On Writing

I believe the most important thing to consider when creating content, be it a: song, lyrics, narrative/concept, or design is to have an objective or end result in mind. Start as small as possible and focus on the objective. Don’t start with an album if you don’t have a song, riff, or concept.

My preferred method is derived from a Stephen King excerpt from his memoir “On Writing” and it’s served me well over the years since I’ve read it:

“Let's get one thing clear right now, shall we? There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up”.

SO CAPTURE IDEAS AS THEY COME TO YOU!

I utilize a “squirreling” method where I compile data (riffs, words, images, taps/rhythms, melodies, notes, or short recordings) and sort the data into various folders and categories which usually end up as songs for the different projects I have. 

This method is tedious but very rewarding as I’m left with a lot of data but I also have to sort through it all and compile it into a recognizable and cohesive structure that has character and conveys a message.

So I’ve found the most useful process is to store my data in a way that I can access it from anywhere (Files on iCloud) and to use a few different apps (voicememos and notes) tha t I can capture the various kinds of data on in a seamless fashion.

Here’s an example of my workflow:

• I’ll open up a Freeform session where I can upload almost types of media (pics, videos, text, & links) and start my “squirreling”.

For a riff I’ll usually record a video where I’ll jam through it so I can see:

1. Hand/finger placement
2. Denote and remind my self if the key/tuning I was in
3. Elaborate on how I would embellish or implement another part or how I would imagine an accompanying drum/vocal part would sound

I’ll then save this idea with a unique name that characterizes it (“rabid dog” if it’s something fast or “slam snail” if it’s slow and heavy) and figure out if I imagine it being a bridge, verse, chorus, or if it is a skeleton/draft with multiple parts. I’ll then try to file it under whichever project I think would be best for presenting that idea. Or if I’m unsure I’ll save it in a “spare” folder that I keep “lost dogs” (spare ideas) in.

Using an organization system for creating has been hugely beneficial for me and has increased my productivity and has improved my creative process. 

So please:

-keep a journal

-organize your work space

-and tidy up your demo making process!

You’ll thank me later.