Writing Lyrics like you Love Songs

There are a lot of different opinions and perspectives about how to approach songwriting and about what makes a good song. The reason I love my lyrics so much is because they are songs that I want to listen to. I haven't gotten to the point where I have any recordings of the songs that I've written, but there have been so many times when I've been browsing the web for music or listening to a radio station and thought to myself, "You know what? I don't really want to listen to this. I want to hear my song!"

And since there is no recording, I can either listen in my head or sing it to myself. Sometimes it's because the song I wrote relates to something personal I went through, but it's usually just because I think it's a song that has a lot of potential and is fun to sing. And if I enjoy it that much I think other people would enjoy them too.

Write the songs that you would want to listen to. What kind of lyrics pull you into the song? What makes a song stand out to you? Write those kinds of songs because if you want to take those songs anywhere you have to stay motivated and it's hard to stay motivated about a song that doesn't even hold your own interest, let alone anyone else's.

Look to the songs that you enjoy and pull inspiration from them. What rhyming patterns work for the song you're listening to? What metaphors make the song work? It's similiar to reading stories to help you become better at writing them. Examine the strengths that these other writers have and compare them to your weaknesses. Where could you use a better metaphor? Which rhymes are out of place or don't make sense? Once you start paying closer attention to what techniques make other songwriters successful, it will be easier to apply those lessons to your own songwriting. Never underestimate the value of self education and determination.

~Eliza

Self Education

Songwriting and creating music are things that a lot of people dream about. And most people who actually pursue it don't just want to get by. They want to make it big. People who want to take advantage of that to make some money know that a lot of these dreamers are not as educated as they think they are.

Take myself for example. In terms of having pride in my work I am ready to pursue a songwriting career. And a few weeks ago I felt like I was ready despite a lack of knowledge of how the songwriting business works. It seemed like an acceptable approach to see where networking could take me and learn along the way. Fortunately an unplanned stop by Barnes and Noble made me realize how naive and unprofessional that was. I saw some books about songwriting and the music industry and decided to educate myself a little. I couldn't believe how much I had learned, things I had before thought I could go without knowing, after only a few chapters. One thing the books talked about was legal contracts with anyone who you write or record a song with. I hadn't put much thought into that. I realized as I continued that there were a lot of important things I hadn't considered much at all. And I realized that that put me at a serious disadvantage.

In terms of having completed songs and having pride in my work I am ready to pursue a songwriting career, but there are a lot of people who would be more than willing to take advantage of my ignorance. That's why I am focusing on educating myself on the music business, as well as music itself. If I see an opportunity in front of my I'll obviously take advantage of it, but at the same time I recognize the value of increasing my knowledge on things that are vital.

As I learn I want to help other people who have the same interests. I am creating a new page for resources for songwriters. I will post books, links, and websites that I find helpful as I continue to learn more. I will also occasionally add a blog post for resources that are exceptional.

~Eliza