Saying Old Truths in New Ways

“The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or to say a new thing in an old way.” - Richard Harding Davis

This post is specifically for Christian songwriters, but can also apply to pastors, authors, poets, and songwriters of any genre.

Folks, we need to come up with new ways to say things in our songs. And yes, I’m talking to you Worship Leader Songwriter. I’m looking directly your way Christian Rock Band Dudes. This one’s for you Top 40 Christian Singer-Songwriter.

I get songs sent to me every day from Christian artists and songwriters hoping to get them heard, published, or recorded. And many times, the lyrics are simply unbelievable. As Christians, we know the rules: Use the old standby phrases, write it in a pop-friendly structure, and BOOM! – Christian radio hit right? This one will really get you noticed.

Getting Serious About Publishing

We're ready to get serious, how about you?

If you're like me, you've been writing songs for years and you KNOW you need to do more towards getting them heard or in other people's hands. But like artists who after they finish a recording may struggle to get out and hustle to sell it, the work it takes to publish your songs out to the world can be intimidating.

But, being the solutions-oriented folks we are here at Soul of the Songwriter, we offer not only steps to get you there, but a very serious option for you here in Nashville once you complete the steps.

Living in an ABAB World

One of the biggest problems we see with Christian songs that come our way is a structure that seems random or strange to listen to.

Now, songwriters, I hear you. You say, “I want to write original stuff that no one has heard before!” Oh if that were only true. What you really mean is “I just wrote it down this way and I’d rather go write something else than change it at this point.”

Repeating Yourself (The Importance of the Hook)

Without a doubt the hardest thing to teach songwriters is the thing that should be the most obvious: You have to have a hook. For many reasons, a repeated, catchy hook is what separates the successful songwriters from those who just can't seem to get any traction.

The definition of a music hook seems to be "a musical and/or lyrical phrase that catches the ear of the listener". So the word hook comes from "hooking" them as they listen, so they'll want to sing along on the next chorus, and then of course listen repeatedly to our genius creation.

Getting Started as a Christian Songwriter

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

One of the first questions I get from new songwriters is "How do I get started as a Christian songwriter?" to which I reply, "Well, have you written anything?"

If the answer is no, then we move to Step One.

Step One. Write something.

Income Streams for the Working Songwriter

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." - Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)

One of the many questions we get is how to make income as a songwriter. Well my dear, like any business you choose to get into, it takes this little thing called “work”. We songwriters tend to talk a good game, but like the verse above says, we can't just talk about it, we have to work at it!

"Nothing will work unless you do." - Maya Angelou

In reality, it's really very simple, and being the solutions-oriented, plain-speaking company we are, we're gonna break it down to very simple components for ya.

Write, Show, Repeat

"You cannot set art off in a corner and hope for it to have vitality, reality, and substance." - Charles Ives

So what's the magic formula for success as a songwriter? It's actually pretty easy.

Ever read the back of a shampoo bottle? The instructions aren't difficult.

"Lather, Rinse, Repeat."

Three things to do so anyone can get it done. Put the shampoo in your hair, rinse it out, repeat again or the next time.

The only worse instructions on something is a wet nap, which I always found hilarious that we had to be told to "Tear open packet, and use." Use? Really? We have to be told to use it?

But in many ways that's the purpose of this blog. I am going to give you three simple instructions to get your songs out there, and it's up to you to follow the very simple directions. (So scroll, read, and use ;)