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.

“Honesty is _____.”

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

“Honesty is giving back that extra penny the cashier gave you by mistake.”

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!

And thanks to Ken Matthiesen, Jerry Childers, Kim Kondrashoff, Anonymous, Tomas Giraitis, Matt Martoccio, and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #129 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great way to the get the creative juices flowing and get some songs started. But what about finishing songs? Sometimes that can be more difficult. That’s why I’ve written “Finish Your Song! 20 Ways To Overcome Creative Roadblocks.” Click here to find out how to finish more songs faster and better. Or click on the image below. Thanks!

God Bless,

Brent

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Today, I’m going to give you a topic, and the wordplay is to show that topic with ONLY sensory images (sight, smell, taste, touch, sound).  The point is to have fun with the old Nashville advice that says, “Show me, don’t tell me.”  You can just pick one sense, or you can challenge yourself by playing one image from each of the 5 senses.

This week, let’s paint a picture about…

“Swimming Pool”

Here’s an example to get you started:

“The concrete is rough and hot against the bottom of my feet. I feel my face turn red when I take my shirt off and look down at my round stomach. I smell coconut suntan lotion. A blonde-haired little girl shouts, ‘Marco!'”

Now it’s your turn.  Show me, don’t tell me!

Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all…

And thanks to Jude Hart, Taylor, Ken Matthiessen, Jerry, Jeff Green, Will Curtis, Michael Klenda, Kris Fisher, Barney Coulter, Mark Brocke, Nick S.,  Linda Keser, Tomas Giraitis, Pete Smith, Nila, Matt Martoccio, Gregg Shivley and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #125 (read it here)! Great job!

Since strong imagery is such an important part of turning a cliche moment into a hit moment, I’ve put together a course on imagery. It’s called, “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” and it’s available now. By the end of the course, you’ll have the basic skills to:

1. Effectively use both literal and figurative imagery.
2. Make your story come to life using imagery.
3. Prove your character’s personality using imagery.
4. Make your listener connect to your character’s emotions using imagery.
5. Hook your listener in the song’s first few lines using imagery.
6. And to begin more songs (more easily) using imagery exercises as the start of your songwriting process.

Click here if you’re ready to “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” or click on the image below.

God Bless,

Brent

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Today, I’m going to give you a topic, and the wordplay is to show that topic with ONLY sensory images (sight, smell, taste, touch, sound).  The point is to have fun with the old Nashville advice that says, “Show me, don’t tell me.”  You can just pick one sense, or you can challenge yourself by playing one image from each of the 5 senses.

Last week, we played off a physical object (“guitar”).  This week, let’s stretch a little more and show an emotion.  Game on!

“Nervous”

Here’s an example to get you started:

“His shaky hand sets the empty shot glass back on the bar as he stares into the mirror behind the whiskey bottles and mouths to himself, ‘you can do this. You can do this…'”

Now it’s your turn.  Show me, don’t tell me!

Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all…

And thanks to Ken Matthiessen, Nila, Barney Coulter, Tommy Kib, Scott Fischer, Willa Thompson, Debbie Convoy, Nick S., Lisa Gates, Sean Kasey, Linda Keser, Jerry Childers, Kim, Wm Curtis, Gerald Rae, Kris Rogge Fisher, Steve Crabtree, Kerry Meacham, Joe Slyzelia and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #124 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great way to the get the creative juices flowing and get some songs started. But what about finishing songs? Sometimes that can be more difficult. That’s why I’ve written “Finish Your Song! 20 Ways To Overcome Creative Roadblocks.” Click here to finish more songs faster and better. Or click on the image below. Thanks!

God Bless,

Brent

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Let’s mix it up this week!  Today, I’m going to give you a topic, and the wordplay is to show that topic with ONLY sensory images (sight, smell, taste, touch, sound).  The point is to have fun with the old Nashville advice that says, “Show me, don’t tell me.”  You can just pick one sense, or you can challenge yourself by playing one image from each of the 5 senses.  Focus on something you can hear, something you can see, something you can feel, something you can smell, or something you can taste.

And heeeeerrrrrreeee we goooo!

“Guitar”

Here’s an example to get you started:

“The e string makes a slight popping sound as I turn the tuning key. I squint, imagining it breaking and stabbing me in the eye.”

Now it’s your turn!  Show me, don’t tell me!

Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all…

And thanks to Phillip, Wm Curtis, Donna, Ken Matthiessen, Davis Tribble, Nick S., Donna Kossow, Barney Coulter, Kim Kondrashoff, Linda Keser, Michael Klenda, Harris Tobias and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #123 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great way to the get the creative juices flowing and get some songs started. But what about finishing songs? Sometimes that can be more difficult. That’s why I’ve written “Finish Your Song! 20 Ways To Overcome Creative Roadblocks.” Click here to find out how to finish more songs faster and better. Or click on the image below. Thanks!

God Bless,

Brent

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.

“Their New Year’s kiss felt _____.”

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

“Their New Year’s kiss felt as soft as the confetti falling around them.”

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!

And thanks to Debbie Davidson, McDonough, Ken Matthiesen, Nick S., kimbergirl29, Kris Rogge Fisher, Andrew, Shawn Van Namen, Jerry Childers, Linda Keser, Bill and everyone else who played along here or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #122 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great creative kickstart.  If you want to focus your creativity to write commercial songs, check out my upcoming C4 Experience.  “Creative” and “Commercial” are two of the “C’s” in “C4.”  Click here to find out the other two “C’s.” Or click on the image below.

God Bless,

Brent

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.

“Christmas Eve arrived like _____.”

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

“Christmas Eve arrived like a favorite childhood cousin in from out of town.”

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!

And thanks to Dionne Kumpe, Ken Matthiesen, Linda Keser, Nila, Eric Tingstad, Nick S., Barney Coulter, Greg Halvorson, Brenda Karl, Carol Katterjohn, Kim Kondrashoff, and everyone else who played along here or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #121 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great creative kickstart.  If you want to focus your creativity to write commercial songs, check out my upcoming C4 Experience.  “Creative” and “Commercial” are two of the “C’s” in “C4.”  Click here to find out the other two “C’s.” Or click on the image below.

God Bless,

Brent

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.

“Christmas lights lit up our neighborhood like _____.”

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

“Christmas lights lit up our neighborhood like a snow-covered Vegas strip.”

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!

And thanks to Ken Matthiesen, Dan Retz, Terry, Barney Coulter, Nick S, Deborah, Kim Kondrashoff, Nila, Joe Slyzelia, Allen Paulson, Heidi Lynn Carter, Dionne Kumpe, Erin Murphy Dunn, Daveevmusic, Will Curtis, Scott Fischer and everyone else who played along here or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #120 (read it here)! Great job!

Wordplay Thursday is a great creative kickstart.  If you want to focus your creativity to write commercial songs, check out my upcoming C4 Experience.  “Creative” and “Commercial” are two of the “C’s” in “C4.”  Click here to find out the other two “C’s.” Or click on the image below.

God Bless,

Brent