Picking a subject

[suzdoyle]

I perform with a musical theatre improv group on occasion; they recommend that the actors choose a specific facet of a topic when bursting into song in the middle of a sing (I get to accompany their songs on piano -- it's a HOOT!), and explore the emotion related to it. One you key into an emotion, the rest begins to flow . . . works for acting, and for composing, too!I also tell my music students that a song is like a mini- play. What is the story they are telling? From whose point of view is it being told? What is the setting? The era? Time of day? Outside? Inside? etc. . . . The more specific the story and play, the easier it is to feel the character and right from a place of authenticity. I think the same is true of songwriting.Muse-ically, ,Suz

[suzdoyle]

oops, I meant to write "middle of a SCENE" . . .!

[dayson1]

One idea that works well for me, is that I go to a bookstore and and just see what titles are on the covers or spines of the book:) Then just start writing around that, it's a fun way to get something started-Happy Writing!-Dana

[hummingbird]

Since I'm doing the "50 songs in 90 days" challenge I've been looking for ideas everywhere. A phrase from the newspaper, something I heard on tv, what people are talking about nearby, anything is grist for the mill. When I was away I didn't have google to help me look stuff up but book titles (as Dana says) and conversations helped a lot. I have a couple of pages in my notebook where I jot down those phrases. I even wrote down place names that jumped out at me.I can see lots of great ideas in this thread...Shawn - "brain storm"Mojo - "jog my memory"Linzi - "brain ticking"Sams - "wierd stuff just happens"Prez - "hotbeds (of song)"Squids - "I thought I was a freak"Bill - "set a timer"Milfus - "shrug"Matt - "silence can breed"H

[mojobone]

Yeah, I do the Barnes & Noble thing from time to time, it's good to get outta the studio, blow the stink off , as my dad used to say. Thank Allah you can't copyright a title.