Pat Pattison

Don’t let your verses sit idle waiting for the hook to come rescue them – too often, there won’t be anyone around to witness the rescue. #songwriting #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Instead of asking “where do I go now”, it may help to ask “Where did I get here from” Get used to juggling and trying new things. #songwriting #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Check your trigger lines (the last line of your verses) – they are power positions. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Perhaps your final choices are a matter of taste, but developing alternatives is what makes decisions based on taste possible. #songwriting #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Songs should be universal, but don’t mistake universal for generic. Sense-bound is universal – stimulate your listeners' senses. #songwriting #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Another audience grabbing strategy from using stable and unstable sections in your songs are the spotlights placed on important ideas. #songwriting #songwriter #lyric #lyrics #writingbetterlyrics

Rhyme types work on a scale from most resolved to least resolved, from perfect rhyme to consonance rhyme. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

The better your skills, the better you can express your creative ideas.

Lyric structure can draw attention to a specific word (a spotlight) creating surprise, delight, humor or any emotion. #songwriting #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Great example of first person narrative: Buck Ram’s “The Great Pretender”.

Pay attention as you create expectations then surprises – make sure you’re putting something you want the listener to notice there. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips

Check that your verses set up your title.

The point of view you choose controls the relationship between singer and audience. Is your lyric providing a consistent relationship? #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools

In every song, you have to answer these questions – Who is talking? Who are they talking to and why? Keep the characters in focus.

Which rhyme scheme should you use? Depends on what you’re saying – uncertainty and loss may lead you some looser; factual, resolved ideas – tighter.

Draw from your senses to stimulate your listeners’ senses.

Tune into your lyrics motion consistently and you will write and rewrite more effectively. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

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Knowledge brings responsibility.

Think about rhymes the way you think about chords.