"We have so much information around us these days, so why can't we find anything to write about?" - cs

I believe that there are so many ways in which a songwriter can glean inspiration. One of the ways is immersing yourself in the media that we are exposed to every day like newspapers, TV and magazines.

It's not what media you use that inspires but how you use it. Today I'm talking about books.

Ok, I'll admit it. I don't read enough. In fact I think generally, we as a society don't read enough.

There are many reasons for this but for me personally, when I start reading a book I start to feel guilty.

It's very strange I know but I start feeling that there is something else that I can do besides sitting in a comfortable chair and do nothing but read.

I was talking to a friend of mine about thisrecently and he made a suggestion that was astounding.

He said to me "why don't you use reading a book as part of what you do as a songwriter".

I never thought of reading a book in that way but the more we discussed this concept the more excited I became. I knew that this was going to open some doors for my own songwriting process.

Simply put, use books as a reference library of words, phrases, quotes, statements and sentences that you can use for your songs.

Now, I'm not talking about plagarism here. No! Just a shifting of your perspective by using other peoples words to form newly created perspectives in your own mind. It is these new perspectives that you write songs from.

I have started to experiment with this technique and the results have been amazing.

1. I start off with my book and a writing pad plus a highlighter pen (the pen is optional, but I don't recommend using it if you are reading a book that you have borrowed from someone else).

2. I then start reading but one chapter at a time rather than as many pages as I can in one sitting.

3. As I am reading, any phrase, words or sentence that jump out at me or that I feel some affinity with, I write down or highlight with my pen (or both if I think it's really important). Once I write it down I re-read the sentence so I don't lose track of the story.

4. If there is a passage that moves me I stop and write down what I'm feeling at the time. How do I relate to that passage? Is there a story for a song in there?

5. At the end of the chapter I then write a synopsis of it in my journal.

6. If one of my captured lyrical songwriting ideas also has a melody attached to it, I then get my guitar out and start formulating something from it.

That, in a nutshell is the process that I have been experimenting with. It is not perfect as I have only just begun to use this technique but I have found that structuring my reading activity by having a 'purpose' to it (ie: gaining songwriting ideas) I can read a book and not feel guilty about doing so.

As with any songwriting process, one songwriters way of doing things will be different to another. All you can do is try it out and see what happens.

However, if you have any suggestions on how to improve this fledgling songwriting technique let me know.

I'm excited...

Until next time, happy (reading and) writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
www.coreystewartonline.com
www.orangutangmusic.com
www.myspace.com/coreystewart

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