This “Eleven Things” song prompt focuses on selecting from a variety of items to provide you with a large, outside-the-box array of objects to spur your imagination. It’s a great way to start getting your brain working not only for songs, but poems as well. By using items most of us can relate to quickly and easily, you will spend less time trying to manufacture a scene, characters or circumstances.
Best for: writing lyrics development.
As a twist on the prompt, you can write a poem using one of the prompts and then convert the poem to a song!
Tips To Get You Started:
Next Step:
It can be something as simple as verse/chorus/verse/chorus/chorus or verse/verse/verse. You don’t have to stick with it – but it will give you a framework so you can focus on the lyrics.
The Music:
Choose some chords you’re comfortable with to start. You can always change them later as you work through the melody and create variations.
Try not using an instrument and simply sing into a voice memo app. You’ll find the chords later. This will allow you to create something that is not restricted to what you know how to play.
Eleven Things Song Prompts – Select and Write:
Find a quiet spot and focus!
| 1 | Things in a kitchen drawer |
| 2 | Things in a refrigerator |
| 3 | Things you can’t live without |
| 4 | Things you can’t live with |
| 5 | Things that no one uses anymore |
| 6 | Things you’ve lost |
| 7 | Things in a bus station |
| 8 | Things in your closet |
| 9 | Things that fall |
| 10 | Things from the 19th century (change #) |
| 11 | Things on your bookshelf |