It was leading to rabbit holes of character arguments that spiraled into hellish domains where finding a feasible 'out' for Sunset grew dire indeed. After several attempts I've decided to just rip out the rootWriting to music · 12:13am Jan 4th, 2013
Ask any writer if they listen to music while writing, and if that music influences their writing, and I'm sure you'll get a resounding yes. Any who don't are liars, liars, and you should get a fire-extinguisher, as their pants have probably just burst into flames.
Naturally, my musical choices affect my writing, from inspiring whole stories (The Longest Night), to just tone and mood. I listened to the PMVs 'Hooves like Jagger' and 'Holding Out for a Hero' while writing Tiger Bloom, for instance. I wonder what that says about me, actually. Anyways, I've been wanting for a long time to share some of the songs I listen to while either writing certain characters or scenes.
After the Fall by Two Steps From Hell: This is my defacto theme when writing anything Twilight Sparkle related, especially in Sins of the Ancients. This song is one-half of the equation that got me back into writing, the other being The Thessalonica Legacy.
Fire Nation by Two Steps From Hell: Celestia vs Anything; if Celestia is about to beat something then this song probably played on a loop while I was writing. Everything about this piece of music screams something epic is about to happen.
The Moon Rises by Ponyphonic: Luna, you are my beautiful muse, and this song is just a masterpiece. I'd have to say I prefer it even above Lullaby for a Princess. Both are just wonderful, especially when writing non-action scenes involving any of the princesses.
Nightmare Night feat. Coconeru by Megaphoric: This song heavily inspired Fluttershy's midnight flight into the Everfree in Chapter 2 of Myths. I'm not very good at writing lyrics when characters sing, so I typically use another song as a template and then pray no one notices. Kind of just shot myself in the foot there, but what the smeg. I also use this song when writing the stars or nighttime scenes in conjunction with Ponyphonic's songs.
Four Seasons (Summer) by Vivaldi: This to me is quintessential Fleur de Lis. I listened to the entirety of Four Seasons while writing all 5 different drafts of Chapter 1 of Myths. That's five complete different re-writes mind you. Once upon a time Chapter 1 opened with the entire Siege of the Citadel of Light that's only been shown briefly in Chapter 6. The first draft, in particular, was far darker and more brutal than anything else I've written to date.
I used to write to a lot of Symphonic Metal (Epica, Within Temptation, Nightwish), but I've been heading more towards orchestral or true symphonies lately. I'm also always on the look out for new music. If anyone knows of something with either decent drums mingled with powerful string or piano work, let me know.
=. .=b
Edit: Mini-Spoiler: Currently I am writing Chapter 8 to Ocean Princess by Thomas Bergersen. The name of the song is very apt for the scene I am writing at this moment.
All these songs are epic! Also, good workout music.
I write while listening to final fantasy OST!
What if I "write" (read: type) Le Code, not poni words?
676401
Hmmm.... my brother listens to 80s metal while he codes, so based on that one data point... Yes! You must also listen to music while writing code! My logic: Flawless!
676425
I say try writing while listening to Wooden Overture. Yeah, the mood switches among the songs, but I find that it keeps my mind open, looking for different ways a scene can play out. Just a suggestion.
676461
Wooden Overture was the theme for much of the first several chapters of SotA. My playlist used to go:
Wooden Overture
After the Fall
Deae Lunae
Moon Rises
Dragonborn
Sovengarde
The Dragonborn Comes (cover by Malukah)
I also had a big Two Steps From Hell section, and another with songs from Deus Ex: HR and Inception.
Though the later group was only used when writing Before the Fall. I've not been listening to them since putting that story on Hiatus. 
676481
All of those songs are fantastic in my opinion!
I don't know why, and maybe this is just me, but when I listen to stuff like Vinyl Scratch's music or TheLivingTombstone's artwork, I just find that ideas flow a lot easier for me. Partly because my heart rate drops like a brick when I listen to that stuff, but that's just me.
676495
Honestly, I've not heard anything by TheLivingTombstone that really did anything for me creatively. That's not to say his work is bad, I just haven't been inspired by it yet. Not listened to anything by Vinyl Scratch.
I find that on the rare occasions that I muster up the motivation to write, the music I use is mainly video game soundtracks.
Especially Kingdom Hearts.
"Thomas Bergersen - Ocean Princess" and "Two Steps From Hell - United We Stand, Divided We Fall" are probably my two favorite epic songs. If you haven't listened to them yet, I advise you to do so with all haste.
Edit: Excluding movie suites, of-course :D.
Hmm...Ocean Princess, you say? Does that mean seaponies?
676546
I'm listening to Ocean Princess right now!
676561
Sadly, I can confirm there will be NO seaponies in Myths.
I must say I approve your choice of music
I absolutely adore Two Steps From Hell's music, generally this type of music. You may want to check up Audiomachine, same type of music. And of course The Moon Rises and Nightmare Night are both masterpieces, I downloaded them on my mp3 playerlong time ago.I recommend to you this channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PCHU13 Wonderful pieces of music can be found there!
676600
Danke! I'll give that channel a try.
Ah music... for me music is a MAJOR source of inspiration. Of course when I actually get down to the actual writing I prefer to avoid songs with words because songs with words have a story attached to them and unless that story and my story closely correlate I like to stick with music that lets me to do more of the interpreting. You know more really getting the mood.
Of course not to say that there aren't many awesome songs with lyrics that I don't use for inspiration. Heck a recent song that's been playing in my head as inspiration for a certain scene is the opening song "Shiver My Timbers" from Muppets Treasure Island. 
No lie!
676602
Hope you like it
Oh, I almost forgot! The Wonderbolts vs Shadowbolts original playlist by MandoPony! http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0F9BE31C59659F24 THAT is really something!
I freely admit I do.
I'm actually doing it write now, in the shower with my brand new water proof iPhone case!!
Best place to think(shower) and now I can actually write in it!!
Nice, but I have seen a few authors who say they can't write without music... although I can't definitively say that their pants did not catch on fire
676571
Aside from epic pieces, my second favorite (uplifting) mood setter source comes in the form of Latino, flamenco-ish songs.
I believe the genre is called 'sex'. For the curious, here's three (now with links!)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Santo Dominigo
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Buster Voodo
Santa Esmeralda - Don't let me be misunderstood
^ Overused as it may be, it's just too awesome to not include.
676425 every time i have ever written a chapter for a story that i was working on i have never listen to music while doing it. i dont need to listen to music while im doing this cause the words just come to me.
Since you said you were becoming more interested in orchestral work, I would say look up Carbon Maestro on Youtube. His Pony Empires tracks are absolutely amazing, but then again, most all of his work is amazing. When I write, I have so much of his stuff, one of his tracks inevitably plays.
688976
Interesting, I'll go give his stuff a listen right now. Thanks, I've been having trouble finding Shyara's theme for Myths. Nothing seems to really fit her. So far, Acheron by Carbon Maestro seems close.