Posts by Marty Dodson
7 Tips From Publishers That Every Songwriter Needs To Know
Level up your songwriting with Clay Mills & Marty Dodson as we share 7 real-world tips from top publishers inside our SongTown Edge Groups. From conversational lyrics to chorus lift and word-to-melody flow, you’ll learn how to build a diverse, pitchable catalog that artists can’t ignore. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series…
Read More5 Reasons Your Songs Sound the Same (Pro Fixes)
Stuck writing the same song on repeat? In this quick SongTown songwriting tips lesson, multi‑#1 hit writers Clay & Marty show how to write a song that doesn’t all sound the same—fixing grooves, lyric habits, themes, and instrument limits. Try new grooves, move the hook, sing before you play, and swap instruments to spark fresh…
Read MoreThe WORST (but most helpful) Exercises for Songwriting
Hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down The Worst—but Most Helpful—Exercise For Songwriters. Learn how pro writers sharpen their skills with tough melody and lyric workouts that build your rhythm vocabulary and make your songs more hooky. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same patterns, this exercise will help you unlock fresh…
Read More5 Reasons To Co-Write
People often ask me, sometimes skeptically, why I almost exclusively co-write instead of writing alone. I have some reasons that I find pretty compelling, so I thought I’d share them. 1) Not many people I know are world-class at melody AND lyric. There are plenty of people who do both, but doing both and excelling…
Read MoreSongwriting Is A Marathon
By SongTown Co-Founder Marty Dodson When I started out in songwriting, I was surrounded by an insanely talented group of peers. And honestly, most of them were more skilled than I was. They could sing. They played guitar or piano like pros. They produced tracks in their home studios. They wrote incredible melodies and killer…
Read MoreHow to Write a Song: From Idea to a Great Song — Pro Co-Write
Hit writers Clay Mills and Marty Dodson take a raw idea (“Love This Side of Town”) and show a simple, repeatable way to turn a spark into a song—pick the unexpected angle, sketch verses, set up the chorus hook. If you’re wondering how to write a song using pro songwriting techniques, you’ll see the real-world…
Read MoreFrom Frustrated to Fired Up: The Mental Shift That Changed My Writing Forever
By Marty Dodson – SongTown Co-Founder There was a time in my songwriting journey where I hit a wall. I was showing up. I was writing. I was pitching. But nothing was happening. No one was cutting my songs. The feedback I was getting felt vague at best. And worst of all, I started losing…
Read MoreWhy You Don’t Finish Songs (and How to Fix It)
Struggling to finish your songs? Hit writers Marty Dodson and Clay Mills share proven strategies—separate writer vs. editor, set deadlines, lean on co-writes and accountability, and know when a song is “done”—so your music reaches the finish line with clarity, emotion, and replay value. Learn how to finish more songs that truly connect! Clay &…
Read MoreWriting Hooks They Won’t Forget: 5 Pro Songwriting Secrets
Want to make your hooks impossible to forget? Hit writers Marty Dodson and Clay Mills share 5 pro tips to craft titles, melodies, and lyrics that grab attention and keep listeners hooked. Discover how to use intrigue, repetition, emotion, story, and sing-a-bility to create songs people can’t stop singing! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series:…
Read More5 Signs Your Songwriting’s Improving – Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It
By Marty Dodson – SongTown Co-Founder Let’s be real—songwriting is a rollercoaster. One day you’re sure you’ve written your best song yet, and the next day you’re convinced you’ve lost the magic. I’ve been there more times than I can count. The truth is, growth as a songwriter is rarely obvious in the moment. It…
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