"The more songs you write, the more good songs you write" - cs

I recently held a workshop for SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association). It was all about 'dissecting the songwriting process".

From doing the workshop I was able to summarize my own songwriting process into bite size pieces. A very handy exercise for someone like myself who (at times) tends to make things more complicated than they should be.

Here is the summary for you. Enjoy :)

The workshop was also personally beneficial because it gave me an opportunity to hear how other songwriters put their songs together from the initial songwriting idea to the organization of their finished product.

From reading my blog posts you would certainly gather that I am a huge believer of the 'writing for writing sake' principle. I'm obsessive about having to get what is in my head out onto paper.

That's why having a songwriting process is so important.

I know that if my head becomes full of 'stuff that needs to come out' I don't have to think about how I should do that. The process of gathering songwriting ideas becomes almost automatic leaving me more time to be actually creative, not creatively administrative.

As promised here is the summary of my songwriting process

1. Have the right tools available
Nothing beats a beat-up tape recorder and an A4 writing pad and pen. The simplest songwriting tools around.

2. Make time
Even if it's 15 minutes a day between finishing breakfast and going to work. Make time!!

3. Have an open mind
Be open to anything. You don't know where the next songwriting idea will come from.

4. Let yourself go
Don't become preoccupied with past or future. For the amount of time you have set for yourself to write you are totally "in the now".

5. Develop a single-minded focus
If you decide that an idea is worth developing into a song and you're happy with it so far, then focus your attention on creating a song from the idea.

6. Perfection does not exist
It doesn't have to be perfect. If you need to re-write the draft do it because it needs it not because you have to.

7. Ask lots of questions
Writing lyrics is all about exploring a story or a concept. Ask lots of questions like "does this new idea need to be in this song?" will keep you on track.

8. Walk away
If it's not flowing, just walk away and come back to the song. There is no rule that says a song needs to be finished in one sitting.

9. Have fun
Go off into tangent, run with a songwriting idea to see where it leads you. If it leads nowhere then reflect on the journey.

10. Practise, practise, practise
Any process needs to be repeated to be made automatic. Practise often.

Here are my blog posts on "My Songwriting Process" for further reference

Songwriting Help - My Songwriting Process (Part 1)
Songwriting Help - My Songwriting Process (Part 2)

My suggestion is to read them and then, refer to this summary.

Your songwriting process is whatever you want it to be however, if you are serious about having the ability to write songs, you need to start looking at your process.

Until next time, happy writing,

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

While you're here you might as well check out my other blogs
The Bizzo - Indie Music Industry Tips
Recording Studio And Live Music Tips

Download my FREE eReport today
11 Ways To Eliminate Writers Block FOREVER!!

Keywords: songwriting process, songwriting tip, songwriting, song writing, singer songwriter, songwriting news, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, corey stewart