Writing Great Songs

For many of us, Songwriting is a solitary pursuit. Locked away in the basement with your guitar and your lyric sheets trying to weave together the perfect song. Never seeing the light of day, never getting outside of your own head!

It doesn’t have to be that way. There is a lot of ways for us songwriters to come into the light. Hang with like minded people. Get feedback on the songs we are working on, learn from one another, and perhaps most importantly feel you are not alone in this. Gosh, sounds like I’m describing a support group for a horrible disease! But the analogy is similar… being part of a community of songwriters is a great way to help you take your songs to the next level. Sometimes just the idea that you are going to play your precious song you’ve been slaving over is enough impetus to finally rework that second verse and eliminate the sketchy rhyme you’ve been neglecting.

Other times you maybe are stuck and need feedback on where to take your song next. Or maybe you just need to hang out with some other songwriters and have a coffee of a beer. Or go to a workshop on Lyrics, or on Publishing..

What ever your level or experience in the world of Songwriting, joining a group or association that can connect you with other songwriters can help you and your songs.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

• Music BC  http://musicbc.org/ – Advocacy, workshops, learning and networking for Musician in British Columbia
• Songwriters Association of Canada http://www.songwriters.ca/ – Regional Writers groups, Bluebird North events, live and online workshops and learning events, Song evaluations and networking
• Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ mentoring, song evaluations, Advocacy, community and learning opportunities
• West Coast Songwriters Association: http://www.westcoastsongwriters.org/ Support, education and networking for songwriters of all levels.
• SongTown http://songtown.com/ Community, Mentoring, Workshops, videos, exercises and Learning.

Some key tips to getting involved with other songwriters:

1. Try to find an organization that has live meetings in your area. Many States and Provinces will have groups and some National organizations have regional group meetings as well.
2. While most associations have a fee, watch out for “for profit” groups online, make sure they have a value added element that is important to you.
3. Many groups are stressing their online communities, which is great to connect with songwriters from across the country and around the world, there is also a huge benefit for songwriters to be together. Happy Writing!
4. Consider starting a song circle group – if you can host it at your place or find a local coffee shop or pub with a back room. many will let you use for free, as long as the members buy from the shop while there.
5. Check out listings in your local music paper or music store, songwriters and groups may have ads about their meet ups
6. Go to Open Mic nights. even if you are not playing, check out the scene, try to meet at least one new person, make a plan to write together or just play a few songs for each other.
7. Be open to songwriters of different genre’s and different ages. That strange old country guy may have some good insight into why your lyrics don’t make sense, or that alternative edgy girl might say something about your acoustic ballad that you never thought of…
8. Be supportive. Use encouragement freely, you know what it is like to be uncertain about your songs and provide constructive feedback, tell people things you think could be improved and things you like or want to hear more of.