What's the ONE thing?

[ernstinen]

Be emotionally honest. Every time that I am, it works. Every time that I'm not (i.e.writing for what I think OTHER people want to hear) it sucks.

There's an old story that Dylan influenced Lennon's "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," writing honestly from his heart. But I was just listening to a Lennon song from easily 2 years earlier, "There Is A Place," and he was already doing that!... I'm not sure when Brian Wilson wrote "In My Room," but I'll bet that Lennon beat him to the "opening of the heart" thing.

It may not get you a huge hit, but it sure will be a turning point in your songwriting career. Honesty.

Ern

[songmaster]

I'll go with the " Emotion " thing, especially in TV and film. One artist said it took him his whole life to learn how to paint like a child. I think it's like that

Tom

[SteveBaruah]

Good question! I think the one that has helped me the most so far is "Stick to one thought".
But that doesn't sound so cool, so I'll throw in "Learn all of the rules, then learn how to break them."

[shoodBworkin]

"Write what you know
And let the wind blow
And let the cat in out of the rain
Life's a forkful o' silage and a jar full o' shine
So give 'em the beef, boys and free your mind"

[Len911]

"
So give 'em the beef, boys and free your mind"

Gimme the beat boys and free my soul, I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

Dobie Gray

[Tunesmith]

Never stop.

[annayarbrough]

I once asked Barry Gibb that very thing! He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face (like, how can you not know this already, Laskow. I was 20 years old at the time), and he replied, "Emotion, mate."

He's had a couple of hits, so I took him at his word

best,
Michael

Haha! That's amazing. Well, if Barry Gibb said it...!

[annayarbrough]

Don't know if this answers your question directly - but how about this perspective?
It seems some of the best SONGS are those that come quickly and complete - or nearly complete - in an easy, spontaneous moment: even divinely 'given'.

While that experience can be exhilarating - it may also lack in the different sense of quality of effort exerted to achieve that 'success'.

So - in contrast - having been encouraged and taught 'not to fear the re-write'... and having to 'craft' a song - I would say that advice is valued in the results produced... by working through a concept or idea to a high degree of satisfaction... and finishing the task to the compliments of "well done"...
even if that's for your own enjoyment.

Hope that makes sense; nice thread/question, Ms. Anna.

Nice. Plenty to think about, for sure! I've heard a lot of people credit their hours of 'forced' (structured?) work for setting the foundation of those 'muse' moments where it all just falls together. Probably an endless cycle, methinks... the more you create, the more it's likely to happen?

[annayarbrough]

I think the one thing has already been mentioned, emotion, and you get there through musical and lyrical phasing.

Musical phrasing is the manner in which a musician shapes a sequence of notes in a passage of music, in order to express an emotion or impression. A musician accomplishes this by deviating stylistically from the sheet music—altering tone, tempo, dynamics, articulation, inflection, and other characteristics.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Musical_phrasing

Yep. I'd like to think that's true! Separates us from the robots.... for now....

[annayarbrough]

"Lester is ok as a guitarist but he is sh*t house when he is pissed"

Maybe it wasn't about writing but I have never forgotten those words from someone who was a musical giant to me.

amazing.