While I’ve been away from writing blogs, I have not been away from writing completely. I was blessed with an opportunity recently to work with an incredible new producer who has pushed me outside my comfort zone of writing music.
These past few months have reignited the love of creating music within me so much. It has also stretched and taught me a great deal about the art of writing songs and collaboration.
Lately, my focus has been on becoming a better songwriter (for myself and others) and growing my catalogue of music. Here are a few tips for anyone looking to grow and become a better songwriter and for creating a solid songwriting process.
- Go outside: Since the pandemic we’ve all spent a lot more time indoors, more than likely realizing how much we took for granted being outside within nature. Writer’s block is a very real thing that can sometimes be solved simply by going outside and observing God’s creation. Songwriting is a deeply spiritual process and sometimes we need to be reminded that we are not our own, but rather we are pencils in the hands of the greatest artist ever to exist. God.
- Get off social media: You all know that I have a love/hate relationship with social media and that is partly because it is often the thief of productivity and creativity. Creativity is often hindered by information overload. There is no way I can come up with innovative, creative, and original ideas if I am constantly consuming the creativity of others via social media. Yes, social media can be a great resource and spark ingenuity for developing the next app or creating the next business, but to much of it will cause you to be a carbon copy rather than an original. Use with discretion and intention.
- Remain prayerful and stay in the Word of God: Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Initially I did not understand this verse as it pertains to the one that preceded it, which talks of not being conformed to the world and being transformed by the renewing of our minds. What the Holy Spirit revealed to me about it is that while we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, we must not believe that we can do it ourselves. We NEED HIM to help us be transformed and renewed. The same stands for songwriting. I mentioned earlier that songwriting is a spiritual process that requires help from a higher power. As gospel artists that help can ONLY come from Heaven. Do not be mistaken, there are some artists getting help from other power sources to write music, but if you are sincere about serving The Most High God through song, there is no way around prayer and reading/studying His word. PERIOD.
- Let it flow: “Don’t judge what I gave you”, these are the words of the Lord to me while writing Do What Jesus Says. They continue to ring in my ears even now as I write new music. If the enemy cannot stop you, he will distract you. One of the greatest distractions I’ve faced writing music is overthinking. Songs should be cohesive stories, but they do not have to be Shakespeare. Some of the most profound songs come in the simplest words and the plainest language. My mind goes to Billboard’s #1 Gospel song of the Decade, Every Praise. As simple as that song is, it was still (and deservingly) named the #1 gospel song of the DECADE. THE DECADE! Don’t over think it. Study, pray, and trust that what God has given you is enough.
I pray that these tips are a blessing to you and your music ministry. For more songwriting talk and tips follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to check out my detailed songwriting process.
