Songwriting Launchpad: Tips On How to Write A Song

By Sally Quick

      Songwriting has been a passion of mine since I was very young.  My first song was co-written with my cousin about her grandmother’s teacakes when we were about 8 years old.  Inspiration is important.  At 50, food continues to rank among one of my favorite incentives.  Quality is necessary.  The song needs to be sound enough to stand the test of time.  Availability is desirable.  You may prefer to confine your creation to your inner circle, or write it for the world to hear.  A good song wants an audience.  A great song demands one.

     Songs have been written on most any subject imaginable.  Love won, love lost, faith, people, nature, pets, trains, trucks, morality, immorality, RV’s, Patriotism, money, and even politics hardly scratch the surface of the topics that can inspire a lyric.  Any competent songwriter has learned to look for inspiration in everyday and seemingly unimportant events.  This may contribute to the fact that many writers may seem to “look right through you” in a conversation.  Their creative minds are trolling for song ideas.

     The older I get, the harder I work at writing.  I want to write songs that inspire and encourage other people.  I want to write well-crafted songs about pertinent subjects and silly nonsense.  As an eternal student, I study the art of songwriting through several avenues.  Many books have been written on the subject by talented songwriters and industry professionals.  “Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell” is a highly rated book.”  “The Everything SongwritingBook” by C.J. Watson and “How to Write a Hit Song” by Molly-Ann Leikin are a part of my personal collection.  Other songwriters maintain educational blogs or write informative articles for various publications.  Songwriting seminars, intensives, and live workshops are very helpful ways to strengthen your writing skills.  Each of these resources can contribute to the ongoing education of songwriting.  It is extremely important to glean from the knowledge of others.

     I have had the privilege of meeting some very talented individuals in the Christian songwriting field.  One of these giants is Dave Clark, recipient of ASCAP’s 2009 Living Legacy Award.  Dave’s concern for others vies for the top spot in his list of qualities.  Among his many talents lies an aptitude for using modern technology.  However, Dave writes of his concern for the possibility of tech advancement to overshadow the need for good songs.  “We have the ability to prop up average songs with compelling videos and well-placed guitar solos…”  Clark reminds us that quality lyrics and well written music must only be enhanced by technology.  Kenna Turner West is another songwriter that comes to mind.  Kenna has had eight number one songs and over 20 song nominations.  She recently garnered her first two Doves at the 45th Annual GMA Dove Awards.  Kenna has a tenacity for staying with a song from start to finish.  Sue Smith, a five-time Dove award winner, has written over 55 musicals and nine number one songs.  Sue has a passion for helping other songwriters develop their talent.  The “Write About Jesus Workshop” is a writing intensive in St. Louis that Smith and her husband John started in 2000.  Melissa Brady is another accomplished Christian writer and she highly recommends the online writing course through the Berklee College of Music led by Jimmy Kachulis.

     The path of a song includes a number of steps, beginning with the concept.  This idea is referred to as the “hook.”  The creative process continues with writing or co-writing sessions.  This portion of the song is completed when all lyric and melody editing is finalized.  A good quality demo is recommended before pitching a song.  Modern technology facilitates in-house productions.  Feel free to record this yourself if you are a skilled musician and have access to adequate equipment necessary to make a good clean demo.  If not, hire a professional.  The motto here is “only serious inquiries need apply.”

     In the music industry, especially songwriting, there is an unwritten protocol that the writer should follow.  These guidelines can best be summed up with a list of Do’s and Don’ts.  I want to address only a couple of obvious ones.  Do develop relationships with artists and producers.  Networking is important.  I confess that I slip in this department.  As a creative type, I’m more comfortable in the corner of my garage writing that I am in a crowd. 

     The other topic is a “Don’t.”  Don’t send unsolicited songs by email.  Contact the person to find out if they are looking for songs and where to send them.  Sending song files can bog down some email servers, especially if several songwriters are pitching at the same time.  Don’t send a CD with a lot of songs.  Find out what type of songs the artist is looking for such as up-tempo, ballad, or ¾ songs.  In gospel music, there are some rather colorful terms for fast songs.  They include “Barnburner” and “Three Chords and a Cloud of Dust.”  You want to be able to fill a niche for the album that is being recorded.

     As a writer, nothing compares to watching a song go from a coffee stained ledger straight to the heart of the listener.