Songwriting: One Word Says It All

I like digging around in that toolbox when I’m either bored with my approach to writing or  just plain stuck. Some tools are great for challenging you and here’s one that's so simple it’s easy to overthink it.

One word for your title. Think “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “Cream” by Prince, “Yesterday,” “Royals,” “Beautiful,” “Thriller”…there are a million one-word hits so how can you go about writing your own? Sometimes it’s as easy as taking one of your existing titles and seeing if one word can stand alone. Do you have some song titles that seem to lose power the more your title “says it all”? Take another look and see if there’s a keyword in there. Could it stand alone? Might be stronger, more of a statement and at the same time more open to interpretation for a listener? The Beatles “Help” comes to mind. How about FGL’s song “Dirt”? Adele’s “ Hello”,  The Stones “Satisfaction”, “Chandelier” by Sia, “Grenade” by Bruno Mars , “Stan” by Eminem, “ Perfect” by Ed Sheeran or “One” by U2? All one word wonders.

Suppose you had a title like “Imagine There’s No Heaven”. Keep “Imagine” and lose the rest. You’d have one of the most powerful single word titles ever written. This is not only great to start out with and build from but a unique way to revisit some of your older ideas.

Once you get familiar with the idea of seeing if you can get to the heart of your idea with one big word look to some other mediums for examples. Movies? How about “Titanic”, “Casablanca”, “Jaws”,  and of course…”Alien”.  Books? “Beloved”,  “Atonement” or Stephen King for the win with…“It”.

Even stars look for the power in a single word for their names. Prince,  Cher, Madonna, Bono, Sting, Drake , Beck and  Beyonce.

You get the idea. Theres’ power in the word!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the winter and Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark has been a judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

KNOW YOUR FLOW

iDocoach blog

 In my new book, The Daily Song Journal, this was the entry for Jan 25, Day 25.

'‘Know your flow. Ever feel like you’re in a zone on a writing day? Recognizing this for what it is can be a beautiful thing for a songwriter. I’ve brought up the Help/Hurt list earlier and it’s a great tool for you to figure out how to get there. The important thing is not to break the flow. Those days when you’re full of ideas, just stay on the path because the smallest diversion can disrupt the flow and it can be really hard to get it back.'‘

The Help Hurt list I mention is a great way to see, over time, what’s helping you to create and stay in the flow and what’s not. Just take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center and one at the top . On the top left hand side write the word Help. On the top right side the word Hurt. After every writing session take just a minute to think about the things that helped you stay in the flow and the things that disrupted or hurt your flow. Over time you’ll see patterns emerge. Focus on those things that help and lose the things that hurt to set yourself up for a good writing day.

I’ve been at this a long time and learned when the flow is more like a trickle that it may be time to stop and do something else for a bit and come back to writing when you feel energized. Hopefully you’ve felt like you were on a roll with your songwriting at times and to me, this is all about the flow. The ideas are flowing, the creatively is flowing, maybe even the business and relational part of your songwriting is flowing. When that happens recognize it and go with it as far as it takes you. You might have a great week of writing, maybe a month, whatever the case, learning more about it can help you get back into it when it’s been missing. 

Sometimes it can be a case of letting the people around you know you’re in a zone and ask them to show you some grace when you keep your door shut and stare into space when they talk to you. Its that important.

Go with the flow!

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the winter and Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Mark Cawley iDocoach

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

To connect with Mark for coaching opportunities, visit www.idocoach.com.

MELODY IS KING !

This is re-printed from my artcle for Songwriting Magazine UK , Winter Edition 2021

To check out the complete issue and to subscribe click here.

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the winter. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

To connect with Mark for coaching opportunities, visit www.idocoach.com.

5 Songwriters Statements and 5 Actions

Many of you may journal on a regular basis and that’s a great songwriting tool. You may read motivational books, devotionals, how-tos, and even autobiographies of famous songwriters. Also a great way to see the path they’ve taken to success. 

There is so much great information out there but, I wondered if there was anything missing? In setting out to write my new book I talked with writers I coach about what they would like to get from a songwriting book. I also gave a lot of thought to the coaching and workshops I've been doing these past 10 years, what works well and what doesn't seem to resonate with songwriters. These are the top 5 statements I heard and became the basis for "The Daily Song Journal".

1)    It's so hard to take in (and retain) a long and sometimes too technical how-to book for me.

2)    I really need accountability.

3)    So many songwriting books focus on just technique when I wish I could get help in every area of my day-to-day life as a creative.

4)    Books I've read tell me what to do but don't point me in directions that will help me further.

5)    I would do better with bite-sized bits of wisdom in a way that would keep me interested every week.

Taking these into account I decided to write a daily journal, specifically for songwriters, that would contain bits of inspiration and motivation, and action steps for follow up and provide room to write your thoughts each day and, of course, to keep it short! There is so much more to being a complete songwriter than just the nuts and bolts of writing and to that end I wanted to share some recreational tools and even health tips. Here are a few random entries from The Daily Song Journal that address the five statements above.

Point #1 - Nothing technical here. 

August 4, Day 216

Be quiet. Today. There is power in silence. There is so much noise around us every day, some of it of our own making. Think you could spend a good portion of today with the sound of silence?

The benefits are huge for you as a songwriter. You can collect your thoughts in the silence, you might even get a visit from your subconscious during this time. I highly recommend it today.

Read: Psychology Today, April 21, 2017 article by Atalanta Beaumont “10 Reasons Why Silence Really is Golden”

Note to Self (This is where there are lines to write your discoveries and thoughts for the day)

Point # 2 - How about Accountability?

May 12, Day 132

Another day to check your events calendar and commit. If you’re not in the habit by now of seeking out songwriter-related events, please do this today. Almost every city has an organization or a branch of one (NSAI for instance, Nashville Songwriter Association International) and someplace that has live music. Preferably songwriter nights. You don’t have to jump right into trying to get a spot on one but start slow and venture out and meet other writers where they hang out. The word network will come up often…because you need one!

Go: make a commitment based on your calendar and show up

Note to Self

Point #3 - Here’s another day that addresses something that’s just as important as working on your lyrics and melodies.

January 20, Day 20

Today is a mental health day. Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? Energy level? Ability to focus? Seriously, your mental and physical health is so vital to your creative longevity. If you need to make changes, small or large, reflect on them today. Maybe it’s as simple as taking a long walk every day. Maybe it’s eating healthy or my personal challenge …getting enough sleep! A healthy mind and body will make this creative year your best ever.

Listen: Podcast “The Doctors Farmacy” with Dr. Mark Hyman. He has many great episodes on sleep, eating healthy, and taking care of your body.

Note to Self

Point #4 - Let’s expand your knowledge and send you to some interesting reading.

July 2, Day 183

It bears repeating. There is only one you. Yep. Make it today’s mantra. You’re the only one of you there is, they aren’t making anymore. Now that we have that established…how much of you is going into your songs? What makes you different? What’s unique about you? Don’t you dare say “nothing.” Everyone has their own story, and yours needs to be in the DNA of your writing. It’s the very best shot at having your songs stand out in a crowd. 

Read: aconsciousrethink.com, “10 Things That Make A Person Unique” by Jack Nollan, May 27, 2020

Note to Self

Point #5 - Bite sized and interesting

June 15, Day 166

One of my favorite lyric tools is to levitate. Sound crazy? It works. Imagine you’re floating above the story you’re writing about in your lyric. Now just describe what you see. All of it. As it unfolds. As a spectator to your own lyric, you’re free to just show it in real time.

Go: take a lyrical idea you’ve had floating around and try this idea

Note to Self

All to say, it’s so important to get in touch with every part of your creative being to turn your songwriting into a life-long passion.

Mark Cawley 

Nashville, Tennessee

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the winter. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Mark Cawley idocoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

To connect with Mark for coaching opportunities, visit www.idocoach.com.

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5 DAYS FROM " THE DAILY SONG JOURNAL"

The Daily Song Journal

I’m pretty excited to share a few days from my new book “ The Daily Song Journal” with you for this blog. I decided to choose 5 random days which is keeping with the spirit of the book, to share 365 tips, tools, and techniques in no particular order. Just made to make you think about one bite-sized idea as well as give you an action to follow up. Might be to listen, read, watch or go. The book is a journal so each day has room for you to write your thoughts.

Here ya go!

January 12, Day 12

Question for this day. “Is there enough of me in my song?” Take one of your current songs and study it with an eye to finding what’s familiar vs what’s uniquely your own. Maybe the biggest key to finding your voice as a songwriter is the ability to bring the things that molded you into the art form that you’re working in. It’s not enough to write a song that you feel is just as good as a current hit because that already exists. What can you bring to your song today that will get you and your song noticed?

Watch: TED Talk by Carl Moore, “Being Unique”

March 22, Day 81

Let’s try a fun exercise today. Years ago, I had a co-writing day with the brilliant Scottish songwriter, Graham Lyle. Graham co-wrote “What’s Love Got to Do with It” for Tina Turner. Knows his way around a song. On this day I asked what he’d like to do, and he replied, “Let’s write a song using only one chord.” After realizing he wasn’t putting me on, we went to work. We came mighty close; think we threw in a couple more chords in the end but stayed pretty much to one for a song called “Broken Strings.” Sometimes limiting your choices is the best option.

Listen: To one of the best one chord songs of all time by the Queen. Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.”

April 1, Day 91

Here’s one for the ‘ol toolbox. Ever try spelling out words in your song? R.O.C.K. in the USA by John Mellencamp for instance? The country standard by Tammy Wynette, “Divorce,” “Our D.I.V.O.R.C.E. became final today.” Or Gwen Stefani spelling out B. A.N.A.N.A.S. in her song “Hollaback Girl.” Really effective when it works. 

Go: Look through your recent songs. Anywhere you can benefit from creating another hook by spelling out a word

July 27, Day 208

Working on a love letter. My old friend Bonnie Hayes wrote a great song called “Love Letter” for Bonnie Raitt’s “Nick of Time” album. How about taking a shot at writing one of your own today? Pick someone you love and think of the lyric as a kind of love letter to them. What would you say in a letter that you might not say in person? I’m going to bet it might get a bit more poetic in places. See where this idea takes you. Use the “Note to Self” area and write down some traits of the person you’re going to write to.

Read: Glamour Magazine, December 21, 2018, “The Best Romantic Love Letters Ever Written”

October 7, Day 280

Get out of the way. You might consider a whole lot of things when you start putting a song together. Can I suggest one that might not always enter your mind while you’re making choices? Choose to get out the way. Let the song dictate the structure. A good time to mention once again, there are no rules in songwriting, only tools. This one is as valuable as any other in your toolbox. 

Read: Inc. Magazine online, “10 Simple Ways You Can Stop Yourself from Overthinking” by Lolly Daskel

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the fall. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.

Nashville, Tennessee

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd and Paul Carrack to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. “ The Daily Song Journal” is Marks 2nd book, released on Dec 1, 2020

SHOULD I PAY TO HAVE MY SONG CRITIQUED?

iDoCoach.com blog

Over the weekend I noticed a thread on Facebook that was all too familiar to me. A well known and respected magazine was offering a paid critique service for songwriters. The critiques are to be done by pro-songwriters.

Just the mention of critiques is enough to bring out some haters. If you’re in social media songwriting groups you’ve no doubt read some comments to the effect that “I don’t need some pro-songwriter just trying to make a buck tearing my song apart”. That’s a pretty tame post as these go, seen much worse. I feel in turn, bad for the pro-songwriters who are being dumped on as well as the ones who come across as bitter and frustrated. 

Pro?

I coach songwriters all over the world and I imagine I would be considered a “pro” by virtue of making my living from songwriting over the course of my life. In my mind the word “pro” does not make me better than the songwriter who’s writing just for the love of it, just means I had commercial success.

I don’t offer a separate critique service and never have. I’m not saying it’s not valuable, just not the way I decided to go about working with songwriters. So having cracked open Pandora’s box, to my point.

Pandoras Jukebox

Critiques can be a huge learning curve especially if making a living from writing songs is your goal. I understand that’s not the reason everyone out there writes songs and that’s fine. If getting your song critiqued is not for you there’s no reason for you to sign up for one of these offers. If you’ve been writing songs for awhile you know people are going to have different opinions, sometimes wildly different but…until the day you work with a publisher this may be the only avenue for you to get wisdom from the people who are doing exactly what you want to do. Their opinion is not the be all end all for your song but, with the right person doing the critiquing you stand a good chance of getting some hard earned experience and wisdom. What you do with it is always up to you.

Yes i would have

If it were me starting out I would have jumped at the chance to have a pro listen and give me constructive criticism but it was not available at the time. Might have saved me from writing a slew of bad songs. 

Bottom line

You need a thick skin to put your songs out there. You also need to do your research whenever your money is on the line. Make sure the people behind these offers are the real deal then decide if this investment makes sense for you. 

Lastly, most of the songwriters I know are not desperate for your money. The ones I know are wanting to give back. No matter if you agree with me keep in mind it’s up to you to decide if these services are a benefit. If not, just don’t use them but I hope you won’t begrudge the writers who choose to. Believe me, there’s room for every kind of songwriter out there. 

This has been a hot topic for a long time. Here’s a blog of mine from August 1, 2014 if you’d like to read more. 

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd and Paul Carrack to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine, and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

10 "NEED TO KNOWS" FOR SONGWRITERS

Song Journey

The following is adapted from my book “ Song Journey”.

Knowledge is power, and it’s easier than ever to get. But for whatever reason, most songwriters (myself included in the early years) put all their energy into the creative process and view the business as a necessary evil or something that will take care of itself

The following ten statements are things I’ve heard from prospective coaching clients that go a long way to illustrating my point of needing to understand the world you’re in to function well.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the statements or questions I get from writers. I just don’t want them (or you) to be uninformed when the information is out there. I learned so much of what I know about songwriting the hard way; you don’t have to.”

These 10 statements /questions are in bold with my response in italic.

1. I’m hoping to sell my songs.

You don’t “sell” songs. You hope to get them published and keep the writer’s share at the very least. Fight for your publishing rights.

2 Someone offered to demo my song for $2,500 and get it to some people in the business.

Run—fast.

3 I’m looking for a $75,000–$100,000 job as a staff writer. Will relocate to Nashville if I need to.

Me too! Doesn’t exist these days. Deals are just different.

4 My songs are better than 99 percent of the crap on the radio.

Really? You’re still writing for a listener in the end, the person in the car. Find out how to reach them.

5 I don’t believe in rewriting. Either the muse brings an idea fully developed, or it’s not worth it.

How many songs have you written? How many have been cut? Rewriting is hard, but it’s one thing that can separate the wannabes from the pros.

6 You can’t teach writing, but I’m willing to give you a shot. (I love this one.)

I disagree, but I understand the point. You can give someone tools and expertise. What they do with it is the deal. Information into inspiration.

7 I don’t know why I haven’t received any royalties on the CD that I sell at my shows.

Google ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC and find out how money is made from songwriting. If you aren’t registered with one of those, you won’t be making any money from songwriting. Understand performance and mechanical royalties, self-publishing, Harry Fox, and more.

8 I’m only interested in co-writing if I can “write up.”

Get really good at what you do. Network, play nice, and hope you get the shot to show what

you can do. Pray that “write up” writer needs a boost from what you got.

9 Networking is for nerds; the song should speak for itself.

The song can’t speak for itself if no one hears it.

10 Music, intellectual property, and expertise should be free.

Do you go to your doctor for free? Do you hire plumbers and electricians for free? Get your car repaired for free? Cable? Entertainment? Of course, you don’t. Why on earth should music and something that someone’s created through their hard work and expertise be free?

All of these responses are just my own opinion, some open to a healthy debate. No matter how you view these I hope you always seek out answers in the form of wisdom and experience.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the fall. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

you can find Song Journey on Amazon.

Mark Cawley idocoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd and Paul Carrack to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine, and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

Songwriters Staying Connected

During this pretty much “stay at home world” we’re all in, there is still lots you can do to be pro-active with your songwriting path. The subject of networking in this time comes up quite a bit with songwriters I coach. I thought it was a good time to re-visit the subject of making and using your connections. I’ve written about the subject at length in my book but here’s the short version.

We have contact

Creating contacts and being able to use them is usually a result of good networking. It might be unconscious networking, but it’s networking just the same. The co-writer you had, the songwriter you met in an online songwriting group, the guitar player you know, your best friends’ friend who works in an entertainment law firm in New York—these all become part of your songwriting path. Think of them as an organic network.

So many of the contacts in my songwriting life started with the smallest of connections. These have proven to be the gift that keeps on giving. Quite a few friends I made in the beginning of my career are friends to this day. I didn’t give much thought at the time to growing old with these folks. That’s not on your radar when you’re out to conquer the world. But looking through my contact list, I see I’m still in touch with many of them today.

Touch base…again!

It’s just as important to continue to stay in touch with your connections as it is to make them in the first place. Cultivate the friendships; touch base from time to time. Keep your info updated. You never know where one of your old friends will land in this business, and someone you shared a moment with years ago can easily reenter your universe. I’m not suggesting you “work” your contacts as much as work at keeping up with them. Along with your family and your talent, they’re the most valuable asset you have.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo : Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the fall of 2020. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner and Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 catagories on Amazon.Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

you can find Song Journey on Amazon.

iDoCoach blog, Aug 2020

Songwriting In Silence

As I write this month’s blog we’re still in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. It’s easy to find the things that have altered your everyday life. How about your songwriting existence?

Playing your songs live? Not happening. Getting together to co-write? A non-starter. In-person workshops, songwriting camps, seminars? No, no, and no. 

There’s something else I’ve noticed during this time. Silence. I know my world has gotten quieter. I coach a lot of songwriters from all parts of the world and I’m hearing some of the same comments about these times we’re living in. “My songwriting has gone to a deeper level”, “Almost like I’m hearing myself for the first time”, “I just have more time …to think!” I get it.

How about you? I think it has so much to do with the newfound silence. There is power in silence. There is so much noise around us every day, some of it of our own making. All of a sudden it feels like we have more time to contemplate an idea and to take our time to develop our songs. 

Less outside interference to block your reception and, for your songwriting, this can be a huge benefit.   Almost feels like you can turn your focus inward, the world can wait while you write and the silence around you allows your subconscious to have more airtime. 

Instead of feeling like you need to fill the empty space with more notes and more words, how about embracing a slower, more thoughtful pace? 

Think you could spend a good portion of your songwriting day with the sound of silence? I highly recommend giving it a shot. Check out this link to an article about the creative power of silence when you have a few minutes.

Psychology Today April 21, 2017 article by Atalanta Beaumont. “10 Reasons Why Silence Really Is Golden”.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo : Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the summer. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

SONG JOURNEY BY MARK CAWLEY

Song Journey

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner to Wynonna Judd to The Spice Girls. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 catagories on Amazon.Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

you can find Song Journey on Amazon.

Is Music Truly Color Blind?

iDoCoach.com Blog

Today feels like a turning point for America and the world. The protests since the  killing of George Floyd have galvanized a huge part of our country to seek change. It’s also caused us all to look in the mirror. I hate to think of myself as a privileged white person but that’s the reflection I see today. And it hurts. Hurts to know that people I know are hurting and might be living in fear every time they leave the house.

I have always thought of music, and in turn, myself as a songwriter and musician, as color blind. In truth, I probably have taken it for granted to the point of thinking “that’s not me” when events like this happen. I can’t do that anymore.

I have a lifetime debt of gratitude to black musicians, songwriters and artists who created much of the music that informed my songwriting. Artists like Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan and many more have recorded my songs. Along the way I’ve been blessed to work with some of my favorite black songwriters and forged lasting friendships with them all. In my heart I don’t feel I ever thought of them as black. Just fellow songwriters. In that sense I hope I have been truly color blind. 

But today that doesn’t feel like enough. I fear I wasn’t seeing them or hearing them as black people. Just creative equals. I can’t do that anymore. 

What I can do is listen during this time. Listen to the voices of the oppressed and listen to the rich soundtrack of music created by black songwriters and musicians and say thank you.  Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf. An endless list and impossible to imagine a world without the contributions of black songwriters and musicians.

To quote a songwriter who’s brought more joy into this world than I can fathom “Love’s in need of love today”. Stevie Wonder is a black man, and truly color blind when it comes to the message he’s given the world. God blessed him with a gift and in turn, gifted us all. 

I don’t know what else to do today but examine my heart and pray for change. I can do better. That’s something I CAN do.

Black lives matter to all of us.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo : Shutterstock

if you'd like to stay up with iDoCoach including receiving the latest blogs and my favorite 7 Toolbox tips here ya go!

http://idocoach.com/email-newsletter

I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the summer. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!

SONG JOURNEY BY MARK CAWLEY

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner to Wynonna Judd to The Spice Girls. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 catagories on Amazon.Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

you can find Song Journey on Amazon.