Music of Message

It’s been a year since I began writing Message in a Bottle. My editors pestered me to spend a few minutes here and get into one of my production quirks, particularly now that most of the serious drama is over. Like many authors, I use music, and a few seemed interested enough that I thought I’d get it down.

Movies use music to set the mood for specific scenes. Any of you who write will know this isn’t always effective. An action scene might take a minute or two on the silver screen, but writing that action could take hours. An action riff becomes more annoying than entertaining after listening to it for several hours. I don’t tend to use music that way.

Instead, I typically end up choosing songs that represent specific characters. Some of these inspired me to create their characters, others I discovered much later when I heard them and added them to my list for how well they slotted into place. Considering how much I have to write in a given week, it can be hard to get into the headspace of a specific character, or portray them accurately on the page. Whenever I switched perspective characters, or someone walked into the scene I hadn’t seen in a long time, I would queue up their song and sit for a few minutes to listen. By the end, I’d be in the right state of mind to write them. When I was actually writing, I preferred neutral, vaguely spacey music, quiet enough that it wouldn’t spoil my concentration. Stellardrone is a great choice for that, if anyone is curious.

I don’t have a song for every character–and you might not even like any of this music. Most of it isn’t the sort I’d listen to for my own enjoyment–but some of it is. Here they are, in no particular order. Oh, and these do contain spoilers for Message in a Bottle, so probably don’t read on if you aren’t current in the story.

James Irwin: The first main character, or the first stage in her growth. Dr. James Irwin considered herself human and struggled with many aspects of her body. Her assignment was difficult and the Forerunner was unsympathetic. If it hadn’t been for Lightning Dust, she probably wouldn’t have made it.This is what I fought for. I’ll figure this out… somehow.

Lightning Dust: A pony with lots of her own problems. In some ways she improved, but other aspects of her personality were only solidified by her exposure to Lucky, and the resulting rabbit-hole of an alliance with humanity. She represented a point of stability for Lucky, and that relationship helped her heal as well. This song helped me focus on that aspect of the writing specifically.It isn’t my fault.

Olivia: The third commander of the Forerunner’s colonization mission was more than a little flawed. She never should’ve been aboard a Forerunner probe, never should’ve been chosen. But here she was, and she had to make due somehow. You have violated the Ceres Proclamation. The penalty is death.(explicit)

Discord: The Failsafe, created by an ancient race wise enough to predict the likely consequences of a world ran by Harmony. Discord’s actions could often be perceived as evil, though he was never malicious. Chaos is growth, evolution, change. You will be free.

Flurry Heart: The princess of Equestria nopony wanted. In some ways she was similar to Twilight, desperate for a place in Equestria and some responsibility of her own, but without most of the competence and with a hearty helping of rebelliousness. Being a teenager is hard, but she’s ultimately a good girl. Maybe if I make a big enough difference mom will notice me.

Forerunner: For most of the story Forerunner wasn’t a character, he was a tool. But the most enduring legacy of mankind hadn’t sat idle for the eons, and his abilities grew. Forerunner would protect his crew and complete his mission. No matter how many times he failed first. The Pioneering Society does not stipulate an upper bound on colonization attempts.

Melody: The pony nobody needed. The clone whose job was already done. The pony Forerunner would’ve recycled if Major Fischer hadn’t intervened. But it was a good thing she did. Older, not wiser, and without Lightning Dust’s guidance. They don’t need me…

Lucky Break: One of the two characters who changed enough to warrant a second entry, as she developed. Lucky ended up thrust into a position of leadership she was woefully underqualified to fill. That didn’t matter, though. She’d already survived Equestria, she wasn’t going to give up. I didn’t tend to have to go back to Lucky very often since most of the story was from her perspective I didn’t really need music to help me switch. Even so, she’s got two songs, an older one and a newer one. I didn’t save the older ones for anyone else, unfortunately.Our mission is important. We have to help them see.

Martin Faraday: Some people see the world right in front of them and solve little problems. Others look a little further, dream a little bigger. Martin didn’t always give the most practical advice, but the Forerunner expedition would’ve been lost without her.A starship, sure? Just let me run the numbers…

Leutenient Perez: Perez was a competent commander, with an outlook shaped by fear and desperation. He was more resilient towards the duties of his office than many of his fellow soldiers. Despite frequently objecting to Lucky and her plans, Perez fought until the end. If someone has to die, it won’t be me.

Deadlight: Survivor of an ancient extinction, Deadlight survived the eons with his sanity intact. He managed to conceal his experience even from the Forerunner, though his secrets were eventually overcome. Just a little longer. We’ve nearly cracked this.

Princess Celestia: The pony who did what no other could. Without Princess Celestia’s terrible sacrifices, it’s likely there would’ve been no Equestria for the Forerunner to find. Kind to her friends, but ruthless to her enemies. Princess Celestia has preserved Equestria this long, and she will not fail now. I will keep Equestria safe from you.

Wayfinder: Death has a way of changing perspective. Major Fischer had been changing her point of view for a long time. Nothing quite like dying to give someone a new reason to live.I can still hear their screams.

Princess Selene: A previous ally of Discord, trying for who knows how many lifetimes to free her civilization from the quarantine. In some ways, she’s not all that dissimilar to her daughter, willing to pay a terrible toll in lives to see her goal accomplished. Do it, Discord. I know you can.

Harmony: Immeasurably ancient, immortal, vastly beyond the scope of anything a human mind could comprehend. Its power is vast, and its reach is limited only by the word of the Ancients. Like Celestia or Discord, Harmony isn’t evil–it is determined. It has preserved Equus through the end of galactic civilization. The risk that threat might still be out there is unacceptably great. You already serve me.