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
Road-ie
Mar 28, 2008 sojourn, songwriting
The drive from Charlotte-Nashville went well, especially once I realized I was getting to town in Central Time. The best part about getting there “early” was I got to see Jane Godfrey, who was in town to record a podcast that never happened due to technical difficulties. We hadn’t seen each other for some time, so though ever so brief, we had an enjoyable chat. As she departed, I realized I need to eat, and made a beeline for the local Food Lion, in the rain, Friday rush hour, interesting to say the least.
As my frozen dinner microwaved into existence, I booted up and got surfing. Couldn’t get the schedule for the Write About Jesus workshops to save on my PC so I went retro with pencil and paper and wrote it out. For the best, at least this way I’ll actually look at it and make some choices. Pretty amazing lineup of sessions, it’s going to be hard to choose, for sure.
To say I’m weary is kidding myself, I’m beat. My grandiose notion of making it out are all but extinguished, not even a quick jaunt up the street to watch the Davidson-Wisconsin game, which I’ll surely kick myself for in the morning. The trick now is to stay awake long enough to a reasonable hour in high hopes of a solid 7-8 hours of sleep… OK, do I hear 6-hours?
7:00 AM is the target for getting around and heading out for some semblance of breakfast, surely a good cup of coffee. According to the schedule, we jump with both feet into the teaching at 9:00. There are open critique sessions every hour, I’ve got 2-3 songs, but will likely keep it to two because there are some really good, and unique, sessions I want to take. I think I’ll go for Belinda Smith’s, “Finding Creativity When You Don’t Feel Creative” session first, because this is definitely an area where I struggle. At times the wear and tear of corporate jousting is a valid excuse, but it comes down to being able to get over the hump because the day job has no end in sight. 10:00 is going to be tough because there are two sessions of interest, neither repeats. One a Co-Writing Secrets panel, the other titled “His Words, Your Words”… I’ll have to play this hour by ear.
This list goes on, I’m thinking I’ll most likely hold off till the afternoon on a critique, but ultimately, I want the day to be low key for me. I just want to soak up all I can enjoy… wow, Davidson is doing a number on Wisconsin, could it be?
Over the next couple of days I’ll scribe out thoughts on what I learned and impressions of the one day event in Hendersonville. Can’t wait to see and hear what God has in store for everyone that attends. I pray a special blessing for all those traveling distances, and for the instructors as they impart their God given wisdom to make us better writers and artists, not for the sake of music or the industry, but for the sake of the Gospel.
Tags: Gospel, Nashville, songwriting, write about Jesus