Category: Language
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Top 5 Exercises for Coming Up with Great Song Lyric Ideas—#2: Metaphor Collisions
This exercise is one of my all-time favorites. It is the fastest way to show yourself that you are capable of coming up with totally original, unique ideas and ways […]
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Writing better lyrics with metaphor magic
In this video, I show you how to write songs—and specifically lyrics—like Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and John Mayer. There is a particular type of song and songwriting that these three songwriters have in common—it’s a way to write songs that lots of songwriters use: metaphor songs. I start by defining metaphor, and share the…
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Mastering the Elements of Lyric Writing
Studying and understanding the tools that go into making a song can help anyone learn how to write a song more effectively. I hope these conversations give you ideas for […]
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Examples of Sense Writing
The first exercise I run in any lyric writing class is called ‘Sense Writing,’ which is essentially the same as Pat Pattison’s Object Writing (which you can find out more […]
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Drunk in the day – and other tips on writing well
Writes William Zinsser in, “On Writing Well”: …you have to strip your writing down before you can build it back up. You must know what the essential tools are and […]
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This is Your Brain on Metaphor
When I teach lyric writing, the first concept I introduce in any class is the power and impact of sense-based language. I usually start with a sort of psychological magic […]
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Writing Tips from George Orwell
One of the most incisive essays I have ever read on the art of writing is the short and stunning piece, ‘Politics and the English Language‘, written by George Orwell […]
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I Have a Confession to Make
I have a public confession to make. I have a serious problem—a profound weakness, and it only gets worse with age. I am completely, totally, helplessly in love with reading. But […]
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What Can Business Learn from Songwriters?
I was kindly invited by Soren Trampedach and Work Club Global, in collaboration with the Sydney-based organisation Affectors, to present an information session on some of the craft and process […]
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VIDEO: The Psychology of Lyrics
Thanks to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for hosting their first inaugural Teach Meet – a public lecture series of music educators presenting a short demonstration of an effective classroom tool. You’ll need […]