Office, Hangzhou International Information Exchange Center (HiCenter) and Hangzhou Tourism Commission, the theme of the seminar was "music and writing."

At the seminar, the writers shared their favorite music and read their works in their mother tongue. Although most people in the audience didn't understand because of the language barrier, some said they still could feel the beauty.

"The reading itself sounds very like music," said Chinese writer Chen Danyan, who hosted the seminar.

Writers said their relationship with music often started at a very young age.

German writer and poet Mirko Bonn? said from school age they translated songs by musicians such as Neil Young. Though he couldn't understand the songs very well, he said his love for music has led to a love for poetry.

"Music influences people's body and then their emotions," he said.

Swedish crime novel writer Zac O'Yeah said soon after he graduated he joined a band, but alas, he didn't have many chances to perform on stage. Still, music has played a very important part in his life.

"In fact, there was a rock band in Sweden that adapted some content from my novel into a rock song," he said.

Writers not only talked on stage. Bulgarian Svetla Georgieva played guitar and sang a song she wrote. The song was dedicated to little things. In the song she expresses her gratitude to god that the world has many wonderful things that make it beautiful.

"I really love her song," Chen said. "I hope to hear Svetla sing again during her stay in Shanghai."

Guqin master Xu Junyue performed two songs at the seminar. Guqin, a plucked string musical instrument, is sometimes called the "father of Chinese music."

This is the second year that the cross-cultural exchange on literature is being held in Hangzhou. Last year, seven overseas writers shared their ideas on "Travel and Writing" with five local writers at HiCenter.

The seminar is a part of the Shanghai Writing Program, which started in 2008. Through the program, foreign writers are invited to live in Shanghai for two months. So far, 22 writers from different countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Hungry, Japan, Israel, Canada, Cuba, Ireland, Switzerland, Mexico, India and Greece have been invited.

The foreign writers live in an average household neighborhood and have a chance to experience Shanghai. The program also provides a platform for them to meet local writers and is a unique opportunity to learn about China at the grassroots level.

Inspiring thoughts on music

Amanda Michalopoulou (Greece)

"The lyrics are about living and death, and it's very influential."

Michalopoulou is one of the most successful and productive writers in Greece. She has published six novels and other works, including children's books. Michalopoulou said she loved the songs of Greek singer and composer Nikos Gkatsos. She shared one of Gkatsos' song "The Ballad of Uri."

Mirko Bonn? (Germany)

"My translation career started with some old songs. And their influence still lingers."

Bonne is a writer as well as a translator. He has translated the poetry of William Butler Yeats and Robert Creeley into German. He has also published several novels and poetry collections. Bonne believes music can influence people's bodies and emotions.

Zac O'Yeah (Sweden)

"I look for inspiration from music and musicians find inspiration in my works."

Born in Finland, O'Yeah once worked for a theater in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has long been involved in theater as a playwright, director, designer, producer and occasional performer. O'Yeah once traveled with a pop group.

Jo Kyung Ran (South Korea)

"Four years ago my editor sent the song to me. It said ?we don't know what love is, what life is, but maybe we will know someday, and goodbye'."

Jo debuted with her short story "French Optical" in 1996. Having won several awards in South Korea, some of her works have been translated into Chinese and received popularity among Chinese readers. Jo shared a South Korean pop music song.

Zdravka Evtimova (Bulgaria)

"My father told me that when you love a boy and do not dare tell him, you can write a song about it."

Evtimova has lived and worked as a literary translator in Germany and Belgium. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies in around 30 countries. Evtimova said when she was very young, she thought music came from tragedy and unhappiness, but her father also told her it could be used to express something beautiful.

Petter Lidbeck (Sweden)

"When I miss my homeland, I play some Swedish music to soothe myself."

Lidbeck started his writing career after adopting a Chinese girl from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. He has published more than 40 books, most of which are books for children. Some of his works have been translated in English and Chinese. Lidbeck said he doesn't have a good relationship with music. He said he can't sing or dance well, but he still loves music.

Zarko Milenic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Some of my works were written under the influence of Debussy and Chopin. I love Chopin so much that I often listen to his music when I write."

Milenic once worked as a journalist but he didn't like it, so he quit to write his own stories. He is a novelist, dramatist, critic and poet. Milenic said he could play accordion and once studied music in primary school.

Svetla Georgieva (Bulgaria)

"Words have rhythm. If we use the words well, the words can be really powerful, just like rain."

Georgieva is a poet, songwriter and singer. Her poetry collections have been translated into Italian and English. Georgieva believes music and literature are similar.

Sun Wei (China)

"No matter what sound we make, when we are sad or happy ... it is our own, which is like music. If we manage our system of sound well, we will be able to communicate with others well."

Sun majored in journalism and once worked as a director for Shanghai Television. She has since focused on writing and published 13 books. Sun believes everybody is a different type of musical instrument, and everybody can make their own sound.