If you've ever been in a high school English class, you've studied how drama is created in a play, a novel or short...
Lyrics
Song Sketching: Tell Stories Like A Movie
Song Sketching is very similar to object writing, and is the next step in the process to craft your song. Unlike...
Poetry As Lyrics: Using Anaphora
We've all heard it: poetry as lyrics just doesn't work. But, as your songwriting skills grow, and you begin using...
Change Perspective But Keep Your Point Of View
Perspective isn't a common songwriting topic. Most songwriting conversations revolve around Point of View (POV), but...
Texture In A Song: What Is It?
Texture is what helps tie your lyrics to an emotional connection for the listener. Texture is the particulars that...
Songs Using Allusion: Joel To Swift
While it's one thing to know what an allusion is, applying it to your songwriting is easier to grasp if you can study...
Allusion: What Is It?
You probably see or hear an allusion in use a couple of times a day, but do you use it in your songwriting? Have you...
Can A Three Character Song Work?
A three character song doesn't work. We've all heard it, and if you haven't, you will. In song feedback sessions...
Song Outline: Church’s “Kill A Word”
To help learn more about what is one of the biggest challenges in writing a song - story line or thought progression -...
What’s A Simile In Songwriting?
A simile is a type of "figurative language" used in creating imagery. Wait . . . figurative language and imagery...
Point Of View (POV) Switch Exercise
One of the easiest ways to increase your understanding of point of view (POV) is to take a song you've completed and...
Lyric Basics: What’s a Metaphor?
A metaphor is a type of "figurative language" used in imagery. It's best used to make a connection between things your...
Verb Power
Making your songs memorable includes not only a great story, but great imagery as well. The words "jump" and...
Parts Songs
You've heard of a parts car - so why not have parts songs? One of the best ways to give yourself permission to pull a...
4 Steps To Connect Your Song Scenes
Here are four easy steps to help you connect the verses in your song - or song scenes! Following them will help make...
Personification In A Song: “I Am A Town”
Personification in a song is hard to do well. Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Am A Town" is not only the most ambitious,...
Song Hook Hook-Ups!
As a songwriter, finding a great song hook is your bread and butter. But waiting for the light bulb moment to happen...
5 Core Elements Of Song Plot
What is a song plot? Sure - all songs have them, and as a songwriter you're supposed to create compelling plots with...