Darling,
I've been waiting so long to talk to you about this wonderful thing that I have always loved doing at nights, especially when I had a symphonic metal band and I was composing for it. Mainly, my occupation was creating the song lyrics and the vocal melody for myself, and the other members of the band were doing their part on their own, helping each other blend on the way.
Also, I have some song ideas for you and an online course that I have recently found that helps you get creative and focused on exactly this purpose: songwriting.
Here are some ideas on how to work on your lyrics so that they are truly unique and profound (because you actually want to spread a message and make a difference):
1. Find yourself a comfortable place where you can help your mind relax a little bit after a full day and your soul respond - sometimes this is the hardest part; we tend to start writing just because we have a deadline or we really need those lyrics ASAP, but this is not the way to do it when you want to make a good product that really gets into people's subconscious; the only method is by getting into yours
2. Use tools that you love and that you have connection to: maybe a certain pencil, pen, notebook, journal, something that means "I am leaving the outer world behind and I am only in my own one now" - maybe you think that this is not important, but it gets you closer to yourself, it makes yourself feel more comfortable, more open
3. It's OK to try "sketching" a song or a verse before you get to something that you actually like; myself, I have always written on the paper anything that feels right, even if the words or the link between them made no sense at all - write expressions, full sentences that sound beautiful just from the artistic point of view; don't make it as if it has to please a lot of listeners, but to please your own soul: make it shout the pain, linger with the feeling of missing someone, embrace the loneliness. The only truth that I have to tell you about this part is this: your song will become realistic and beautiful to others only as much as you can do it realistic and beautiful to your inner self; if you are ready to get into yourself more, it will be closer to others. A song is the binding between you and your public, between souls in general, and we all feel loss, pain, love - the same way. You HAVE to make that connection. Keep sketching until something begins having sense.
4. When you already have a full verse, or maybe something that sounds like a chorus, you can begin thinking about a concept, about a main idea, something to write everything else about. Go make some "soul research" about it - for example you want to write about loss, go and look up some expressions and idioms are on the subject ( a good tool is www.thefreedictionary.com )
Also, you can listen to some other songs about loss or maybe read some quotes, or a book. This is the time to expand your wings and enter into the state of FEELING the loss. Think about someone you've lost recently or in the past, and dig into it, surrender. Yes, this is the hardest part of the process. Putting your own struggle into the song.
5. Time for getting out of your sensitive zone and putting your mind back on track; this is when you check your lyrics for grammar mistakes, when you put everything in order, where you complete your sentences that were left without a meaning, where you find a connection between the phrases - organize! You might not like this part - maybe you have a very close friend or family member that can help you here and see the process from outside. Sometimes, after such hard word with everything but your comfort zones, it gets really hard to detach yourself from the feelings that had to be turned upside down during the composing part. Use anything that helps, drink some water or leave the song there for some hours and do something else.
6. Maybe after a couple of hours, read again what you wrote. See how you feel about it. Add words, idiom phrases. Sugar and spice.
This is it ! You've made it ! Be proud of yourself, because this is not just a songwriting process. This is about going deep into yourself, being brave, being conscious and unconscious at the same time. This is, actually, being an ARTIST. Congratulations!
Now, HERE is where you can find some examples of lyrics for songs that I have wrote for you:
And THIS is the online course I've been telling you about that can actually improve your songwriting skills in no time!
Yours faithfully,
Your music teacher
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