Don't paint yourself into a corner

(Mapping out your songs)

    Often we all write these clever little lines, maybe with a cool metaphor or a vivid use of words or phrases, then we get stuck with the next line that needs to rhyme to it. So, we end up with a very good line, followed by one that obviously is there to rhyme to it.

    You're last line is your "punch line" of your stanza. Make sure it is the very best it can be. The 1st line of the stanza needs to be very good and draw them into wanting to hear the rest of the stanza. Consider those lines 1st and write them the best you can. Fill the middle, the lines in between with interesting details that follow out from line 1 and lead right into your punch line, your last line that is so remarkable.

    I think we'll find that we don't end up with that "poor line" that follows a good line that seems written simply to rhyme to the previous.

Mapping your songs out

    When I write a song I think "what am I trying to say here? OK, I have a story let's say about a guy who was defensive about God, but was struggling and then finally let go and let God in his life let's say. Let's say the hook is, ... umm, "letting go. So on paper I'll quickly write any lines that popped in my head so I don't lose them. Now let's map it out.

V1: Describe setting and characters - Describe situation of guy defense about God.
C1: Wrap around hook letting go, and focus on that - how it's hard to let go.
If you take off from C2 same chorus, but it now seems different as he's GOING to let go, but it's still never easy.
Bridge - Sum it up or twist things - Let's try sum it up - guy figured since he had nothing, he had nothing to lose and anything is better than nothing, God will just have to help him in "letting go"

    Imagine that you and some friends get this idea to drive to California and go to the beach, and see the sights, and so on. Wow, you’re all excited! Then you need to sit down calmly and "map it out. When could you go, do you have the money, how long to stay, who’s car to take and so on. Inspiration gives you a destination. The destination is the fun part. Mapping it out gets you from point A to Z in a logical manner. Before you start walking, decide where you want to end up. Often songwriters will write a terrific line, maybe use a wonderful metaphor or some words or phrases that are very vivid. Then they get caught trying to write another line that will rhyme to it. Often that line sounds like it’s "rhyme forced" meaning that it’s there mainly to rhyme to the previous line. Don’t let rhymes dictate your writing, let the story, or message of the song dictate them.

    When you "map out your song, have your 1^st line of each stanza very strong. Consider it 1^st. With that 1^st line, draw the listener into your story or message. I mention that you can refer to the last line as the "punch line." The last line of a stanza is where you want to deliver your point. Make the last line a interesting / thought provoking line." Write it and give it a lot of attention just as you do the 1^st line of each stanza. Once you have those 2 lines taken care of, then you can work on the lines inside of the 1^st and last line that will give details of your message and so forth. What you want is to have a very strong 1^st and last line. When you write them 1^st, then your other lines can lead to and from them and your "best" lines will be in the most important spots of your stanza. You will have much more control and focus in your writing having your beginning and ending already taken care of. For instance, if you know that you’re driving in a car and starting in Tampa Florida and ending in New York city, you’re starting point and destination are covered. You know where you’re leaving from and where you want to go. If you get into a car in Tampa with no idea where you’re destination is, you may begin driving west towards Texas, and then later find out your destination is in New York and have wasted a lot of time driving the wrong way. Again, in songwriting, by mapping out your song, your starting point and destination are decided, so now you can take a straight path and keep your message very clear and direct and thus more enjoyable for your listener.

Dave Byers

Dave is the founder of "writingsongs.com and the Christian Songwriters Organization. He has been writing songs since 1979. His book "Songwriting fundamentals" is available by clicking here.