A Look Behind My Writing Process- Using Songs To Inform How To Write Characterization/ Romantic Subtext

Taking a break from writing Dream- by writing about the process of how I write about the story.

If you somehow haven't noticed a trend that I carry through most of my stories- I either reference songs, put song links, or name chapters after song titles. Just something I do because I think of it as a musical journey as well as a literary journey. That probably sounds so pretentious and ridiculous- but most of my favorite stories that I've done were written this way.

So this might not sound insane- or it might. I don't only have song titles for the chapters- I have them for every major character in the story. Especially if I see them be very important in either one of three ways- they are one of the major plot characters that the story in seen through the eyes of, the character has a long important backstory chapter, or they die. I usually don't do the third option but it is there.

So I've thought of six songs that, in my eyes, are their respective leitmotifs. Yes, leifmotifs- we are going all technical up in here or something.
Applejack- Dream On. I chose this as her theme because of a few reasons: First, I plan on writing her a bit more reminiscent of the past and I do have a "parent's chapter devoted to why Granny Smith didn't freak out about AJ becoming Luna's knight. Also I'm going to write her as if she puts up a front to hide some of the deeper hurt that losing one's parents can do- and I am going for a bit less Lighter and Softer MLP since Cthulhu Mythos/ Dream Cycle.

Next I have two for Luna- Behind Blue Eyes by The Who. Writing Luna as a pony who is misunderstood and downright hurt that she gets pegged as the Nightmare by ponies and wants to be seen as an equal to her sister- or at least not demonized. Also she is still adjusting to "normal" life after finally getting out of therapy. Song for Nightmare Moon Luna- Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold because of how I want to take the corruption aspect of the MLP comics (the few I read) about the moonbeasts and take that into account for the "price of evil" that NMM actually is. Also she has a decent amount of guilt for leaving her section of the Dreamlands in the hands of Moony.

Piupsqueak- Now this is a strange choice but I see his leitmotif as Come Sail Away by Styx- partially because he loves the sea and pirates and stuff. But I also took it as a song about childhood and looking back on it fondly- since he is still childish I made it so that childhood wonder would influence how I wrote him- also he the navigation and captain of the ship. So that influenced it as well- though that might me chapter 4 or 5 material there.

And finally Fleur- Oh God Fleur. You might hate her first appearance- maybe, maybe not. I chose "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Hear me out. My characterization of Fleur is probably the strangest main character I've don in a while- rundown: she's one of the few knighted ponies in a period where the safety of Equestria is starting to be seen as a joke. She also has sweet adorable names for her son, Pipsqueak- yes in this continuity they are related- and had a berserk button of judging her parenting and her son. Also she has one of the few soulbound weapons in this. Her backstory is of a professional dancer turned assassin and therefore is one of the more refined characters easily sliding in and out of social situations as the job demands. Sexuality is unknown though probably straight since kid. And overall she is older than Applejack by at least ten years. Secretly she is also Celestia's lovechild by an unknown royal guard- thereby explaining her stature and overall royal look (An almost alicorn- Earth Pony/ Unicorn combo, no pegasi traits.. And she has multiple suitors that want to wed her- though she is known more for her dance skills and short temper and overall proficiency with a rapier.