Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades. Now this revised and updated 2nd Edition provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics.
Perfect for new and experienced songwriters alike, this time-tested classic covers the basics in addition to more advanced techniques.
Songwriters will discover:
Featuring updated and expanded chapters, 50 fun songwriting exercises, and examples from more than 20 chart-toppings songs, Writing Better Lyrics gives you all of the professional and creative insight you need to write powerful lyrics and put your songs in the spotlight where they belong.
Foreword Gillian Welch Welch, Gillian
Introduction 1
Ch. 1 Object Writing: The Art of the Diver 3
Ch. 2 Rusty's Collar: A Lesson in Showing and Telling 19
Ch. 3 Making Metaphors 23
Ch. 4 Learning to Say No: Building Worksheets 33
Ch. 5 Cliches: The Sleeping Puppy (A Case Study) 47
Ch. 6 Productive Repetition 55
Ch. 7 Verse Development and Power Positions 82
Ch. 8 Travelogues: Verse Continuity 93
Ch. 9 Stripping Your Repetition for Repainting 101
Ch. 10 Perspectives 111
Ch. 11 Point of View: Second Person and the Hangman 128
Ch. 12 Point of View: Second Person as Narrative 132
Ch. 13 Dialogue and Point of View 139
Ch. 14 Meter: Something in Common 147
Ch. 15 Spotlighting With Common Meter 153
Ch. 16 Meter: Two by Two 161
Ch. 17 Managing Couplets 168
Ch. 18 Prosody: Structure as Film Score 177
Ch. 19 Understanding Motion 189
Ch. 20 Form Follows Function: Building the Perfect Beast 229
Ch. 21 The Great Balancing Act: Courting Danger on the High Wire 239
Ch. 22 Song Forms: (Im) Potent Packages 250
Ch. 23 Song Forms: (Im) Potent Packages II 257
Ch. 24 Process 262
Appendix Co-Writing: The "No"-Free Zone 289
Permissions 292
Index 295
Anonymous
Posted July 25, 2010
This book is a must-have for any songwriter. It covers topics all the way from getting ideas to perfecting your lyrics. If you are looking for your next songwriting purchase, this is it. It will bring your songwriting to the next level. Pat Pattison knows exactly what he is talking about and will inspire you and get you excited about writing lyrics.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.bemmons
Posted March 13, 2010
For anyone interested in creative writing, and specifically lyric writing, this book is very insightful and relevant. The information and exercises are useful for any writing scenario. Pat Pattison is a respected authority on the subject of lyrical content and lyrical forms. He is a professor of the subject for Berklee College of Music.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades. Now this revised and updated 2nd Edition provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics.
Perfect for new and experienced songwriters ...