From time to time, someone asks me "What are the odds of getting a cut?" In my mind, what they are really asking is "Is this even worth trying?" I'm going to suggest here that this is the wrong approach to dream chasing of any form. Let me put it to...
The longer I live and the more I write, the more I realize that there really is no “destination” in life, unless it is death. Short of the grave, we are all still on the journey, trying to figure out the world and our place in it. In regard to...
"Who can stop you from writing songs?" I think that's a valid question for every songwriter to ask themselves from time to time. On occasion, I hear songwriters say things like... "It's not really worth writing a song if I can't get a publisher to listen." Or "Why bother writing another song...
The world we live in is full of distractions. With an unlimited supply of entertainment and information in our phones, it is becoming more and more rare to see someone just sitting, thinking and being fully present or mindful. We walk in restaurants and 100% of the people sitting alone are...
I believe that to be successful as a songwriter, you have to be very versatile. I have had songs recorded by artists as varied as The Oak Ridge Boys and The Plain White T’s. But, the area in which I have had the most success is writing my life. When...
I believe that it’s never too late to be what you might have been. I was in my mid thirties when I started trying to write professionally. A friend of mine just landed a starring role (Her first) in a movie with some HUGE actors at age 49. I...
I can't count the number of times I have had songwriters tell me that the music business is "trying to keep them out" or that they can't break into the "cliques" in Nashville, LA, or wherever they are trying to break in. I'd like to give a different perspective on all...
Writing From My Other Self Here are some ideas for writing from your other self. Use these exercises to stretch your writing boundaries. 1) Write songs from the point of view of the opposite gender from time to time. Trying to write something that feels honest and real for a woman to say...
It takes a unique idea and a unique angle on that idea to get attention for your song. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you have a unique song idea: 1) Have I heard this before? If I'm already aware of another...
Map out an outline of the song as soon as you decide on a hook. Knowing where you are going helps you avoid saying too much before you get to the 2nd verse. Second verses are not that difficult if you have planned out what you are going to say...