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Tips & Resources by Brent Baxter, Team SWPro on September 04, 2020
Sam and Becca Mizell are hit songwriters with 7 #1 singles, 24 top 10 singles, 2 Grammy nominations, and 2 Dove Awards. Notable cuts include "King Of The World" by Natalie Grant, "The Motions" & "You Are Everything" by Matthew West, "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets, and others. Sam and I have spent a lot of hours writing songs together, and he is a great guy and a great writer. I'm happy to share some of his advice for songwriters like you. Enjoy!
From Sam Mizell:
This list is just some things I’ve learned over the years. I call it my 25 ways to become a better writer. It may not solve all your problems, and may not make you a million dollar hit, but they have helped me become the writer I am today. Here it goes…..
1. Write everyday, if not everyday, then every other day.
2. Keep a notepad ready for all ideas. write all your ideas even if they are seemingly insignificant.
3. Treat it like a hobby, it pays like a hobby… treat it like a job…….?
4. Look at all the titles that have already been written, and write something else.
5. Listen to people in every style to push you to better lyrics and melody.
6. Write, then re-write and repeat.
7. Keep your title at the top of your sheet…. compare all lines to the title and see if they lead you to what you are writing about. If not, then scratch and start again.
8. Realize you are on a journey. Some people are naturally great, some people work at being great. Which one are you?
9. The listener is like Tarzan, keep one vine coming at a time.
10. Don’t mix metaphors.
11. If you’re weak on lyrics, then find a co-writer.
12. All great writers go through dark nights of the soul, then they write about it.
13. Find out what you like writing about. If it’s biscuits, then write about biscuits.
14. If someone tells you not to overthink it, don’t listen to them.
15. The enemy of great is not bad, it’s good.
16. Critique others' writing…. find a genre, then try to pick it apart.
17. Learn to discover the difference between inspiration and perspiration.
18. Just because someone has a #1 song, doesn’t mean they are a good writer. It could mean they are more driven.
19. If you don’t have access to produce your music, can’t sing, can’t play, then pay someone who is and get them to help you.
20. Write from personal experience, write from other’s experience, write from a made up experience.
21. Learn what you’re good at, and what you’re not.
22. Don’t be afraid to say that sometimes your songs may suck eggs.
23. Get opinions from people close to you and those not close to you.
24. Put 7 numbers in a hat. Draw from it and start the song from that chord.
25. Remember how much music and lyric are tied. Each one must play off the other.
Thanks,
Sam Mizell
Note from Brent:
Becca and Sam are releasing a new record September 4th... TODAY! I've heard part of it already, and it knocked my socks off. You can find The Mizells at samandbeccamizellmusic.com, @samandbecca, and https://www.facebook.com/samandbeccamizellmusic/.
God bless,
Brent
PS- Thanks for stopping by Songwriting Pro! I appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I want to give you a special little something just for your visit. It's my FREE ebook "Think Like A Pro Songwriter," and it reveals valuable I-learned-it-the-hard-way-so-you-don't-have-to tips to help you succeed at the art, craft and business of songwriting. You can download it at www.GiftFromBrent.com.
