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”
Tag Archives: songwriting
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”
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)”
Fifty Prompts; Zero Excuses
Here are fifty songwriting prompts, put into five different categories according to their focus and intention. Use them to practice songwriting, develop skills, and as diving boards into the creative pool. I hope they’re fun, thought-provoking, and most of all, that they help you get inspired and singing a little bit easier 🙂 General PromptsContinue reading “Fifty Prompts; Zero Excuses”
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