Song Prompt: Use a Book as a Starter
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Write a Song About Some Aspect of a Book
It can be:
- The dedication of a book
- A single chapter in a book
- The whole book as a sequence, e.g., chapter 1, chapter 2
- A page or a component like the cover, a paragraph or a sentence
- A genre or type of book, e.g., the good book, a comic book, a notebook, a scrap book
- A character in a book and developing a larger story
Questions To Ask Yourself
- Who is the main character what’s their connection to “the book”?
- What is the drama associated with the “book” – i.e., the tension?
- Why is the book so important anyway? Does that create some of the tension/drama?
- Is the story being told to someone, being remembered, or taking place now?
- Where does all of this take place?
- Is the place warm, cold, a vacation spot, a quiet place, someone’s room, a bar? Be sure to describe it in detail!
Prompt Chord Progression
Key = D
Verse: D – Em – G – A (I-II-IV-V)
Chorus: C – Bm – G (bVII-IV-IV)
Need more chord progression to choose from? Use this Guitar Keys And Chords Cheat Sheet along with common chord progressions.
What’s Next?
Step 1: write for 15 minutes on one of the items (or similar) above
Step 2: create a song idea from the above
Step 3: decide on your song plot and key song plot elements
Step 4: use the chord progression to write around
Step 5: use a song you like to write a ghost song off of if you’re having difficulty with a melody line
Great Example of How to Use a Book as a Song Prompt!
Elvis Costello “Everyday I Write The Book”