|
No two songwriters are exactly the same in approach or method. One of the things teaching songwriters has taught me is that, like any other area of life, everyone has to find their own way.
In customizing my help for different writers I have generally noticed two extremes in approach – and found that writers tend in some degree or other to be a variation of one these two methods.
The first type of writer I might call the stream of consciousness type writer – very intuitive and vibey - feels first, organizes second. I have called it the "LA" style. I would probably include myself in that style - I like to get it all out and then go back and organize.
They can write page after page of deep thoughts and insights – but find it difficult to bottom line what exactly it is they are trying say. I am not sure if that is right or left brain type - as I have mentioned before, I am which ever one that would be that wouldn't know which one that is. (If you understand that you probably are too).
The other type of writer (in the extreme) I would classify as more structured – linear in approach - I would probably describe the method as more "Nashville" / business / goal oriented.
This writer would know if he was left or right brain – would probably be more able to articulate a theme or story line in a clear way. They tend to start a song with a title or clear idea. But this style of writer tends also to have a much more difficult time getting started and getting a lyric or song to say exactly what they mean or want to say. They sometimes find it difficult to say things in a new, fresh way.
Now, I am sure there are infinite variations and blendings of these in every writer, but for the purpose of this article, I will use these as the extremes.
I would venture to say most of my one on one consultations and mentoring type sessions are with writers in the first category - the "LA" style – people who write and write but are not sure how to organize and focus their writing to make the most of the material they put together.
I have written many articles aimed more or less at that type of writer without quite realizing I was doing so.
They are the writers who would benefit most from advice about finding your title / theme, focusing your lyrics in a conversational, natural way, and telling the story in a clear enough way for the listener to understand easily.
That type of writer (LA) also tends toward the more eclectic, and sometimes has a hard time with the concept of the listener not quite being able to follow the story line (to the point at times of arguing whether or not a song needs a story line — but that is another article).
I will usually go through lyrics with this type of writer and have them read them aloud to me - to hear their inflections and tone. I will ask questions about meaning and story to try and get the writer to hear and see the lyric in a different light - in a more linear, "out loud" way — like building blocks to the story.
That will usually influence a writer to hear the lyric in a way different from the inner writing process itself. And it should be done well into the process so as to not take the writer out of the initial flow. It is the "critic" stage – the other way of looking at it.
The other type of writer ("Nashville") is a bit more difficult to get started — they tend to be much more self critical and at times reserved in expressing themselves. They tend to think in terms of process – 1, 2, 3 – and abstract ideas need to be conceptualized to be processed. This type of writer I usually have do "morning pages" a/la "The Artists Way" or random journaling just to prime the pump and get the flow going.
It is always interesting to watch as they begin to see their creative side expressing itself more and they start to trust their ability to work on another level more in tune abstractly than concretely. As they begin to trust that other side of themselves they seem to change and loosen up personally.
Once started, this type of writer usually can assess their writing and organize their thoughts very easily. They tend toward more linear conceptualization and find the polishing stages very rewarding — it's the initial creative burst of material that is more difficult.
Neither approach is right or wrong – and you may identify with one or the other types or may be a blend at different times, or even change over time.
But the important thing is to remember there is no one way to write – it is a journey of self exploration that can be therapeutic. If you can understand your method you can work with your natural abilities and accept the things you need to work on to get to the result you are after – as long as you remember this is supposed to be fun.
You can write Michael at michaelanderson.com.
|
