All posts by Brent Baxter

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #81

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Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a writing prompt for you.  It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“His report was about as organized as _____.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“His report was about as organized as a freshman’s dorm room.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Matt Martoccio, stevencoycook, Ken Matthiesen, Debbie Convoy, Janet Goodman, Jeff D. Green, Barney Coulter, Kim Kondrashoff, Amy Nichols, Jeff McKee, Tim Bell, Brek Lancaster, Eric Brownlee, Willa Thompson and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #80 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

Craft

Write 1,000 Words To Finish Your Song

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Finish 5

Are you trying to finish your song, but you’re having a hard time of it?  Maybe you’re stuck because 1) your idea is still vague or fuzzy or 2) you’re too busy trying to write lines instead of trying to figure out the thought BEHIND the lines. Maybe you’re stuck with your title, and you’re not sure where to go from there. So now you start to ponder what those words mean or what that notion means.

I know that for myself, sitting and pondering quietly is not usually the most effective way to dig into an idea. Why is that? I think it’s because it’s easy to get distracted. Or maybe it’s easy to sit there and FEEL your notion without ever putting it into words. And we kinda need the words to happen at some point, don’t we?

Anyway, I think I work most quickly and effectively when I can bounce ideas off of something, whether it’s a cowriter or a blank page. And it’s the blank page I want to talk about right now. I call it the “1,000 Word Exercise.” I open up a new Word or Pages file and put the title at the top (if I have one). Then I start typing and I don’t stop until my wordcount at the bottom of the file tells me I’ve hit 1,000 words. (Okay, you can take a bathroom break or refill your coffee, but no flipping on the TV.)

I don’t give myself any hard and fast rules when it comes to this, other than hitting 1,000 words. I can repeat phrases multiple times. I can put down… whatever… as long as it’s concerning that title or notion. I’m not worried about writing lyrics or lines, though some rhyming lines will inevitably appear.

No, I’m just concerned with getting thoughts on paper. If a cool line pops in my head, that’s great. Maybe it goes in this song, maybe it doesn’t. I really don’t know yet because I don’t know what my song is about yet- or even if there’s enough there to write a song about in the first place. Either way, you’ve captured the line, so it’s there if you need it later.

The reason it’s 1,000 words is because 1,000 words is A LOT.

Having that much space to fill means you can’t just stop with glib, shallow first impressions. You have to dig deeper. And wider, actually. That space both allows and forces you to consider multiple angles for your idea. It may turn dark for a little while, then it may turn funny. Sure, you’ll have some cliche stuff in there. That’s fine. Just put it down and keep on writing.

Hopefully, by the end of the exercise, you’ll have discovered an angle or layer of meaning which feels real and compelling. Then you can go through your 1,000 words and highlight lines and thoughts that go with that angle. (I also suggest you highlight- in a different color- lines and thoughts which could be seeds of other songs.)

Have fun… and keep writing!

If you’d like more techniques to help you finish your songs, check out my ebook, Finish Your Song! 20 Ways To Overcome Creative Roadblocks.  It’s in the Man vs. Row store.  Click HERE or on the image below to find out more.

Finish 5

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #80

20 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a writing prompt for you.  It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“After Thanksgiving dinner, dad felt as full as _____.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“After Thanksgiving dinner, dad felt as full as a dog tick.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Ken Matthiesen, Adam Farr, Tim Bell, Jeff D. Green, Janet Goodman, Boredomcity, Michael P. Baker, Barney Coulter, Mark W., Eric Tingstad, Katrina, Jim Edmondson, Matt Martoccio and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #79 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

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God Bless,

Brent

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Anti-Imagery

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Quick Tip

Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

“ANTI-IMAGERY”

Here’s an exercise: Take a hit song with a lot of imagery and take the images out. Only speak in emotional terms. See how boring and unoriginal the lyric becomes? Then why would we write a song that way in the first place?

God Bless,

Brent

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

 

Craft

Songwriters, Write The Video For Your Song

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Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

Sometimes, as writers, we have the tendency to leave too much information in our heads and off of the page. Maybe we know the story too well- maybe because we’ve lived it. Either way, our lyrics can sometimes just comment upon the story without actually giving us the story.

You might say, “Last night, you made me cry,” without telling us that he made you cry BECAUSE he “looked at me with cold blue eyes like I was some stranger you were telling goodbye.” It’s up in your head- you see the picture when you sing that line. But the listeners won’t see that. They can’t. They’re not in your head.

So you want to build the habit of showing us the cause of the emotions, not just telling us about the emotions.

Show The Cause

One way to help in this process is to “write the video.” This is not actual storyboarding. It’s just stream-of-consciousness (or more thoughtfully) writing down what you see in your mind’s eye when you’re thinking about the story in your song. Memories or make believe, it doesn’t matter. Just capture the sights, sounds, tastes, touch and smells of your story.

This process is good for a few reasons:

1. It gives you a stack of images to draw from in your lyrics. You can now pick out the coolest, most true images for your song.

2. It helps you really crystalize your thoughts. Instead of vague notions you’re trying to capture in your song, you’ve already sketched out your story. Now, instead of trying to come up with the next rhyme, you’re more likely to think about what the thought needs to be. And that’s much more important than just a cool rhyme.

3. It helps you reach past cliche’ images. It might be easy to just write about her “feet on the dashboard” because that’s what country songs say (and you’re just focused on finding a line that sings well). However, if you spend more time on the story without being constrained by “next line syndrome,” you’re more likely to say, “Well, no. Her feet weren’t on the dash. One leg was curled up under the other.” That’s way more original and more believable.

So, remember. Focus on giving the listener the cause of your emotions, not just your emotions. Write the video to your song, and you’re more likely to see the video OF your song someday.

God Bless,

Brent

KNOW THE ROW

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive Google Hangout with myself and music publisher & former ASCAP Membership Representative, Chad Green. Ask Chad YOUR questions face-to-face as we discus how YOU can get on the radar of a publisher or PRO! There are only TWO spots left, so don’t wait- click the image below to find out more:

Know The Row pic 2

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #79

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KNOW THE ROW

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive Google Hangout with myself and music publisher & former ASCAP Membership Representative, Chad Green. Ask Chad YOUR questions face-to-face as we discus how YOU can get on the radar of a publisher or PRO! Click below to find out more:

Know The Row pic 2

Now, on to the Wordplay!

 

Wordplay Thursday

Here’s a writing prompt for you.  It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“After the scary movie, I was jumpier than _____.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“After the scary movie, I was jumpier than a 12-year-old on a trampoline.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Matt Martoccio, Renata Manzo Scruggs, Tommy Kib, Ken Matthiesen, Adam Farr, David, Kim Kondrashoff, Jeff Green, Janet Goodman, Tim Bell, Eric Tingstad, Mr. A, Michael P. Baker, Debbie Convoy, Eric Velez, Willa Thompson and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #78 (read it here)! Great job!

Muse

Are You On The P.A.T.H. To Songwriting Success?

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Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

PATH

Songwriting is a journey. If you have big dreams for your songwriting, then it’s a long journey. It’s been my experience that a wise path is critical to a successful journey. Here are the elements of a wise P.A.T.H.

Purpose.

Why are you on this journey in the first place? Where do you want to go, and why do you want to go there? Without a clearly-defined purpose, without a desired destination at the end of the path, all you can do is wander. Find or define your purpose.

Action.

The path will not travel under your feet. You have to get moving! Take action, but not just any random action. The point isn’t to walk in circles or to run in place. Take the action you believe will move you in the direction of your purpose.

Time.

Any purpose worth following will not be fulfilled overnight. You have to put in the time. You have to resolve yourself to sticking with it for the long haul.

Habit.

Habit multiplies the effects of your efforts. When you have Purposeful Action Taken Habitually (hey, that spells P.A.T.H., too), that’s when all your positive momentum starts adding up like a snowball rolling downhill.

The path to success is paved with the stones of Purpose, Action, Time and Habit.

God Bless,

Brent

KNOW THE ROW

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive Google Hangout with myself and music publisher & former ASCAP Membership Representative, Chad Green.  Ask Chad YOUR questions face-to-face as we discus how YOU can get on the radar of a publisher or PRO!  Click below to find out more:

Know The Row pic 2

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #78

25 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a writing prompt for you.  It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“That child ran outside as naked as _____.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“That child ran outside as naked as the honest truth.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Helen O’Shea, adamagain47, Megan Brennan, Adam Farr, Eric Velez, Nila, Jeff Green, Debbie Convoy, Tim Bell, Martin Vipond, Tommy Kib, Amy Nichols, Mae Young, Barney Coulter, Willa Thompson, Mark  Westendorf, Brek Lancaster, Eric Tingstad, Michael Klenda, Matt Martoccio, Debbie Davidson, Ken Matthiesen, Renata Scruggs, Michael P. Baker, nomoretories and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #77 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

God Bless,

Brent

Biz, Muse

Show Me Your Songwriting Friends, And I’ll Show You Your Future

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Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.”

Yes, I know that probably sounds like something your mother would say. But I think it’s true. And, if it IS true, it really matters who you let into your inner circle.

Consider these thoughts:

“You are the average of your 5 closest friends.”

“A person seldom outperforms his inner circle of friends.”

“People tend to earn within 10% of what their friends earn.”

“Birds of a feather flock together.”

Now consider YOUR inner circle- your closest friends, family, cowriters and music business connections. If the above statements are true, then it really matters what type of people these folks are.

If your friends are lazy songwriters, you’re more likely to be a lazy songwriter.

If your inner circle is full of negative complainers, you’ll end up being one, too.

If your close friends aren’t pitching songs or networking, you won’t do as much of it, either.

However, if your friends are serious about becoming better songwriters, you’ll become a better songwriter, too.

If your inner circle is full of positive, motivated people, you’ll stay more positive and motivated, too.

If your close friends are pitching songs and networking, you’ll likely do more of that, as well.

In light of this, are there changes you need to make? Obviously, you shouldn’t leave your family. Nor am I saying that you should never talk to your “happy-with-mediocrity” friends again. But I am encouraging you to seek out and start spending time with the go-getters, the achievers, the folks with positive, can-do attitudes. After all, the people closest to you are the ones who rub off on you the most.

God Bless,

Brent

FREE AMAZON BESTSELLER!

Thanks to those of you who have already downloaded my book, Hit Songwriting: How A Songwriting Coach Can Fast Track Your Success!  You made it an Amazon bestseller in the Songwriting and Music Instruction categories, and I really appreciate it!  However, if you haven’t downloaded your copy yet, you can get it FOR FREE at www.GiftFromBrent.com or by clicking on the image below.  Enjoy!

Gift From Brent Songwriting 3

 

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #77

32 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a writing prompt for you.  It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“Her mood was darker than _____.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“Her mood was darker than a black hole’s shadow.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Mark W., Carol Buford, Amy Nichols, Jeff Green, Mae Young, Ken Mattiesen, Eric Tingstad, Dave Quirk, Willa Thompson, Matt Martoccio & everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #76 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows