Write Like a Pro with These Simple Tricks

My friend, AusTheBear, gave me some feedback from him and his friend, Connor, when they listened to my old music. At that time, I was only 19-20, afraid to go deeper and just beat around the bush instead. The feedback they gave me was, “You’re capable of a lot more. You just need to push past your comfort zone.”

That feedback not only stuck with me to this day, but in a way, I feel like it reinvented me. I went from being a naive Christian rapper to a singer-songwriter who went through life and now has something to say.

The more I thought about it, the more I made some connections to the most successful artists. Here’s what I’ve learned from them.

1) Be Honest.

If you listen to artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan, and Lewis Capaldi, you’ll notice they say things that sound personal and harsh. That’s because they are not afraid to open up and write how they truly feel. Artists often use songwriting as their therapy, and it sets them apart because their feelings are unique to them.

How deep you want to go is totally up to you. Sometimes, it helps to write like it’s a conversation with yourself or the person you’re writing about to come up with something raw. Here are some examples:

“I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed.” - Noah Kahan on “Stick Season”

“I’m not ready to find out you know how to forget me. I’d rather hear how much you regret me.” - Lewis Capaldi on “Forget Me”

“Don’t tell me your worth when you don’t see all of it like I do.” - me on “Don’t Lie to Me”

“You were my town. Now, I’m in exile seeing you around.” - Taylor Swift on “Exile”

“I’m dancing with my eyes closed. ‘Cause everywhere I look, I still see you.” - Ed Sheeran on “Eyes Closed”

When you do this, your audience will connect even more. Even if it seems like an inside conversation, the listeners will still pick up on the meaning of the song.

2) Tell a Story.

Some of the most iconic songs tell a captivating story. “The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell, “Older Chests” by Damien Rice, “Rocket Man” by Elton John, and even Billy Joel classics like “The Piano Man”, “Vienna”, and “Movin’ Out”. These songs take us on a journey, as if we’re there with the characters. They’re so nostalgic and it’s easy for us to relate them to our own lives. This is all thanks to the storytelling aspect.

There is no right or wrong way to tell a story in your music. There are some artists out there who get inspiration from other people’s stories. It could be a conversation they overheard in passing or had with a friend. It could be an incredible biography on someone’s life. There are also artists like me who don’t feel like the song connects unless they derive from personal experiences. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding what suits you best.

3) Use Poetry.

Since 2011, I’ve been a big fan of Kendrick Lamar. He is most famous for his use of entendres, challenging the listeners to find the deeper meanings in his lyrics. Recently, he wrote a quintuple entendre in his song, “6:16 in LA.” The line in question is, “Off-white sun seeker at the marina.” To see the full breakdown, click on the song title and select that lyric. Of course, it will take time to get to that level, but double and triple entendres are attainable.

Metaphors and analogies are also great devices to use. Ed Sheeran uses plenty of water analogies on his album, Subtract, highlighting struggles in his personal life that made him feel like he’s drowning and long for calmer seas. I also use water analogies throughout my album, Baptism, with themes centered around a solid romance, new beginnings, and personal growth. Water is an element I’ve always connected with in both music and life. The key to making effective analogies is to find something that resonates with you; something that you can easily make connections to life with.

These are the big three concepts that have helped me bring my songwriting to the next level. Try some of these out and study these examples, and you’ll be writing like a pro in no time! If you’re interested in coaching, please feel free to email me at jacemccloymusic@gmail.com for more info.