Being able to write lyrics is an essential skill for any artist to learn, especially if they want to profit from their skills. The art of lyric writing may come naturally to some artists, and as soon as you sit down to write, the words start to flow. However, if you don't have any writing background, you might find it extremely difficult to get started with the process or find your flow. If you're trying to find a way to start writing your songs, check out the following tips to learn the basics of creating your own original lyrics.
Write Constantly
Make it a habit to start writing every single day. While you might not know what to write about some days, it doesn't mean you should give up. Start writing anything that pops up in your head. Think about your life or events happening around the world. Write what comes to mind, even if it doesn't make sense.
Writing consistently and constantly will help to train yourself to get in the habit of writing more. Try to encourage yourself to write for a minimum of 5 minutes a day. It will eventually help you, and you'll start to find a flow of lyrics that begin to come to mind. You can even look back at previous writing to string together different sentences to create your make-shift lyrics. Once you have a few lines written, try to sing or hum the words to keep your creative juices flowing.
Try a New Personality
Often, when trying to create lyrics, songwriters are focusing on topics that relate to themselves. This can be hard to write about, depending on the subject, or can become overdone if you consistently write about the same things. Instead, try to look at topics from a new perspective or as a different person. Doing this will educate yourself and others on a new realm of thinking.
Write with Your Favorite Artist
If you feel stuck writing, try to compose alongside your favorite artists. Print out the lyrics of your favorite song and cross off every other line. Use this space to write your own lyrics instead. This exercise will help stimulate your mind and increase your creative juices. Once you've found your flow, start jotting down your own non-related lyrics.
Choose Your Title
If you're having problems assembling your writing into excellent lyrics, try to start with the title instead. The title of a song can often be used to shape the theme of the song or can be integrated into the chorus. A good title is essential to the song's success and the likelihood that someone will listen to it.
Think about your favorite songs and the titles that they typically use. Try to use this as a framework for creating your own title. Some different ways you could frame your title could be to use slang words, paint a picture with your words, describe an action or emotion, refer to a person or thing. Whatever you plan to do, remember to keep it short and straightforward. You don't want a title that's longer than seven words because it won't display correctly on phones, cars, or tablets.
Start with an Instrumental
Do the lyrics or the instruments come first? That all depends on the songwriter's process. Many find it easier to create songs to an instrumental track. If you play an instrument, start to freestyle and see what inspires you to write. Go with your gut instinct and write down all your thoughts, even if they don't flow. You can edit or change them later. If you don't play an instrument, you can find beat samples to use for inspiration.
Take Time to Edit
Writing lyrics you feel happy about can take a long time. However, once you've successfully written your songs, it's time to go through and start to edit. First, make sure that there are no grammatical or spelling errors. A simple spell check on Microsoft Word can do the trick. Once you've made sure there are no errors, check the flow of the song. Read the lyrics out loud to see if they flow well. If you notice a line is hard to say or doesn't contribute to the overall song, make changes to your lyrics. This process may involve some rewriting depending on your ultimate goals for your lyrics.
Editing could also include changing the structure of your lyrics to increase the quality of the overall song. For example, adding metaphors or pop culture references can help your listeners relate more to your vocals. Change up your word choice to keep it simple so that others can follow along. If it feels like you're repeating the same concept, get rid of that lyric. Regardless of what you do, try not to obsess about making your songs perfect. Instead, allow them to be natural to you.
Ask for Backup
If you have a trusted friend or mentor in the songwriting world, you may want to reach out and have them review your lyrics. Friends or mentors can check for structure, flow and give honest feedback on the quality of your lyrics. They might have a unique take on the topic or be able to suggest changes that can make a significant difference in the overall structure of your lyrics. Your friend or mentor's feedback can help you grow in your ability to write songs or may help you learn a new technique you didn't know before.
Distribute Your Recorded Lyrics
Once you've finished creating your lyrics and recording them into a quality vocal, you'll want to get others to listen to it. Voqlr is the perfect tool to connect your high-quality songs with music producers around the world who need your music. This platform allows you to earn some money for your hard work and become recognized as a vocalist. Voqlr is truly your one-stop-shop for your vocalist needs. Sign up with an account to start your vocalist journey.
