Most songwriters start writing lots of songs every year, yet the number that they finish writing is typically much lower. Some of this is due to the process problems we mentioned in the previous …
Happy Birthday, Jorge Luis Borges
song written is a writing website, after all—a lyric is one form of literature—and today is the birthday of my favorite author, Jorge Luis Borges. Today’s Google Doodle celebrates my favorite …
Finding the Kink in Your Song Hose, Part 2: Make Sure the Hose is Attached
In the previous post we looked at some ways to maintain a steady stream of new song ideas. Today we’re going to examine some common process problems. Process problems are obstacles that don’t arise …
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The Halted Clock Video Episode #002: Finding the Kink in Your Songwriting Hose
If you’re not okay with me making triple entendres and elementary school-level jokes about kinks and hoses, you should probably skip this one. I said don’t! No! Don’t watch it! Okay, if you must. But …
If You’re Not Messing Up—Often and Well—Something’s Wrong
“If you don't have failures and nervousness and sloppiness and mistakes, you're not taking enough risks or stretching as much as you could be.” -Ruth Greenwood The above comment Ruth left on The …
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You Could Lose All of Your Songs Tomorrow.
That's my new external hard drive there to the left. I'm using it to back up all of my music, lyrics, and writing on a regular basis-starting today. I lost seven years of work on Friday night. I had …
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Do You Care Whether Your Lyrics Read Well on a Page?
If someone picked up your lyric booklet, would it be a good read even if they've never heard your album? Does it matter? …
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Why You Should Join the “50 Songs in 90 Days” Challenge Right Now
YOU: “But Nick, didn’t that start like 40 days ago?!” Something like that, yes. YOU: “So it’s like 50 songs in 50 days now?” Right. YOU: “And you’re telling me I should sign up now.” You bet I …
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Life Cycle of a Summer Song, Part 4: An Attempt at Self-Criticism
Usually I don’t take this long to finish a draft of a song, but writing “The Deep End of Summer” publicly has complicated the process somewhat. Sorry if you’ve been waiting for the next installment—I …
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The Scaredy-Cat’s Guide to Writing and Performing Your Own Songs
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. ~African Proverb Let’s be honest here: writing and performing your own original songs is terrifying. Take everything that’s …
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The Halted Clock Goes to Britain!
Hi there, all you saucy songsters and songstresses and gender-neutral balladeers. On Friday I flew across the Atlantic on a redeye flight directly to Beatles Songwriting Academy to discuss the …
Are You Moving Your Audience to Tears… or BORING them to Tears?
Unfortunately for you and I, the days of the captive audience are over. Today everybody has cell phones with games, internet access, and a thousand other distractions that are never far away. If your …
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