For two or three years, there was a time where I'd watch music videos before I'd write. Alongside this time, I'd pick a song or two, and write a short story inspired by the music.
While my writing is visual, designed to be read with the eyes rather than performed aloud, there is a definite link between writing and music. Mood and emotion are very important to both. Listening to the right song or songs helps me get into the mindset of the scene I'm working on, or the overarching story.
My first playlist for "Walk on Grey Ruins" featured two songs, both by Woodkid. "Iron" would represent one character, while "Run Boy Run" represented the other character as well as the overall plot. It should be noted that "Walk on Grey Ruins" was meant to be a short story, but soon got bigger. I'd need more music to help me get into my characters' heads.
At this point I was planning two books, so I made a playlist to reflect Sulla's emotional journeys in books one and two. I discarded the second book partway through in favor of expanding the first. I haven't touched the playlist for the cut book since. What did happen was a third playlist to expand upon the ideas I was working on for Sulla's overall story.
The fourth is for Trahaearn and hidden depths that get revealed throughout the story.
Trahaearn's emotional arcs didn't change much between drafts, so his playlist needed little tweaking after I put it together.
Recommended songs from the three playlists:
Iron by Woodkid
Beautiful World by Utada Hikaru
Deathless by Ibeyi
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