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25 Pro
25 Proven Steps To Lyric Writing Heavenven Steps To Lyric Writing Heaven

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1. Practice, practice, practice. Just like any other creative process such as playing guitar or Practice, practice, practice. Just like any other creative process such as playing guitar or
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programming synth sounds, lyric-writing is a skill that CAN be learnt and improved upon.rogramming synth sounds, lyric-writing is a skill that CAN be learnt and improved upon.

2. Don’t be disheartened if your lyrics aren’t perfect on your first draft. Many professional writers will Don’t be disheartened if your lyrics aren’t perfect on your first draft. Many professional writers will
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rewrite a song’s lyrics dozens of times before they make it onto record.ewrite a song’s lyrics dozens of times before they make it onto record.

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3. Persevere. More often than not, songs aren’t born, they’re created and sculpted. Don’t expect a song Persevere. More often than not, songs aren’t born, they’re created and sculpted. Don’t expect a song
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to arrive fully formed - they sometimes take time and you’ll need to work at it.o arrive fully formed - they sometimes take time and you’ll need to work at it.
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4. If you can’t quite figure out how to say what you want within a particular line, jot down the gist of If you can’t quite figure out how to say what you want within a particular line, jot down the gist of
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it and move on to another part of the song - you can come back to it later. That way, you won’t spend t and move on to another part of the song - you can come back to it later. That way, you won’t spend
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hours wrestling with one small line that might turn out to be insignificant in the wider context of the ours wrestling with one small line that might turn out to be insignificant in the wider context of the
song.ong.
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5. Try to have a clear idea of what the song is about. You should be able to sum up the essence of the Try to have a clear idea of what the song is about. You should be able to sum up the essence of the
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song in one sentence.ong in one sentence.

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6. Analyse other songs. Try to pick out the differences in lyrics between your favourite songs and your Analyse other songs. Try to pick out the differences in lyrics between your favourite songs and your
own, and apply any lyrical techniques you learn to your own work.wn, and apply any lyrical techniques you learn to your own work.
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7. Make sure the song has a clear structure and progression. This is particularly important in narrative Make sure the song has a clear structure and progression. This is particularly important in narrative
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songs (songs that tell a story). A quick test is to read the finished song through from start to finish, ongs (songs that tell a story). A quick test is to read the finished song through from start to finish,
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asking yourself “does this make sense to me?”sking yourself “does this make sense to me?”
8. Use context. Adding a back-story to explain the situation (for example) can add interest, and can Use context. Adding a back-story to explain the situation (for example) can add interest, and can
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change the entire meaning of any lyrics following on from it.hange the entire meaning of any lyrics following on from it.

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9. Use perspective. For example, a classic songwriting trick is to describe an event in the first verse, Use perspective. For example, a classic songwriting trick is to describe an event in the first verse,
and add perspective by describing how it affected you or made you feel in the second verse. Another nd add perspective by describing how it affected you or made you feel in the second verse. Another
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view point can put an interesting spin on an otherwise straightforward point.iew point can put an interesting spin on an otherwise straightforward point.
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10. Choruses require a different approach to verses, especially if you’re writing pop. They often need to Choruses require a different approach to verses, especially if you’re writing pop. They often need to
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be more ‘plain’ and easy to remember. A common trick is to write the ‘setup’ during the verse, and e more ‘plain’ and easy to remember. A common trick is to write the ‘setup’ during the verse, and
the emotional ‘payoff’ in the chorus.he emotional ‘payoff’ in the chorus.
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11. Experiment with rhythm within a line. A line can have its own rhythmic bounce or flair and still fit Experiment with rhythm within a line. A line can have its own rhythmic bounce or flair and still fit
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in within the overall rhyming scheme.ithin the overall rhyming scheme.

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12. Use light and shade. Contrasting the happy and positive with the sad and downbeat within a song Use light and shade. Contrasting the happy and positive with the sad and downbeat within a song
can be very powerful. Context is everything: a joyous chorus after a more solemn verse can make an be very powerful. Context is everything: a joyous chorus after a more solemn verse can make
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the chorus even more uplifting.he chorus even more uplifting.
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13. Don’t use an excess of adjectives, or describing words. While they are clearly essential to a Don’t use an excess of adjectives, or describing words. While they are clearly essential to a
songwriter, adding too many can make a lyric less concise.ongwriter, adding too many can make a lyric less concise.
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