Personal Log: Scott Rick

I have to agree with BramP (I think), who said that music makes posting notes easier (if that wasn't BramP, I apologize to whoever it was; memory ain't what it used to be y'know). It's not a requirement of course, but it does help; especially if the music is fitting.

There are really two kinds of music, I'd say: emotional and active.

Emotional music is the kind of music that you need to play whenever you're writing an emotional scene (go figure). It's possible to write an action scene with emotional music, but I find that it tends to force me into a more emotionally-charged adventure sequence than active music does.

This is the kind of music I listen to when I want to truly understand what my character is feeling. It's hard to find good emotional music. It's possible, but in the end most music -- at least, the kind I listen to -- tends to become active at some point. Soundtracks, (not?) surprisingly tend to be best for the emotional music scene -- things like Lord of the Rings soundtracks and the like. If you get an action-adventure, sci-fi, etc. movie, you run into the problem I just described: even the most emotional music gains a sense of urgency that lends itself toward action rather than emotion.

Sad music I find best; I've done some of my best work with Marilyn Manson, Stabbing Westward and Nine Inch Nails. Odd, neh?

Active music is all that other stuff. Anything with a beat, really. When I say 'active,' I dont necessarily mean in the leaping-from-the-chandeliers sorta active; it can be an intense negotiation, a lead-up to battle, whatever... but the music lends itself toward forcing the action. I find that active music makes me want to be a part of the action. When I listen to the Imperial March, I can almost see myself watching as the super star destroyer overshadows everything in the fleet with its massive bulk; or Korn's Twist makes me think of trolls dancing around a fire, probably preparing to sacrifice some innocent young soul.

Active music makes me feel like I'm there.

I won't say which is best; I doubt either is. They're just different, and used for different purposes. But it's difficult to work against the music; I guess that what I'm trying to say. Don't work against the music.