Category Archives: Write Like A Pro

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #144

19 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

“Children are _____.”

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.

And try to get IMAGERY in at least one of your plays.

“Children are _____.”

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

“Children are sweet tornadoes.”

Wordplay Thursday

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 Brandon Tijolo Russ, Tommy Kib, Ty Devine, Billy Sweeney,  Barney Coulter, Sam Moore, David Ayers, Debbie Convoy, Melinda, Susie Strange, Ed, Jerry Childers,  Larry M Clark, Pam Parker, Kris Fisher, Matt Karpoff, Ronnie Glenn, Kim Kondrashoff, Antara Mallick, Michael Aiken, Joe MacKennon, Rika Love, Ken Matthiesen and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #143 (read it here)! Great job!

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs. PRO

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #143

37 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

“Family is _____.”

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.

And try to get at least ONE IMAGE in at least one of your plays.

“Family is _____.”

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

“Family is UNO at the kitchen table on a Tuesday night.”

Wordplay Thursday

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 Brandon Tijolo Russ, Rita Schroeder, Barney Coulter, Tamanie, Linda Keser, Joe MacKennon, Ken Matthiesen, Ed, Jim McCarter, Jeff Green, Ty Devine, Larry M Clark, Todd, Debbie Convoy, Kim Kondrashoff, Kris Fisher, Tommy Kib, Steve Bracklin, McD, Amy Carlock, Pam Parker, Joe Slyzelia and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #142 (read it here)! Great job!

 

 

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs. PRO

Do Business Like A Pro, Write Like A Pro

A Great Way To Get Noticed As A Songwriter

25 Comments

Man vs. PRO

What’s worse than having someone hate your song?  Having them immediately forget it.

It’s easy to listen to today’s country or Christian (or pop, or…) radio and think, “Wow – most of these songs are written within a pretty small box.  Most of them are pretty similar, and there aren’t many risks being taken.  I guess if I want cuts, I have to play it safe, too.”

Or maybe you get so much advice about, “don’t make the singer look bad,” “don’t alienate the listener, etc.” (and I admit I’ve said that, too), that you only want to play your “safe radio” songs for publishers or other people in the biz.

I think playing it safe is sometimes a big mistake.

cropped-SWP-2.jpg

Nashville is all stocked up with safe, sound-alike songs.  We don’t need yours.  We already have writers and artists that are really good at writing what’s already on the radio.  And they’re more connected than you.  Plus, most other aspiring hit songwriters are playing the same kind of stuff all up and down Music Row.

You can’t stand out in a sea of sameness by bringing in more of the same.

sea of sameness

You need to bring something new to the table.  Fresh melodies, fresh ideas, crazy tracks.  Bottom line: they’re not looking for what they already have.  Here’s a piece of advice:

Write some songs that feel “too real for radio.”

too real for radio

Write some songs that are so honest that you feel a little uncomfortable playing them across the desk from a publisher.  Don’t just write what you think a songwriter would say.  Tell the truth.  The truth- the raw, honest truth- is always fresh and relevant.

truth relevant

The point is not to make the publisher or whoever stand up and shout, “This is so great, it’s gonna change our whole format!”  No, the point is to make the listener think, “Wow. This person is a songWRITER.”  Let them know that you can access honest, real emotions.  Yeah, sure- also bring in a song or two that shows them you know how to play in the safe commercial sandbox.  But it’s really important to show them that you can draw on things a lot deeper than pickup trucks and riverbanks.

The honest line you want to rewrite because it’s “too honest” is exactly the line that will make the listener feel something.

After all, didn’t you feel something when you wrote it?  Chase that!  If you felt an honest emotion, maybe the listener will, too.

It’s better to be too real than too safe.

I’m not talking about adding in shock value just for the sake of shock value.  No, I’m talking about fearless honesty.  Maybe these aren’t the ones that’ll get cut.  It’s a success if the publisher says, “Wow. That’s great.  It’ll never get on the radio, but it’s great.”  It might feel like a back-handed compliment, but it’s actually a very good compliment.

I had a publisher tell me once, “Too many writers get so concerned about what will or what won’t get on the radio that they knock all the cool stuff off their songs in the writers room.  Don’t worry about going too far- that’s MY job!  I can always reign you in, but I can’t draw you out.”

Oh, and the comment about, “It’s great, but it’ll never get on the radio…”

That’s what people said about my song, “Monday Morning Church.”  And that song became a top 5 single for Alan Jackson.

Hmm…

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  Have you gotten a “too real for radio” reaction?  Or a “too vanilla” reaction?  Please leave a comment!

If you want to become a songwriting pro (in how you think, write songs or do business), then a great place to start is RIGHT HERE.  I want to help you on your songwriting journey.  I’ve been in the music business for years, and I’m here to help you get the cuts – and avoid the bruises.  CLICK HERE TO START HERE.

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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.

SWP 4

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #142

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.

And this week, let’s try to get at least ONE IMAGE in at least one of your plays.

“Country is _____.”

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

“Country is pickin’ ticks off your dog’s ears.”

Wordplay Thursday

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, Joe MacKennon, Ken Matthiesen, Bill, Schan, Barney Coulter, Todd, Bill, Larry M Clark, Debbie Convoy, Nick S, Billy Sweeney, Brandon Tijolo Russ, Kim Kondrashoff, Todd Dickinson, Ty Devine, Jennifer Thurston, Dave Edwards, Steve Brackin, Joe Slyzelia and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #141 (read it here)! Great job!

Since strong imagery is such an important part of professional-level songwriting, 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!

The course guides you as you learn to:

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

And since we’re all songwriters, that means you might not have the means to pay for the full course right now.  Not to worry.  I’ve made three packages of the course available.  Each one has great, helpful content.  Just choose the one that works best for you by CLICKING HERE.

And there is an upcoming LIVE imagery workshop on Tuesday, May 17.  Not only does it come with all the course materials, I’ll be there to answer your questions and walk you through some great material not covered in the course!

If you’re ready to “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” CLICK HERE or on the image below.

imagery_square_copy

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs Row

Biz, Do Business Like A Pro, Write Like A Pro

The Most Valuable Thing You Can Bring To A Cowrite

9 Comments

Man vs. PRO

Let me tell you a tale of two cowrites, both from my early “pro” days. First… the bad cowrite.

I was signed with Major Bob Music at the time, and “Monday Morning Church” had recently been a top 5 country hit for Alan Jackson.  But in spite of having a publishing deal and a hit under my belt, I was still pretty much a newbie trying to figure things out.  (I still feel that way to be honest.)  Anyway, Major Bob hooked me up to cowrite with a legit hit songwriter.  This guy had many cuts and hits to his credit, and I was honored to get in a room with him.

We met at his publishing company on Music Row.  After a little chit chat, he got that familiar look on his face.

“So… got any ideas?”  No.  Not really.

I mean, I had a bunch of hooks and some ideas, but nothing great.  Nothing I was busting a gut to write.  And I apparently didn’t have anything that impressed him, either.  After I threw out several “shoulder-shruggers,” he said, “Man, we need an idea like ‘Monday Morning Church.'”  Too bad.  I must have left my stack of “Monday Morning Church” ideas at home that morning.

We chatted some more, eventually moving out to the porch where he smoked a cigarette and I watched my hopes of making a good impression going up in smoke.  We called it a day.  I call it a failure of preparation on my part.  We’ve never written again.  For me, I was embarrassed and in no hurry to risk wasting his time again.

Now for the good cowrite.

cropped-SWP-2.jpg

I met Byron Hill at Chad Green’s ASCAP Country Workshop.  And, if I remember correctly, Carla Wallace at Big Yellow Dog Music also helped connect us.  We got a cowrite on the books, and I was pumped.  Byron has written a bunch of hits including, “Fool Hearted Memory” for George Strait, “Born Country” for Alabama, “Politics Religion & Her” for Sammy Kershaw and many, many more.

I did my homework.  I pulled together several ideas and lyrics that I thought he’d like.  I really wanted to make a good impression on him. When Byron asked, “So… got any ideas?” I was ready.  He loved a lyric sketch I brought in called, “Ring On The Bar,” and we were off to the races.

This first cowrite led to some success and more opportunity.  While “Ring On The Bar” hasn’t been a big hit yet, it’s been recorded by John Pierce (RCA), James Dupre’ (The Voice), and has been on hold by several artists, including Brad Paisley.

But the big thing is that Byron and I went on to write several more songs together, including the 2014 Canadian Country Music Awards Single Of The Year (and my first #1) “When Your Lips Are So Close” with Gord Bamford.

Good thing I showed up with a good idea on that first day, huh?

And that brings me to the point of these two stories.  I believe that a strong idea is the most valuable thing you can bring to a cowrite (other than Kris Kristofferson).  “Well,” you might say, “how come these big-time songwriters didn’t throw out any of THEIR ideas?”  Here’s why:

A great idea is really the only thing a newer songwriter has to offer a seasoned pro.

Let’s face it, if you get to write with an established pro songwriter, what do THEY need from YOU?

They have a more valuable name in the business.  They have more connections.  They most likely bring a higher level of songwriting skill.  The only thing they need is a fresh, cool idea or melody.  Unless you’re swinging around a big fat record deal, your job is to bring in the idea or the start of a song.

If the pro has a great idea, he surely has several proven, established cowriters who could write it with him.  Why risk giving 50% of HIS idea to a songwriter who might not contribute very much?

Let me tell you, it’s more fun (and profitable) when you have a strong answer for “got any ideas?” – and I want you to be prepared when that question comes your way.  And that question doesn’t need a good answer ONLY if you get a pro cowrite.  That question comes up in EVERY cowrite.  Every time you step into the writing room, you have the opportunity to blow away your cowriter with a great nugget or idea.

Feeling like I have a stack of strong ideas allows me to walk into any cowrite with confidence.  We might not always write my idea, but I came prepared… and my cowriter knows it and appreciates it.

I want YOU to have that confidence – and those results, too.  I want your cowriters to be glad they showed up to write with you.  But I DON’T want you to have to go through years of trial, error and the occasional embarrassing cowrite like I did!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  Have you had similar success or failures?  Please leave a comment!

If you want to become a songwriting pro (in how you think, write songs or do business), then a great place to start is RIGHT HERE.  I want to help you on your songwriting journey.  I’ve been in the music business for years, and I’m here to help you get the cuts – and avoid the bruises.  CLICK HERE TO START HERE.

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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.

SWP 4

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #141

31 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.

And this week, let’s try to get at least ONE IMAGE in at least one of your plays.

“Love is _____.”

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

“Love is holding your wife’s hair when she has morning sickness.”

Wordplay Thursday

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, Kevin James Lynch, David Baugh, Johnny Grant, Donna King, Shawn Van Namen, Ty Devine, Tommy Kib, Ken Matthiesen, Joe MacKennon, Larry M Clark, Brandon Tijolo Russ, Linda Keser, Todd, Nick S, Kim Kondrashoff, Joe Slyzelia, Paul Willis and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #140 (read it here)! Great job!

Since strong imagery is such an important part of professional-level songwriting, 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!

The course guides you as you learn 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 begin more songs (more easily) using imagery exercises as the start of your songwriting process.

And since we’re all songwriters, that means you might not have the means to pay for the full course right now.  Not to worry.  I’ve made three packages of the course available.  Each one has great, helpful content.  Just choose the one that works best for you by CLICKING HERE.

And there is an upcoming LIVE imagery workshop on Tuesday, May 17.  Not only does it come with all the course materials, I’ll be there to answer your questions and walk you through some great material not covered in the course!

If you’re ready to “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” CLICK HERE or on the image below.

imagery_square_copy

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs Row

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #140

22 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.

And this week, let’s try to get at least ONE IMAGE in at least one of your plays.

“Bill was after that girl like ______ after _____.”

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

“Bill was after that girl like a lawyer after an ambulance.”

Wordplay Thursday

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 Jessica Stewart, Larry M Clark, Todd, Ty Devine, Joe M, Barney Coulter, Debbie Convoy, Louis Blanchard, Ken Matthiesen, Brandon Tijolo Russ, Ed Leavitt, Michael Klenda, Mitch Matthews, Leigh Cara, Tommy Kib, McD, Nick S, Steve Brackin,  Linda Keser, Joe Slyzelia, and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #139 (read it here)! Great job!

Since strong imagery is such an important part of professional-level songwriting, 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!

The course guides you as you learn 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 begin more songs (more easily) using imagery exercises as the start of your songwriting process.

And since we’re all songwriters, that means you might not have the means to pay for the full course right now.  Not to worry.  I’ve made three packages of the course available.  Each one has great, helpful content.  Just choose the one that works best for you by CLICKING HERE.

And there is an upcoming LIVE imagery workshop on Tuesday, May 17.  Not only does it come with all the course materials, I’ll be there to answer your questions and walk you through some great material not covered in the course!

If you’re ready to “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” CLICK HERE or on the image below.

imagery_square_copy

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs Row

Craft, Think Like A Pro, Write Like A Pro

What Songwriters Can Learn From Jason Aldean & “Lights Come On”

12 Comments

 Jason Aldean has a new single out, called, “Lights Come On.”  If you’ve heard it, you know it’s not exactly an artistic stretch for him.  It might be easy for you to write it off as “just another Aldean song,” but that would be a mistake.  You see, there’s always something to learn from a successful song.  After all, this song is on the radio.  Is yours?

I don’t know the backstory of why he cut this song  (written by Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Jimmy Robbins, Jordan Schmidt, Brad Warren, and Brett Warren).  I’m not in his inner circle, but here are some elements of the song which probably made it appealing to him…

1. The song sings to the listener.

Aldean gets to sing directly to his audience- and he identifies them as HIS audience.  That’s a good way to build your relationship with them and their loyalty to you.  Fans want to connect with the artist, and the artist wants to connect with this fans.  Talking to them through the lyrics is a good way to do this.

2. The listener is the hero.

Not only does Aldean talk directly to the listener, he’s complimenting them.  They’re the hero of the story.  The listener is the hardworking guy or the cool girl who deserves a good time.  he makes them feel good about themselves, which of course, makes them feel good about the singer.  (Don’t we all tend to like people who compliment us?)

3. The singer is Yoda.

Complimenting the listener automatically casts a positive light on the singer, but the song doesn’t stop there.  It’s not just “you deserve a good time.”  No, it also says, “and I’m the guy that’s hosting the party!”  The listener is Luke Skywalker, and Jason Aldean is Yoda.  The listener is the hero, and the singer is the hero’s helper.

4. The song fits the brand.

The song perfectly fits Aldean’s image as a rocking, partying good-time loving country boy.  Sonically, it fits right in with what he’s done time and again.  Lyrically, it definitely fits his artistic voice.  If the Florida Georgia Line guys (Tyler and Brian) hadn’t been writers on this, I’d have sworn it was written specifically for Jason.

5. It’s built for “live.”

Most artists make their money by selling tickets.  And this song is a three-minute commercial selling you on coming to a Jason Aldean concert.  It’s positive, fun, and loud.  It’s something to get the crowd pumped, let them know they’re in for a good night… and hopefully, get them to the merch table.

6. The power of imagery.

When Aldean is telling the male listeners that they are awesome, hardworking men, he doesn’t just say, “you’re an awesome, hardworking man.”  No, he paints the picture of strong coffee, a power stroke diesel engine, backhoe, etc.  And he doesn’t just say, “you’re coming to a show,” he shows them hanging speakers over the crowd.  That kind of imagery makes the lyric a LOT more interesting.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  What do you think we can learn from this song?  Maybe you disagree completely and think there’s nothing to learn.  Either way, please leave a comment!

If you want to become a songwriting pro (in how you think, write songs, and do business), then a great place to start is RIGHT HERE.  I want to help you on your songwriting journey.  I’ve been in the music business for years, and I’m here to help you get the cuts – and avoid the bruises.  CLICK HERE TO TAKE YOUR SONGWRITING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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.

WordPlay, Write Like A Pro

Wordplay Thursday #139

27 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.

And this week, let’s try to get at least ONE IMAGE in at least one of your plays.

“Our laundry’s piled up like ______.”

(I’ll be honest.  This one hits close to home.  Anyway….)

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

“Our laundry’s piled up like a stack of overdue bills.”

Wordplay Thursday

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 Mitch Matthews, Ken Matthiesen, Nick S, Terry Reynolds, Louis Blanchard, Tommy Kib, Linda Keser, Brandon Tijolo Russ, Jim King, Ty Devine, Nancy Deckant, Todd, Marty McPherson, Joe Slyzelia, and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #138 (read it here)! Great job!

Since strong imagery is such an important part of professional-level songwriting, 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!

The course guides you as you learn 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 begin more songs (more easily) using imagery exercises as the start of your songwriting process.

And since we’re all songwriters, that means you might not have the means to pay for the full course right now.  Not to worry.  I’ve made three packages of the course available.  Each one has great, helpful content.  Just choose the one that works best for you by CLICKING HERE.

And there is an upcoming LIVE imagery workshop on Tuesday, May 17.  Not only does it come with all the course materials, I’ll be there to answer your questions and walk you through some great material not covered in the course!

If you’re ready to “Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)” CLICK HERE or on the image below.

imagery_square_copy

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Man vs Row

Craft, Write Like A Pro

Imagery In Your Song’s Opening Lines

2 Comments

Imagine yourself in a dark movie theater.

The movie starts to play, but there’s no video- just sound. You’d be disappointed- and you’d probably be confused as to what’s going on, right? Then why do we sometimes write songs that way?

In my last couple of blog posts, I’ve written about how imagery can be the slight edge that gives you big results (READ HERE). I’ve also detailed how a quirky image (“spork”) can really make your song memorable (READ HERE). Today, I’m going to tell you about a great opportunity that’s coming up. But first, let me tell you a little story…

Back in my first publishing deal at Major Bob Music, I was playing a new song for one of our songpluggers. It was a pretty emotive song. There wasn’t much of a story to it, just mostly emotions. He wasn’t crazy about it.

He said my song left him “floating around in space with nothing to hang on to.”

He said, “you’re just telling me how you FEEL.” I’d left him without an anchor. I wasn’t giving him any sense of the song’s setting.  I’d left him blind, searching for something to “see.”

Sometimes just one or two well-placed images in a song can give the listener something to hang on to so they AREN’T floating around. So why not give them that anchor at the beginning so they’re not waiting for it to get there?

Anchor

So, giving the listener an anchor is one thing. But, really, you want to go beyond just anchoring them. You want to hook the listener right off the bat. Right from the very first line, you want to be pulling the listener into the story, getting them curious… or furious… or whatever emotion is the point of the song.

That’s a really big opportunity and a big test for you as a writer.

Are you going to draw the listener in or lose them in your opening lines? If you lose them, they probably won’t stick around to hear your great hook and killer second verse or the surprise twist in the bridge.

A great image can really hook your listener.

I think one of the big reasons that my song (written with Erin Enderlin) “Monday Morning Church” got cut by Alan Jackson was it’s opening few lines.

“You left your Bible on the dresser, so I put it in the drawer. ‘Cuz I can’t seem to talk to God without yelling anymore.”

These few lines give the listener a lot of information, all through pictures. It tells the listener the person the singer is singing to is gone. That they were religious, but left the Bible. It also tells you that the singer is angry with God about whatever happened. It’s intriguing. It’s visceral. And you sure don’t know the whole story yet, but those first few lines are designed to really get your attention and make you want to know what happened- and what’s going to happen next.

My song, “Every Head Bowed,” recorded by Randy Travis (and written with Brandon Kinney), has the following opening lines:

“Sunday morning was a fight; I was running from that clip-on tie. It took Daddy’s belt to get me in my Sunday best.”

Again, these few lines give the listener a lot of information (and entertainment, hopefully). You get the sense that this is a young boy singing, you see him running from his parents, and you see his dad threatening him with a belt-whoopin’ before he finally clips on that dreaded tie. The personality of the main character is set up, and so is the mood of the song. Hopefully, the opening lines hook the listeners and gets them interested in “watching” what happens next.

And speaking of happening next…

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You know those videos I’ve shared with you over the past couple of days (WATCH HERE and WATCH HERE)? Well, they’re part of an online course that I’ve developed all about lyrical imagery.  It’s called:

“Use Imagery To Supercharge Your Songwriting (Like The Pros Do)”

It’s a course I’ve put together from my experience as a professional lyricist and songwriter with over 10 years in the music business. During that time, I’ve had cuts by legendary artists such as Alan Jackson and Randy Travis. I’ve also had cuts by Lady Antebellum and Joe Nichols, among others. I’ve written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 Single Of The Year in Canada.

This course is designed to make a huge positive difference in your songwriting.

Specifically, by the end of the course, you’ll gain the basic skills you need to:

  1. Effectively use both literal and figurative imagery.
  2. Make your story come to life using imagery.
  3. Prove your character’s… character 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 begin more songs (more easily) using imagery as the start of your songwriting process.

Adding great imagery to your songs will help them stand out. It will also help your songs connect emotionally to the listener. And this course will even save you time, as I reveal techniques and thought-processes that might take years for you to learn by trial and error.

Years. Let that sink in for a moment.

But you don’t have to waste all that time. You can start writing better songs TODAY!

If you want to take your songwriting (and your songwriting career) to the next level… CLICK HERE.

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God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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.