Posts by Clay Mills
If We Started Songwriting Careers Today – We’d Do These 5 Things!
In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share 5 things they’d do if they were starting songwriting careers today. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown Press Books: Mastering Melody Writing : Check It…
Read More7 Books Every Songwriter Should Read (2025 Edition)
Writing and reading lessens our isolation and prods our imagination. Music makes our souls dance, and great art leaves an impression that lasts for centuries. Over my 25 years as a professional songwriter, I’ve read just about every book on creativity I could get my hands on. Still, I’m convinced I will never fully understand…
Read MoreSong Poet Tia Sillers: Lessons in Songwriting and Life
I recently had the pleasure of watching my dear friend Tia Sillers on the Work Tapes podcast, and I was struck once again by her incredible wisdom about songwriting, creativity, and life itself. Tia, whose songwriting credits include the Grammy-winning “I Hope You Dance” and the rock hit “Blue on Black,” has always had a way of cutting through the noise…
Read MoreThe 2 Things Every Song Must Do (Do It Like Dylan)
In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share the 2 things every song must do and why Bob Dylan did it so well. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown Press Books: Mastering…
Read MoreWeird SongWriting Tips That Actually Work!
In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson reveal Weird SongWriting Tips That Actually Work! Try these to spark your creativity and break free of writer’s block. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown…
Read MoreThere Are Songs in That Guitar! A Pro Songwriter’s Holiday Reflection
This is my Songwriter’s Holiday Reflection This holiday season, I find myself looking back and remembering people that have been an important part of my life. The winter holidays are a wonderful time for cultivating gratitude. Looking back, there have been people who have been there for me since day one, and there have been…
Read MoreBad Songwriting Advice That HURTS New Writers
Hey SongTown! Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of advice given to aspiring songwriters, and while some of it is gold, most of it can lead you down the wrong path. Today, let’s dive into some of the bad songwriting advice that can actually hurt new writers, and I’ll share what I’ve learned from…
Read More#SongwritingHack 1.05 – “Special Holiday Hack: Musical Lyrics & The Art Of Alliteration”
Hey, it’s Clay with another episode of Songwriting Hacks, where we break the code on popular songs and give you tools that you can use for your own songwriting. Today, we’re studying four popular Christmas songs: Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, and It’s Beginning To Look A…
Read MoreWriting Poetic Vs. Conversational Song Lyrics (Pro Tips)
When it comes to songwriting, there’s often a debate about the balance between poetic and conversational lyrics. These two approaches can shape the tone, mood, and impact of your song. In my experience, most lyrics fall somewhere on the spectrum between abstract (what some might call poetic) and conversational (clear and direct). Let’s dive into…
Read MoreBust That Songwriting Rut! [10 Things To Try Now!]
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share their top strategies to free you from songwriting ruts. Say goodbye to writer’s block forever and get back to writing your best! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish…
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