Songwriting is a beautiful art that can profoundly effect the listener and the writer. Writing music is a positive way of expressing emotions and communicating ideas. A well-written song can induce a range of feelings upon its listeners--elation, nostalgia, regret and even giddiness. Songwriting is a craft that must be practiced consistently if the writer wishes to hone his skills. Some basic tips can get you on track toward creating the kinds of songs that are rewarding to you and your audience.
Use Your Life
Write what you know. Life brings each of us a countless supply of rich experiences, both positive and negative. When you draw on what you have experienced in life, you writing tends to be more passionate and real. There are plenty of songs that really don't have much substance and may even be fun to listen to, but the ones that really grip people are the ones that are written and performed with personal feeling.
Take Notes
You never know when the inspiration for a song will come along. Keep a means of recording your thoughts nearby at all possible times. A small digital voice recorder is great for recording both lyrics and melodies. It's wise to keep a small notebook and pen handy as well, as you may be in a place where you can't readily speak out loud or sing your ideas into the recorder. When you record your song ideas or write them, don't filter yourself. In other words, don't be mindful of rhyme, form, or standard musical conventions. Thinking of these things can interrupt or even stop your inspiration and thought process. Just let your thoughts flow. You can go back later and edit what you've written.
Discipline Yourself
Songwriting is part inspiration and part discipline. You won't have some earth-shattering, awe-inspiring event that happens every day (or even every week or month) that causes you to write beautifully. In fact, most days seem pretty ordinary. You should write anyhow. Even if it's only a phrase or two, make daily writing a habit. Athletes train whether they feel like it or not, and in the end, they become stronger as a result of their discipline. The same principal is true for songwriting. Trudge ahead even when it seems difficult, and sooner or later, your ideas will begin to flow more freely. You might even find that some of your ideas that seemed dull and flat at first take on new life when you review them at a later date.
