Songwriting — Tips for Aspiring, Growing or Stuck Songwriters.
I believe that every church would benefit from encouraging people in their context to write songs. Now… When I say write songs, I think what most people hear is… You should invest thousands of dollars into production, promotion and amplification and then send your local church band out on a 30-city tour while your local church cheers them on from home. Honestly… Maybe. Maybe not. If I was a betting man, I’d say the latter but most of the highly influential worship artists of the last decade were once simple musicians who were serving with excellence and passion in their local environments.
What I’m talking about is encouraging people to creatively journal and write the revelation of Jesus for them in their own personal lives and as it relates to their corporate engagement with the body of Christ. Does that mean you have to sing it on a Sunday morning at your home church? No, not necessarily. But let me tell you that there’s nothing quite like experiencing a church sing a song of faith that was written in and for their unique expression. Let me also tell you that there is a beautiful sense of ownership that comes with encouraging, resourcing and releasing your worship leaders and writers to learn their unique voice as it relates to what God is doing in your church.
I wouldn’t call myself an authoritative juggernaut when it comes to songwriting and music production. Yes, I’ve written my fair share of songs and had some published and produced whether in contexts that I’m a part of by other artists; I’m grateful to have won awards for some of my work as a writer and producer. But honestly, I simply feel blessed to be able have had some pretty cool experiences; to sit in rooms with people who are tenured and mature songwriters and worship leaders, to be a part of writing sessions with people who have written songs that have gone around the world and to be a part of communities that pursue the stewardship of writing as more than just a hobby or even a passion but as a vocation. These experiences have given me tools and insights into writing music both inside and outside of the local church that I love to share with communities that are on their own unique journey into the world of writing songs that are from their house.
So… This is the advice that I would give to any songwriter whether they are a beginner who is aspiring to start writing or they are experienced but feeling stuck or looking to grow beyond what they’ve already accomplished.
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Commune with God.
Commonly, people who are growing as writers are trying to spend as much time as possible learning from other writers, songs or genres. They spend so much time trying to get into rooms with experts or influencers but neglect spending time communing with God. More than just reading a quick devotional and saying a simple prayer, experienced Christian writers have learnt to linger in Scripture and prayer and receive unique insight into their own personal spiritual journey with the LORD from those moments.
“While much can be learnt from studying other writers, songs or genres, the best inspiration comes from a personal revelation of the primary source.”
Sometimes, the genuine wrestle for a writer is to discern what the LORD is sharing for them and what He is sharing for others. The craft of songwriting is not always meant for public consumption but more so for personal discipline. Experienced writers are always using their craft as a tool for personal expression and then later choosing the appropriate resting place for a song. Don’t give up on writing a song just because you don’t think it will ever be sung by others, published to CCLI or submitted for play listing. Other songs will stand on the shoulders of that song’s authenticity and rawness that may leave your private collection and be a source of blessing for others.
Record Everything.
One of the most important things that I’ve learned in my time as a songwriter is that I need to record everything. Immediately. As in right now. Moments of inspiration are fleeting and experienced writers know that if they aren’t captured immediately they can be lost. From melodies to lyrics to concepts, find a method that gives you access to capturing those ideas at your fingertips.
For me, I find that the ‘voice memos’ app on my iPhone is an essential tool. While I was writing this blog, I went to check how many I currently have on my iPhone and the total was somewhere under 900. Those are unfinished songs, hooks and melody ideas, lyrics, song concepts and significant lines that I’ve had hit me on walks, while in the shower or driving from A to B. They serve as great inspiration for co-writes or moments when I’m coming up dry.
Preaching to myself — because I still need to exercise this discipline — stewardship becomes a key factor in relation to my voice memos. I remember, in the beginning of my songwriting days, asking the Lord to give me new songs. I also distinctly remember him responding to me with, ‘you’ve got two hundred song ideas on your iPhone, I’m done giving you inspiration… I’d like to see some stewardship.’ Obviously, that’s a paraphrase, but you get the idea. Just because it’s recorded doesn’t mean it’s been stewarded; it just means that you’ve taken the initial inspiration seriously.
Don’t Quit.
In my relatively limited life experience, I’ve found that achieving something significant is rarely easy; perhaps simple but not easy. Let’s take a quick moment to demystify songwriting. I think that many people view songwriting in an almost esoteric way — a mysterious mountain that only a select few sages will ever ascend.
“The reality is that songwriting is commonly less magic and more muscle. Inspiration is important but stewardship is essential.”
When you experience a lack of inspiration or excitement around the craft of writing — some might call this writer’s block — is when you start to get into some of the best writing territory. It’s when you’ve started to move beyond the easy, ‘it’s coming to me naturally’ phase and have started to step into the real work of it. Many people won’t make it past the magic. They assume that it’s not for them and move on with their lives to engage in other, less demanding pursuits. Be the person to pushes through and puts the hard work in. On principle alone, never leave a song unfinished.
Always Be Writing.
In one sense, always be writing applies to regularly scheduling time to dedicate to writing — whether that be with others or solo. In another sense, this mantra applies to the perspective of serious writers who see everything in their lives through the lens of writing as a medium of personal expression.
For the latter, I think people get stuck on discerning where a song should land. Is it appropriate to take every personal revelation or moment and turn it into a song a la Taylor Swift or John Mayer?? Probably not. This isn’t about exposing every part of your personal life to the public. It’s more so the lived-in reality of viewing the events and lessons of life through the lens of writing. Serious writers are driven to their craft as their best, and perhaps only, way to express what they are feeling, learning and processing. Once the song is finished you can decide whether it’s for your own personal vault, your close friends or spouse or for publishing consideration. Good songs are written by good writers; good writers are always writing.
That leads us to the former… It’s important to be consistently writing. Jason Ingram would say, ‘show me your calendar and I’ll tell you whether you’re a writer or not.’ Apart from the fact that consistently participating in an activity will cause you to become better at that activity, there is also a deeply psychological truth to this statement. I think a lot of people who write songs put too much pressure on their writing time because it’s a rare opportunity that they have afforded themselves. If you’re only writing once or twice a quarter you’re going to want the final result to be amazing, perhaps the best song you’ve ever written. When, not if, a write doesn’t pan out the way you were hoping it becomes more than just a bum writing session — it becomes a debilitating, demoralizing defeat. If you’re consistently writing, let’s say even 1-2 times per week as your other commitments allow, then a song that doesn’t work out or a writing session that isn’t the most amazing one you’ve ever been in is ok. There’s always another write tomorrow or next week. Experienced writers know that hundreds, if not thousands, of songs are written that never make it off of the threshing floor in order for revelation to be separated and turn into one amazing song.
Be patient.
The old adage, ‘good things come to those who wait’, definitely applies to songwriting. Take it from me, someone who loves (note the distinct sarcasm in italics…) to exercise the spiritual gift of patience, this is easier said than done. As you grow in writing, you develop instincts. Yes, intuition around melody, lyric or arrangement but it’s even more than that. It’s an aptitude for when to push and continue to write beyond a momentary block OR when to wait and take a break. There is very little right and wrong in writing and even then, as with many things in the creative realm, right and wrong can be quickly broken apart and redefined.
Sometimes songs come quickly — what a blessing! — and other times you have to sit on them for seasons. From experience, I will say that the first draft is rarely the best version. Even if a song is ‘finished’ it’s worth sitting on it and then returning to it with fresh eyes or inviting someone else in to edit and make revisions. Brandon Lake would say, ‘the difference between good and great is commonly five percent.’ Again, having learnt from experience, if you move too quickly and publish a song before it was ready you’ll have plenty of time to listen back to it later and regret your impatience.
Collaborate.
One of the best ways to grow or get unstuck as a writer is by co-writing. I rarely write alone; I would suggest most proficient writers are the same. Bringing your ideas to tables with other people who can compliment your skills sets, stretch your vocabulary and help you process will not only provide you with a better finished product but will also make you a stronger writer. There’s a lot to be said about the art of co-writing and it’s fragile nature but the most important — in my opinion — would come from Nashville legend Tony Wood. When you get the chance to work with other writers you have to leave your insecurities or your ego at the door. Be at peace with the passion in the room and come with a heart to serve the song and the other writers. That’s invaluable advice that I have applied in my co-writing and has brought me into rooms I never thought I would blessed to write in.
As a younger writer, ‘writing up’ — with more experienced or successful writers — is a must. Beg, borrow and steal your way into rooms with people who have been doing it longer and better than you. Buy the meal or coffee, jump on a plane or pay for someone’s time if you have to. These opportunities not only give you a chance to learn from someone’s more mature instinct and intuition but also give you the chance to network with their connections and relationships. Quickly, let me finish with three pieces of advice — learnt the hard way — that I would give when it comes to writing up…
Be careful to not put more experienced or successful writers or artists on a pedestal. Yes, they are good at what they do but everyone is human and has off-days or off-writes. Just because you’ve had the opportunity to be in the room with them doesn’t automatically mean that gold is going to come out of a write. If you put pressure on a write it will affect the final outcome.
Bring one of your strongest ideas to the table. Nothing is worse than getting a chance to write up and then showing up with no concepts or ideas. Make no mistake, you are punching above your weight class and it’s not a secret. Whether or not you end up using the idea, don’t be the person that showed up to a write to mooch off other people; you want to come ready to contribute.
Let the session be the session. Don’t push to make it more than a good co-write if it isn’t naturally going in that direction. Nothing is worse than sitting down to co-write with someone and then making it about your newest demo or getting contact info for other respected writers or industry professionals. If it’s a good write, it will open a door for future opportunities.
