Posts by Marty Dodson

Almost all of the people I write with are trying to get their songs recorded and make a living by doing so. It is easy to get so caught up in the pursuit of something commercial that I lose sight of the reasons one started writing songs in the first place. Those reasons, if lost…

1) I can write only 10 songs and have several hits in the bunch. Songwriting is a craft that takes years to develop. No painter paints a masterpiece within his first ten pieces of art. Most people have to write hundreds of songs before they write a hit. 2) I can move to Nashville (Or…

Songwriting can be a wonderfully, beautifully frustrating pursuit.  But it can be especially maddening if your singular goal is something outside of your control like focus on the songwriting summit. So, let’s say your obsession and songwriting summit is a Bruno Mars cut… There are several reasons that you are going to likely spend the…

In my mind, the single biggest distinction between pro and amateur writers is their way of thinking. Here are some of the most significant differences I’ve seen over the years in my day to day life as a full-time staff songwriter: 1. Amateurs think “Somebody is going to steal my song.” Pros think, “I’m going to…

Many writers that I mentor struggle with the idea of getting themselves in position to succeed. In fact, I see two extremes play out. Sometimes writers adopt the idea that “all I have to do is write a great song”. Others go to the extreme of trying desperately to “meet the right people” while ignoring…

These are the 5 most common lyric mistakes I see songwriters making over and over… 1. Saying the same thing in the second verse that you said in the first verse. Don’t just re-word the first verse to make verse two. Give me something new. Take the idea to another place. 2. Letting pro-nouns get…

One day, my friend Danny Wells and I wrote a song. We were really excited about it, so Danny wanted to play it for his publisher. We went in the man’s office and Danny played it live. I could tell as he was playing that the guy didn’t seem like he liked it. When Danny finished, his…

I write with a number of young songwriters on a regular bases. And I can’t count the times that I have referenced an older song (80’s, 90’s or 2000’s) and discovered that they had never heard the song or artist. This isn’t shocking to me – You could say I once was that guy myself.…

Songwriting is grueling, brain-numbing work with little reward.  Then, there are the difficult aspects.  It’s easy to get discouraged and I’ve had many friends and co-writers lay down the pen.  So, in dedication to those who have given up writing, I want to offer 5 reasons that we should all keep writing, even when it’s…