I have often wondered how many songs the average songwriter typically works on at one time. (Please, feel free to post with your experience. Hello? Anyone out there???)
I realize that some songs will take longer than others. I have an idea I actually started about 3 years ago that I am just dusting off. It may be time to write it. Of course, other songs may never get to be completed.
The reason I am wondering is that I am currently working on around 9 songs by myself and one cowrite (my FIRST cowrite, which, by the way, has been an amazing experience - Thanks, B.T.! Only two lines left...that is, until we probably decide to rewrite major portions of it!)
I tend to get bored easily with things if they take to long. It takes me a great amount of discipline to focus on the completion of one task. Had I not told you that, you would probably never have known, even if you know me well. My boss thinks I am a very organized and disciplined person. (She looked at me kinda funny when she complimented me on that very subject and, wait for it... I laughed...of course, I explained the whole situation before she gave me my walking papers.)
Perhaps my problem is no sense of urgency. Funny, but I always tend to work well when under outside pressure. I thrive on deadlines. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I hate deadlines, but there is something about the thrill of creating and producing in that setting. In November of last year I decided to write a wedding song for a dear friend as a gift. Of course, me being me, I decided the week before the wedding. I got it done. (She cried when I sang it. I love it when a song can evoke a response like that, though it may have been because she was getting married.)
While I'm on the subject of how many songs I have in the works, The balance between quality and quantity always comes up. This topic has long been covered by writers far more qualified that I. One recent habit on the quality side I have developed is not writing every idea I have. I don't want to just write ideas. At the very least I want to write the good ideas. As I grow, I intend to expertly craft GREAT ideas. (One day, anyway.) But for now I have spent a great deal more time than I used to fleshing out an idea before I ever write a line. A lot of not so good ideas have met their demise in this process. On a positive note, it has helped bring a previously elusive depth to my storylines and allowed me to reach deeper for lines and phrases.
It appears I wrote that last paragraph essentially to come to the conclusion that some of my current songs need to be finished just to get them out of the way and make way for bigger, better ideas. Gotta walk before you run. Besides, honestly...some of them just aren't that good.
Have you ever had someone just gush over how cute their funny looking little child is? (I have four, btw. Cute kids - not funny looking children.) I know we all think our songs, aka "babies" are all great, but face it - some are just plain funny looking. It doesn't mean you love them less. You just don't go whipping out their picture at every public gathering.
However, if all you have is funny looking children, aren't you bound to eventually have at least ONE that people think is cute? (provided you, like my brother who has EIGHT, keep having kids)
So when it comes to writing songs, how many irons in the fire is too many?
Powered by ScribeFire.
I realize that some songs will take longer than others. I have an idea I actually started about 3 years ago that I am just dusting off. It may be time to write it. Of course, other songs may never get to be completed.
The reason I am wondering is that I am currently working on around 9 songs by myself and one cowrite (my FIRST cowrite, which, by the way, has been an amazing experience - Thanks, B.T.! Only two lines left...that is, until we probably decide to rewrite major portions of it!)
I tend to get bored easily with things if they take to long. It takes me a great amount of discipline to focus on the completion of one task. Had I not told you that, you would probably never have known, even if you know me well. My boss thinks I am a very organized and disciplined person. (She looked at me kinda funny when she complimented me on that very subject and, wait for it... I laughed...of course, I explained the whole situation before she gave me my walking papers.)
Perhaps my problem is no sense of urgency. Funny, but I always tend to work well when under outside pressure. I thrive on deadlines. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I hate deadlines, but there is something about the thrill of creating and producing in that setting. In November of last year I decided to write a wedding song for a dear friend as a gift. Of course, me being me, I decided the week before the wedding. I got it done. (She cried when I sang it. I love it when a song can evoke a response like that, though it may have been because she was getting married.)
While I'm on the subject of how many songs I have in the works, The balance between quality and quantity always comes up. This topic has long been covered by writers far more qualified that I. One recent habit on the quality side I have developed is not writing every idea I have. I don't want to just write ideas. At the very least I want to write the good ideas. As I grow, I intend to expertly craft GREAT ideas. (One day, anyway.) But for now I have spent a great deal more time than I used to fleshing out an idea before I ever write a line. A lot of not so good ideas have met their demise in this process. On a positive note, it has helped bring a previously elusive depth to my storylines and allowed me to reach deeper for lines and phrases.
It appears I wrote that last paragraph essentially to come to the conclusion that some of my current songs need to be finished just to get them out of the way and make way for bigger, better ideas. Gotta walk before you run. Besides, honestly...some of them just aren't that good.
Have you ever had someone just gush over how cute their funny looking little child is? (I have four, btw. Cute kids - not funny looking children.) I know we all think our songs, aka "babies" are all great, but face it - some are just plain funny looking. It doesn't mean you love them less. You just don't go whipping out their picture at every public gathering.
However, if all you have is funny looking children, aren't you bound to eventually have at least ONE that people think is cute? (provided you, like my brother who has EIGHT, keep having kids)
So when it comes to writing songs, how many irons in the fire is too many?
Powered by ScribeFire.
No comments:
Post a Comment