How To Get BETTER AT SONGWRITING FAST Part 2: Improve Your Lyric Writing Quickly

Songwriting is a craft that takes time and effort to master, but if you want to get better at lyric writing quickly, there are some things you can do. Here are six tips to help you improve your writing skills and become a better lyricist.

Get into the habit of journaling

Journaling, random prose writing, object writing, and morning pages are all great ways to get into a creative writing mode and start writing with a lot of sensory information. These methods help you to be able to dive deep into writing more quickly and be less affected by writer's block. The overall idea of this type of writing is to turn off your internal editor and just write without worrying about whether it's good or not.

Pay attention to your verbs

Verbs play a big role in writing and a lot of boring writing happens when we use passive verbs. To make your writing more interesting, use active verbs instead. Consider looking up your verbs in a thesaurus to find more evocative and visceral words.

Learn basic story structure

Many songs are stories, so learning basic three-act structure can help you write better lyrics. A common song structure is Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Bridge Chorus, and this structure can be aligned with a three-act story structure. You can have the main theme in the chorus and the story in the verses and bridge.

Study meter

Meter is an important aspect of lyric writing and poetry. In my opinion, it's significantly more important to lyrics than rhyming is. Nobody notices if a song rhymes or not. If the song had terrible meter, almost anyone would notice. By studying meter, you can create lyrics that more perfectly match with your melody. 

Expand your vocabulary

Expanding your vocabulary is another great way to get better at lyric writing quickly. Whenever you come across a word you're not familiar with or unsure about, look it up. Make it a habit to use new words you learn in your writing and your everyday speech. The key is to be a learner and always be on the lookout for opportunities to expand your vocabulary.

Use a lyric writing system

Finally, a lyric writing system can be a great way to break down lyric writing into smaller, more manageable steps. It can give you clarity and focus, and help you to be a more efficient and effective lyricist. If you want to have that clarity, be sure to grab my free 6 step lyric writing checklist that will take you from idea all the way to lyrics you can be proud of. 

In conclusion, these six tips can help you get better at lyric writing quickly. From getting into the habit of journaling and paying attention to your verbs to studying meter and expanding your vocabulary, there are many things you can do to become a better lyricist quickly.