You Want Me to Read about Songwriting?
There are many many books available on writing songs... so many that it can make your head spin off! Reading the thoughts and methods of master songwriters is a great way to expand your repertoire of tools and techniques that help make your songs even better. Many of these books have prompts and exercises to help you get out of ruts or look at things in a new way. They also are a great way to get insight into your existing songs.
Welcome to Writing Great Songs!
Hello and Welcome to Writing Great Songs. This is an online resource for songwriters to learn, access tools and resources, connect with one another and get inspired. Our aim is to provide a complete resource library, for all aspects of
Publish or Perish?
Music Publishing
A lot of songwriters are mystified by the world of music publishing. Publishing is a very important part of creating music. First of all Publishers administer the rights to a song, including collecting performance royalties. Secondly, Publishers work to commodify the song by finding new uses for it to be heard and get into the marketplace, thereby potentially generating new revenue streams for the songwriter. Here are some sites to help clear things up! In the music industry, a music publisher (or publishing company) is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer "assigns" the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses compositions, helps monitor where compositions are used, collects royalties and distributes them to the composers. They also secure commissions for music and promote existing compositions to recording artists, film and television.[1]
Dictionaries: A key tool for songwriters
Being unique and original can be hard work. Give your songs an extra edge by making sure you are using words with depth and meaning. These online dictionaries and thesauruses are a great way to search for the perfect word. They are also a great way to help fill the well - getting you a larger vocabulary to work with to express yourself through 
song.
- Dictionary.com: With more than 70 million monthly users worldwide, Dictionary.com is the world's leading and most definitive online dictionary.
- Urban Dictionary: A user curated collection of slang words and phrases
- Visuwords: Look up words to find their meanings and associations with other words and concepts. Produce diagrams reminiscent of a neural net. Learn how words associate.
- Merriam-Webster: For more than 150 years, Merriam-Webster has been one of America's leading and most-trusted provider of language information. Dictionary, Thesaurus and other tools.
Tune up Your Guitar Skills!
Three chords and the truth may be more than enough for some, but as songwriters improving your skills on your instruments will give you more tools and depth to take your songs to new places. Here are a collection of sites
Your Voice is an Instrument
Whether you are prone to fits of melismatic grandeur or a gravely voiced baritone, your voice is an instrument. To use it well, you'll need to pratcive with it and care for it. Here are some resources to help you do that