Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Writing Songs
Marty and Clay walk through six things every songwriter hits on the way up — starting with the one nobody warns you about: a first taste of success can knock you sideways just as hard as a failure can. Along the way there’s the guaranteed Carrie Underwood single that never came out, the week Marty…
Read MoreIrreconcilable Co-Writing Differences for Songwriters?
The Songtown Mailbox gets a lot of questions regarding what to do when you and your co-writers can’t agree on how to finish your song. So, here are my thoughts on the topic. The general rule in the writing room is that everyone involved will commit to keep working on the song until each writer…
Read More5 Pro Tips for Writing a Great Song Every Time
By Clay Mills & Marty Dodson When it comes to writing consistently great songs, it’s not about chasing trends or being the cleverest writer in the room — it’s about crafting something real that resonates. Marty Dodson and I share five essential tips (plus a bonus!) that will elevate your writing every time you sit down to…
Read MoreYour Songwriting Could Be Growing 10x (5 Toxic Amateur Mistakes)
Marty and Clay count down five toxic habits that quietly stall a songwriter’s growth — including a couple they were guilty of themselves early on. There’s a Nile Rodgers story in here that changed how he heard music for good, and a song that sat 15 years before it got cut. Write on. Get your…
Read MoreWhat Most Songwriters Get Wrong About Writing Every Day
A comment on the “10,000 songs” episode claimed nobody songwriting at that volume could possibly write anything good — so Marty and Clay take it head on. They make the case for volume as a songwriting craft habit: it forces you past your three obvious ideas, it keeps your skills and creative flow sharp, and…
Read MoreAre You A Good Songwriter?
Marty and Clay take on the question they get asked more than any other in SongTown: “Am I a good songwriter?” They walk through the Dunning-Kruger arc every writer goes through — the early overconfidence, the crash, and the long climb — then lay out five real ways to gauge where your craft actually is,…
Read MoreWe Wrote 10,000 Songs — Our Top 3 Lessons
After more than 10,000 songs between them, Marty and Clay break down the three lessons that shaped their careers most: trading reactive listening for inspired listening, taking ownership instead of blaming co-writers and publishers, and why no song you ever write is wasted. Plus, details on spending a day with them in Nashville at the…
Read MoreIt’s Not Too Late
By SongTown Co-founder Marty Dodson I once ran across a quote that stopped me in my tracks: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” That quote helped change my life. I grew up in Nashville, where music wasn’t just part of the culture. It felt like it was in the air.…
Read MoreHow Frustration Can Make You a Better Songwriter
A broken piano, an ugly font, a wandering mind, and an awkward co-write — Marty and Clay dig into four ways frustration and limitations can actually make you a better songwriter. From Keith Jarrett turning a rehearsal piano into the best-selling piano solo album of all time, to Michael McDonald writing a classic on a…
Read More4 Ways Pro Songwriters Outwrite You Every Time
Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down four habits that separate pro songwriters from everybody else — starting with the big one: pros don’t wait on inspiration. Along the way they get into Jack Tempchin and Glenn Frey lighting a candle to “invite the muse,” Chris Wallin on replacing an incredible line with the right…
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