One place we might not think to go for advice about songwriting is the other kind of writer. But actually prose writers –from novelists to journalists – often have a huge repository of useful tips. For a start, they’re far more willing and able to share their creative process and routines than most songwriters or rock’n’roll stars. They can complete a sentence, for a start.
I also find mostly their thoughts don’t just apply to lyric-writing but the whole songwriting process – because many tips from professional writers are about how to focus on your work, which applies to all of us. For me, procrastinating and delaying tactics are some of the hugest barriers to getting a bunch of songs completed. I’m there, right now this second, avoiding finishing some new songs by twatting around on this blog.
So here’s two things from Chuck Palahniuk’s website. Chuck is famous for his good tips that help story writers and he’s actually a killer resource for those of us who spend much of our time punching our acoustic guitar in frustration, or doing the dishes instead of nailing that shitty middle-eight. First, Palahniuk’s own 13 tips HERE. Then Craig Clevenger’s new essay on dialogue HERE. See, even hints on writing dialogue can be effective for songs.
Anyway, it’s worth seeking out your favourite prose writers of whatever genre. The best advice will be in serious interviews with them by specialist publications, or on their own websites. You won’t get that from Kings Of Leon.
*odd little update*
I just tweeted a link to this blog entry and at roughly the same moment, @infobunny tweeted a very useful link to the BBC’s archive of interviews with writers. Nice coincidence… then I clicked on the link and the first headline (refering to Virginia Woolf) is ‘Words Fail Me’, the title of my upcoming single. What a weird little circular moment. Anyway, here’s the link she posted to the fascinating BBC archive: bbc.co.uk/archive/writers/
Chris T-T's Songnostic 
August 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Other useful resources are:
Engaging in conversation with writers directly about their process – through Twitter or forums etc; ask them good concise questions or for specific help.
Going to see them speak at panels or other events can be interesting too – I saw China Mieville speak on two panels recently, he spoke about completely different subjects and it wasn’t stock responses that you might get in interviews etc.