That Moment it Comes to You

Passion Level: 10
Motivation Level: 9

Before I get into the topic for this post, I want to make a quick note about Despite the Things You Say. I'm very anxious to share this song, but I'd really like to get it set to music so I can present it in an effective way. I do not want to post the lyrics before then. I'm also going to be making a dedication video in which I will be dedicating the song to the people who inspired it and explaining why I feel they needed to hear the message most.

The other day someone asked me how I get my ideas for songs. I've found that journaling helps me the most. Writing down what I'm feeling in the moment helps me have something to reference when I need an idea. So if I'm in a creative mood but I'm not coming up with any ideas yet, I start flipping through my journal and that usually helps a little bit. Even if there's nothing particularly exciting about an entry, I can usually come up with something based on what I wrote about how I was feeling that day.

When an idea does come to me I usually get the melody and the lyrics at the same time, which is rare for a lot of people, but for me it's rare to get just the lyrics or just the melody in a particular moment. They just come at the same time and I'm very grateful that my mind works in such a convenient way.

I will usually have a verse or a chorus that I'm happy with within a couple of minutes. After I get that verse or chorus, however, I often have difficulty adding to it. I'm happy with what I have, but completing the song in a way that flows well and makes sense is difficult.

The main reason for that is that when I get the original idea, which is usually only a few lines, I'm busy doing something else and don't have the time to drop everything and try to add to the song in that particular moment. When I try to pick it up later, I don't have the same energy and inspiration that I did before. I've found that the best thing to do is continue with the song if you have the time, and if you don't have the time at least try to recreate the moment you got the idea. For example, if you get an idea when you're at work and scribble it down somewhere quickly, journal about your day at work up until that point. If you get an idea while you're driving it might help to try finishing the song while you're sitting in the car or even go out for a drive. You won't be able to recreate the moment it came to you, but you can recreate the mindset you were in. It may sound difficult, but if you try it you'll find that it's easier than you think.

~Eliza

Defining my Priorities

As I think about how I want to move forward, I have to prioritize my projects and my time. What actions can I take right now to move forward? And what actions can I be taking in the near future to move forward?

The first thing I feel I need to do is increase my number of complete songs. My songbook has plenty of half songs that I wrote a verse or two for, but never finished. I need a more diverse selection of completed songs that I can start sharing with people. Having more incomplete songs than complete songs doesn't do me much good and won't get me very far.

The next thing I need to do is start taking steps to find composers and/or bands who have an interest in my songs. I don't play any instruments and can't afford to take lessons right now. I need to get in trouch with people who can set my songs to music and are willing to work with me.

Of these two priorities, I can get more specific about what I need to do to reach my goals. For example:

Priority 1-Completing More Songs
-Moments of Happy
-Anything to You
-Victim Card

Priority 2-Connecting with Composers
-Posting my Lyrics
-Singing my Songs
-Posting Ads to Find Anyone Interested

Not only have I identified my top two priorities, but I have also clarified the steps I'll take to complete these tasks. Each of these steps can be broken down even more to be more specific about what needs to be done, but what I have now serves the purpose of setting my priorities so I can reach my goals. I plan to make this a great year!

~Eliza

Recognizing Your Growth

A funny thing happened last night while I was going through some boxes I hadn't unpacked. I found my first songbook! There may have been some other notebooks that I had scribbled some songs in, but it was the first notebook I ever considered a songbook.

A few of the songs were pretty good, but most of them were absolutely horrible! It's amazing how differently I approach songwriting than I did six years ago.

Today I take it more seriously and back then it was something I did when I got bored and didn't have anything else to do. Still, the differences are incredible. And it's encouraging to realize how much I've improved and grown as a lyricist.

Take a moment today to look over some of your old songs. You'll probably be surprised to see how much you've changed and how much you've improved.

~Eliza

Another Rejection

Passion Level: 10
Motivation Level: 10

A few days ago I received an email from the staff of the American Songwriter Lyrics Contest. The second song I submitted, Can't Take Away Who I Am, was not a winning entry.
I had confidence in both of the songs that I submitted, but after reading the winning entries I don't think my songs are well suited for this contest. I am debating whether I want to submit another song, but I doubt I will.

~Eliza

A Success and a Failure

Passion Level: 10
Motivation Level: 8

My song fragments goal was not reached by the end of the year. I was able to complete "Way That I Can Understand" but I'm disappointed that I was unable to finish "Despite the Things You Say". The song is about half done. This song means a lot to me and has a very strong message. It's a message that I care about and want to share. It's about an issue I want to take a stand on.

So what do you do when you set a goal for yourself and then don't make it? You finish what you set out to do, no matter what day it is. And you put your excuses behind you.

The only reason I didn't reach my goal is because I got overwhelmed with other things that were happening in my life. If I want songwriting to become more than a hobby I can't make a habit of letting those kinds of things become excuses. Life happens. That should be an inspiration instead of a roadblock.

~Eliza

Your Lyrics, Your Biography

Your lyrics should be whatever you want them to be, but if you're going to bother writing lyrics at all you might as well tell your story at the same time. Think of your lyrics as your biography.

As I look over the lyrics I have in my songbook I'm reminded of different experiences I have had. Sure, lots of them were lyrics I just wrote for fun, but they all reflect a perios of time in my life. What I was experiencing at the time was what my lyrics were about. And that's the way it should be. My biography is in those words.

The first song I wrote was probably a church song. I don't remember it and I'm sure the notebook I wrote it in is now long lost. Those were my Sunday school days.

My lyric writing picked up in high school. I didn't really date, so the romantic songs I wrote were based on imaginary relationships. I became sick with a painful illness that led me to be suicidal. As I recovered I wrote songs about how much I struggled with what I was going through, how misunderstood I felt, and how I was glad that I didn't take my own life. I wrote a song called "I'd Rather Feel Nothing" about how intense the pain was sometimes. I wrote a song called "So Beautiful" about how I was determined to overcome being self concious. And I wrote a song called "So Sick" about how fed up I was with how someone was treating me.

And when I graduated from high school I started writing about how my dreams had changed and how being a grown up turned out to be a lot different than I thought it would be. I wrote a song called "Money Owns Me" about how being an adults turns out to be all about chasing money and the desperation to have enough. I wrote a song called "Still Believe in Dreamin" about how I didn't want to give up on what I wanted to do.

And now at 21 I am more determined than ever to pursue my dream of being a songwriter. And as I continue this journey my songs will reflect that.

~Eliza

Fragments Update

I am on track to complete the five fragments mentioned in the previous post by the end of the year! I have also come up with some new pieces over the past week that I will begin developing as soon as I complete my current list.

I will be posting some of those lyrics on here for critique and feedback, as well as posting my own critiques of lyrics.

~Eliza