My Songwriting Journey

test

Thu, 7 May 2009 13:53:19 -0600

test

My New Baby

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:11:36 -0600

Ok - I figure if I'm ever gonna write a song all by myself, I need to be able to play guitar. So, Saturday I bought this little baby. She's an Alvarez RD20SC.

So far, I can play a "G" chord! I'm working hard on "C" and "D". (That "C" is kinda hard!)

Still Writing!

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:10:56 -0600

Today I completed the storyline for another one. I had started this one about three or four years ago and had a few lines and an 'idea'. Monday night we had our local NSAI meeting a song that someone played reminded me of the one I had started all that time ago. (It's not the same story as his, but there were a few lines that had a similar theme).

So I came right home, printed out what I had from all that time ago, and yesterday and today I got two verses and a chorus. I kept thinking it needed a bridge but had no idea what, so I sent it to a couple of friends, to get a reaction.

One friend says "but what happened to "him" and "her" and "the other him"? So I said "aha! now I know what my bridge needs to say!!"

So I'll work on that the rest of the week. The point is. The more you write, the more you write. It's a pretty good feeling!!

So Far So Good

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:56:03 -0600

I guess the key to writing is to ..... well, write!

I ~~finished~~ got all the components down in a lyric yesterday. VCVCBC. General consensus is that the 'twisted' hook is really good, but the story needs some work. It's too generic and run of the mill; of the "it's been done to death" variety.

So, it needs polishing, but my first goal is to keep writing. To get into the habit of writing - every day. So I'm moving on now with another one. I've got a verse (or is it a chorus?) done today on the new one.

Later!

Making Progress

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:07:01 -0600

This challenge thing is working out pretty good. I dont know if the determination and focus is what's working or if this is just one of my "blue moon" creative periods; but I'll take what I can get for sure!

This song is coming along nicely. It's gonna be Verse 1 / Verse 2 / Chorus 1 / Verse 3 / Chorus 2 (there is a slight variation in the choruses, not much).

All I have left to do is Verse 3. I know what the story is, I just have to get that verse into words. Then I'll post it here.

Then there'll be TONS of re-writing to do. After all, great songs are not written, they are RE-written! :-)

He Said She Said

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 14:16:22 -0600

That's my hook for my new project.

I was almost asleep Friday night when it came to me. I'm not sure what I was thinking about when I thought it was a "he said/ she said" thing. Then I thought ..... "hmmmmm...." and I wrote it down, and a few ideas of where the story was going.

Yesterday I got the chorus done .... I know what I want the story to be, but I cant get the verses headed in the right direction. So, I'm gonna work on that a little more this afternoon.

I'll report in tomorrow!

Day Two Successful

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:48:10 -0600

Today I was telling someone that we had "storms rolling through" and suddenly I thought "hey, I like the sound of that" .... storms rolling through. So I quickly wrote it down on a sticky note and put it in my wallet so I could remember it after work.

I've only got six lines, and although I'm sure I wont keep all of them ... I think I've got some pretty good images. I'll work on it some more this weekend and maybe I can post a bit of it Sunday night.

Stay tuned!

One Down .....

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:11:37 -0600

Ok - I completed my challenge for today. It was an itty bitty one, but I did accomplish something.

Several months ago I wrote something for a friend. There was one line in it that was just not right. It was throwing off the whole the thing. I couldnt send it to him til I fixed it. Today, I fixed that line, and sent it to my friend.

I hope he likes it. (He'll say he does, but I hope he really does. It's important - to me anyway).

Long Time No Write

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:10:55 -0600

And I mean that in more ways than one. I havent written here since October. And unfortunately I havent been doing much songwriting either. Life sort of got in the way. Both my (grown) kids, and my granddog are back home with me for a while and life is challenging to say the least. I have a four month old great-niece that I love to babysit. And, I am helping a friend with some promotional things for his new album slated to be released in May so that keeps me pretty busy.

When lamenting to a friend and fellow songwriter last night that I have really good intentions of writing more - or at least more often - but I never seem to follow through, he challenged me that for the 40 days of lent (yes I know you are supposed to give up something but work with me here) that I could discipline myself to write something every day. A line, a hook, a verse, a silly poem, a journal entry - something - every day.

Thanks Keith! I think I can do it! I'm surely gonna give it my best shot!

I Hate Pictures (of me)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:12:57 -0600

Here is the (really bad) pic of me receiving my certificate for NSAI Coordinator. Debi graciously let us hold her Emmy Award to spruce up our pic. I should've held it a little higher (over my face), or maybe at least a little straighter. :-)

I'm still hoping they're going to send us a copy of the one of all of us with Mac Davis!

That's Trish Matthews, Me, Debi Cochran.

I just realized that I could crop Trish out of this pic (sorry Trish!) and pretend Debi is awarding me my very own Emmy!