Wow, has it really been four more drafts? (Has anyone been keeping count? Because it might have just been three… I can’t remember anymore @_@) Amidst procrastinating the ninth (I think?) draft and wondering if this thing will EVER be finished, I’ve learnt a lot about writing and editing from An Experiment in Time andContinue reading “Four (more) things I’ve learnt while editing my novel “
Author Archives: Debbie Coll
A Lesson in Vivid Descriptions from Captain Phoebus
Descriptions are so hard. It’s hard enough getting all the important details down (including the ones I just take for granted as being there), let alone drawing my audience into the setting, making them feel like they’re in the world with my characters, caring for the same things. And once I feel like I’ve finallyContinue reading “A Lesson in Vivid Descriptions from Captain Phoebus”
Five Composing Tips for Newbies
I struggled to love my music in my first year of my Bachelor of Composition. It took months for me to be happy with the music I was hearing back from my computer, but when I did, I loved writing music again. Here are some tips that I learnt from my teachers and my ownContinue reading “Five Composing Tips for Newbies”
Five Writing Tips for Newbies
I have to admit, I feel unqualified to be giving writing tips. I’m struggling to think of some (and this seemed like such a good idea two weeks ago…) and feeling called out by each of them XD. But these are the tips that have, I think, helped me the most so far. I hopeContinue reading “Five Writing Tips for Newbies”
Five Songwriting Tips for Newbies
Someone asked me for songwriting tips the other day, and I realised I don’t have any really specific tips on my blog. I always thought that I couldn’t write a list of songwriting tips because I don’t have decades of songwriting experience! But maybe it’ll be helpful for songwriting newbies to hear some tips fromContinue reading “Five Songwriting Tips for Newbies”
The Purpose of Music According to Glück
I just submitted an essay for my history class, which I wrote on the composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck. Yes, I’m one of those weird people who find history essays interesting, and since Gluck had some good thoughts on music and opera, I thought I’d share some of my essay with you. (Don’t worry, IContinue reading “The Purpose of Music According to Glück”
Behind ‘Giants’
A few years ago, I was walking through the city of Melbourne with my family. The sky was a blue-grey just lighter than the dirty tarmac, and eventually the clouds cracked and started to drizzle. I looked up, and suddenly it struck me how high up the sky is. I tipped my head back, strainingContinue reading “Behind ‘Giants’”
Recording Songs and Rethinking Posts
Last post, I wrote about my first song and how far my songwriting has come since then. The timing couldn’t have been better. All through the next week, the words were ringing in my head… embrace the cringe… That week, I recorded a few of my songs for the first time. In our last post,Continue reading “Recording Songs and Rethinking Posts”
Embrace The Cringe!
Around this time last year, I found an old folder in my music cupboard that held notes of some of the first songs I’d ever written. Naturally, I set it on my piano’s music stand and started playing through them… The first song I ever wrote (and wrote down) was based on a book IContinue reading “Embrace The Cringe!”
Book Review: Writing Better Lyrics (Second Edition)
You have to love those books that leave you feeling both overwhelmed by how little you knew, as well as excited by what you can now do. Pat Pattison’s songwriting method is intense and eye-opening, but his final lyrics speak for themselves. What is it about? Writing Better Lyrics is a how-to guide to bringingContinue reading “Book Review: Writing Better Lyrics (Second Edition)”
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