💡✍️ ADN #031: 8 Steps To Write Your Next Great Song

Hey Friends -

Welcome to the Artist Development Newsletter.

Every Sunday, I send an email providing actionable tips for artists and industry on one area of the music business.

Last week we talked about 4 Ways To Land Your First Tour.

You can re-read last week’s newsletter here if you want to refresh.

Today, I’m sharing an organization formula (in 8 parts) so songwriting can feel manageable for you.

Let’s dive in.

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A memorable and unique song is a great way to build excitement with your audience as an artist.

At times, it can feel like an incredibly daunting task as well.

I’ve spent the last 10+ years exploring the formulas that help songwriters and artists create songs that stick.

Here are 8 steps to writing your next song.​

Step 1: Build An Idea Doc

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The hardest part of writing songs every day is developing topic ideas.

I get ideas all the time.

But if I wait until it’s time to sit down and write, suddenly, my mind goes blank.

My first tip is to build your idea doc continually.

It’s hugely helpful to capture all your ideas in one place as they come to you.

It’s like having a second brain for your thoughts and concepts that will keep you from starting from scratch when it’s time to write.

I’m constantly listening to conversations, podcasts, and interviews, reading, watching, and searching for song ideas.

If you aim to jot down 2–3 new ideas daily, you’ll have 15+ fresh ideas to work with weekly.

That’s a lot of potential songs.

Step 2: Research And Gather Information

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After selecting a title or subject from your idea doc, it’s time to do some digging.

• Has your title been written before?
• Has your subject been written before?
• If so, how?

Gather enough information about your song idea to create something original to yourself and your viewpoint.

Step 3: Use A Template

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All songs have a form to them.

A simple template serves as a roadmap to guide the flow of your writing.

Here are a few examples:

• Intro-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro
• Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus
• Intro-Verse-Pre Chorus-Chorus-Turnaround-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus

Keeping the listener in mind makes your song flow simple:

• What is the concept?
• What is the title?
• How do most people sing about this topic?
• Why did it work for them?
• How might I write about it differently?

Templates and structure ensure I’m always in the right direction with my songs.

Well-structured songs help you build your fanbase.​

Step 4: Label Your Sections

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Before you dive into the actual writing, label your sections.

These sections will serve as guideposts, a mini-outline for your ideas to live.

Labeling sections will prevent you from getting off course and give you a place to drop your ideas for each section of your song.

With your labels in place, you have a path to follow.

Sections make the songwriting process much more manageable.

In writing, I’ve seen this called “prepping the page,” which also applies to songwriting.

Step 5: Fill In The Blanks

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Now it’s time to flesh out your song.

You’ve got a title or a concept.

You might have a few lines or ideas jotted down in your sections.

Start zooming in and writing.

Each section should start with an opening line that writes toward or sets up the title, theme, or next step in your song.

Where are you headed?

Prep your listener.

You’re the narrator of the story.

Ensure the listener has a reason to follow where you’re going.

Step 6: Incorporate Visual & Sensory Elements

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Next, incorporate visual and sensory-driven elements into your lyrics.

Paint a picture with your words that play like a movie in the listener’s mind.

Example:

Why say, “Don’t take my love for granted.”

When you could say, “Don’t take my lackluster love for granted; I can only give what I have.”

Try for yourself:

“Don’t take my _______ love ______________.”

Shoutout to my dear friend, Kyle Andrews, for that line from his song, “Lackluster Love.”

Step 7: Gut-Check Your Song Title

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Once you have a work tape version of your song ready, it’s time to gut-check your song title.

A song title should be catchy and bold.

You want the listener to be intrigued before hearing a note.

Most often, the song title comes from the “hook” of the song.

There are times when pulling another word, phrase, or line from your tune makes for a more exciting title.

It’s worth taking a minute once you have your song complete to make sure your title feels effective.

Step 8: The Editing Process

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Lastly, putting your song through a rigorous editing process is essential.

Structure, rhyming, and melody are the basics.

Be sure to check for conciseness and clarity in your lyrics.

Scrutinize for unnecessary thoughts.

Remove unnecessary words.

And most importantly, ensure that you deliver what your song title intended.

Here are the four questions I scan for when I edit a song:

• Are my lyrics concise and easy to understand?
• Do I have any thoughts that I should eliminate?
• Do I have any thoughts to add?
• Do I deliver what my title and idea intended?​

In Summary

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Writing a memorable song is a challenging task.

Breaking it down into manageable steps makes it not just possible but enjoyable.

And the best part about a song is that it is an asset to you forever.

• It will exist in recorded form, winning over new fans and earning $.
• You can play it for years at shows, where it can help you down the road.
• You can release live versions to your fans.
• You can turn it into merchandise and much more.

This Week’s Action Steps

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Start your idea doc, and capture 2–3 ideas per day.

See you next Sunday!

Neil Mason

Artist Development

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