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WAJ-Notes

Apr 5, 2008 sojourn, songwriting

Wow (whew… etc), just back from a week in Nashville, I’m sorting through the wheat and chaff, notes and stuff everywhere… so glad I took all my WAJ notes in the back of the workbook! One of my goals upon return is to share what I captured, so here goes… please keep in mind these are my perspectives in the moment, if anyone that was there sees something I totally mis-captured, please let me know, thanks!

9a: Finding Creativity When You Don’t Feel Creative – Belinda Smith

• Belinda stressed the indispensable value of Sheila Davis’s “The Songwriter’s Idea Book”, and how showing up for scheduled time to write (something that’s gotten away from me the last six months, or so) honors the giver of our gifts, a sobering reminder
• She also led us in a couple of exercises to help with activating the right brain and squelching the “inner critic” that can stifle creativity, but stressed the need to get back to the focal point when the meandering gets too fragmented
  • For instance, imagine a scenario and build a short list of words based on the scene, then develop a list of potential titles (free the linear mindset/capture the scattered)
• One other note I captured is to scan movie titles for those you haven’t seen and write the song behind it. We discussed a couple of titles and it was really cool to hear the variety of perspectives each one generated

 

10a: Co-Writing Secrets – Maurice Carter led a panel (M. Funderburk, T. Labar, S. Krippayne, K. Stokes) on keys to and importance of co-writing

• Preparation: Know your co-writer’s expectations; build relationships; bring multiple ideas to the session, the idea I’m passionate about may not feel the same way; could be lyrical or musical start points
• Distractions: Flexibility is key, be open-minded to all ideas but know when to graciously pass on an idea that’s just not working for me
  • Be vulnerable; share and receive… be in it for the long-haul; consider it time well spent from more than a songwriting perspective
  • Be careful not to settle… I have to love the idea but be willing to let go once I’ve tried to “sell” the idea; dialog in spirit and truth
• A weaker lyrical hook is OK as long as the melody is a home run
• The writers shared that 80-90% of all the songs they write are co-writes

 

11a: Developing Great Ideas – Belinda Smith led a panel (S. Siler, K. Matthews) on taking ideas from good to great

• It’s not about competing with other writers but with myself, am I getting better?
• See the story in the idea
  • Filter the list
  • Co-writing is the school for writing and the acid test for ideas
• Key characteristics of an idea
  • Can the idea be approached from more than one angle?
  • Can I get to the hook from multiple perspectives?
  • Does the title move me?
  • Can I sing the melody two weeks later?
  • Is this a topical/theological contribution that’s fresh… fill gaps in areas not currently being discussed
  • Write the same idea in multiple genres/persons/POV
• Good or Great?
  • Live the experience from the listener’s perspective… is their a transformation moment?
  • Tell the truth!!!
  • Make the listener think: how did the writer know this is me in this moment?
  • Lead others into the emotion you feel

 

1p: Going from Good to Great – Dave Clark

• Does the song draw the listener whether the listener is ready or not?
• Does the song appeal beyond “taste” boundaries?
• Don’t let bad listening take the place of good writing (Dave stressed this being the key note of the session)
• Emotional equity – get personally invested in the song
• Quote by Greg Maddux on staying true to the great idea: “I would rather give up a hit on a good pitch than strike someone out on a bad one.”
• Study political speeches – especially inaugural speeches
• Separate what too personal to generalized details, put specifics into developing the emotion in the idea

 

2p: Audit Critique Session – S. Siler/C. Cates

3p: Critique Session – K. Matthews/K. Stokes

 

4p: Writing for the Country Market – Brian White/Don Poythress

• It’s not always going to be OK… people lose jobs, get sick, divorced, etc.
• CCM has a tendency to play it safe, Country just plays the card
• Try using an everyday man mentality in worship songs (Tomlin has done this)
• Don’t write a song that says I’m lonely, make the listener feel lonely
• Furniture – nouns (Wiseman explains with pictures… The Good Stuff)
• Not many new ideas, it’s all about developing fresh angles

Tags: Sue Smith, WAJ, write about Jesus