"Writing Better Lyrics" - Pat Pattison

[The Boathouse]

Just got this recently- lots of really great tips and ideas for writing, well, better lyrics.

I notice that it's a lot like taking guitar lessons from a great teacher- he points out things that it would just take a lot longer to figure out on my own. I recommend it for anybody who writes lyrics and wants to get them to the next level. I'm finding that mine have a bit more life to them already, and it's becoming less difficult to write good ones. I'm less reliant on that "moment of inspiration" than I was prior, now having the ability to tap into that "inspired" side of my writing self with more ease, and mostly at will.

[lew_1987]

Personally, I always have a thing against things like this. I feel like people should learn themselves through experience, and find their own style.

[phoenixinflames]

Pat Pattison!?!

I have been in contact with him almost everyday for the past month! He works at my school.

[The Boathouse]

Personally, I always have a thing against things like this. I feel like people should learn themselves through experience, and find their own style.

Are you also opposed to taking lessons on your instrument, because it is somehow more noble to "figure it out?"

I'm of the opinion that if someone has already figured something out, I should take the knowledge they offer, and put it to use, so that I can then discover new things on my own, rather than rehashing attempts to make discoveries that have already been made.

Regarding this book, Pattison doesn't say: "Write your lyrics like this," so much as he gives warnings as to which structures are generally impotent, lists cliches to avoid, and gives mechanical pointers on ways to develop fresh metaphors. Nowhere in there is he changing my style, I'd say. I'd be opposed to someone changing my writing style, as well.

I do not think, though, that it is dangerous or offensive for someone to help me get better at writing, playing guitar, or anything else. His methods in the book, which include using things like thesauruses and rhyme dictionaries and reading good poets/novelists, are not rules that one must follow during writing. Rather, they are the advice of someone who has a great deal of experience and credibility in the field of lyrics.

I'm not trying to say that reading this replaces writing lyrics as learning how to write lyrics. It's just a good tool to help writers learn new ways to develop ideas, streamline their expression, and write more effectively. *shrugs* To each their own, though.

[lew_1987]

Are you also opposed to taking lessons on your instrument, because it is somehow more noble to "figure it out?"

I'm of the opinion that if someone has already figured something out, I should take the knowledge they offer, and put it to use, so that I can then discover new things on my own, rather than rehashing attempts to make discoveries that have already been made.

Regarding this book, Pattison doesn't say: "Write your lyrics like this," so much as he gives warnings as to which structures are generally impotent, lists cliches to avoid, and gives mechanical pointers on ways to develop fresh metaphors. Nowhere in there is he changing my style, I'd say. I'd be opposed to someone changing my writing style, as well.

I do not think, though, that it is dangerous or offensive for someone to help me get better at writing, playing guitar, or anything else. His methods in the book, which include using things like thesauruses and rhyme dictionaries and reading good poets/novelists, are not rules that one must follow during writing. Rather, they are the advice of someone who has a great deal of experience and credibility in the field of lyrics.

I'm not trying to say that reading this replaces writing lyrics as learning how to write lyrics. It's just a good tool to help writers learn new ways to develop ideas, streamline their expression, and write more effectively. *shrugs* To each their own, though.

No, I wasn't saying that you should avoid it altogether. Neither have I read the book to know exactly what it contains.

I was just simply saying, I would always try to go it on my own as much as possible, and yes I did the same in learning to play guitar. Although I will have unknowingly used bits and pieces of other people's styles/techniques, I have never intentionally tried to incorporate that into my playing or writing.

I wasn't saying that you should never ever read anyone else's books or take lessons, I was just saying I don't like a 'learn by numbers' approach, which is what some books can be like. It seems like this book offers more general advice and guidance, which is a lot better than a book just simply telling you exactly how to write.

[ReadyForAction]

Hook us up with some tipsssssssss

[The Boathouse]

Haha, go read the book! You'll get way more out of that than me distilling little bits and posting them on the internet :P

This one, though, is the best: You are what you eat, so read great poets and authors.