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    New Tracks: Demystifying the Art of Writing Good Lyrics
    New Tracks: Demystifying the Art of Writing Good Lyrics
    New Tracks: Demystifying the Art of Writing Good Lyrics
    Ebook46 pages43 minutes

    New Tracks: Demystifying the Art of Writing Good Lyrics

    By Shel Craig

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    About this ebook

    Have you ever wanted to write song lyrics but didn't know where to begin? Did you think it might be too hard? This book will gently guide you through the process of writing your first lyric. Written in an encouraging tone, it will nudge you past the obstacles that might have stopped you before, and if you are willing, set you on the path to finally writing the lyrics you always dreamed you could.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateJun 6, 2014
    ISBN9780993836107
    New Tracks: Demystifying the Art of Writing Good Lyrics

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      Book preview

      New Tracks - Shel Craig

      Chris

      Introduction

      Lyric writing really isn’t as difficult as you might imagine it to be. After hearing your favorite artists describe how they came up with their best songs, it may seem extraordinary, but they’ve had years of practice and many attempts that didn’t work. Most of them started out just as awkwardly as you, then learned, practiced, and improved.

      Many would-be lyricists are so intimidated by the prospect of writing lyrics that they never begin. They believe there is a secret recipe that only the talented know. Others make the entire process more difficult for themselves by agonizing over a single word or phrase for days, weeks, or even months. There is no secret and no sense aiming for perfection; it’ll keep you stranded. The best way to become good is to simply begin. You’ll learn as you go.

      Writing lyrics is a process that should be neither too hard, nor too easy. It’ll take patience and practice. In the beginning, you’ll likely want to dash off the first thing that comes to mind and be done with it. This isn’t a bad place to start, but if you want to improve the quality of those initial attempts, you’ll want to put in some effort.

      I’ll tell you a secret: not everything you write is going to be great. Let that be okay. The process of writing is what is important. For every lyric you feel good about, there will be many, many more that will only seem passable or won't quite feel right. This is good. It means you aren’t settling, and it means you have a will to improve. As with anything else, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.

      One trap you might find yourself falling into is comparing your lyrics to those of others. Be cautious about this. Study the lyrics of those you admire, but don’t expect the same level of quality. It may also be tempting to compare your lyrics to those of your friends or other local musicians, but this isn’t helpful either. Theirs are not right and yours wrong, or vice versa. Every person has a unique perspective and unique experiences. Focus on your own improvement, and you’ll begin to feel good enough about your work that you won’t resort to comparisons.

      If you enjoy wordplay or storytelling, you'll find lyric writing enjoyable, too; however, if the idea of crafting lyrics sounds like a dull chore, you may need to awaken your interest. Those of you who enjoy listening, thinking about, or discussing the lyrics in songs may find you enjoy writing lyrics more than you’d imagined. Don’t think of it as a task on your to-do list but as an opportunity to be creative and to express yourself in a new way.

      It is my hope that you find this book helpful in getting started on your own path to lyric writing

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