Pat Pattison

Use sense bound imagery to enhance a songs emotional impact on the listener. Show before you tell. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Take the songs that move you and go beyond what they are saying and see how they are put together. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Unmatched lines lengths get listeners to keep moving forward. They are off balance and seeking resolution. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #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

Line length is the traffic cop in your lyric. Equal length lines are balanced and tell the listener to stop. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

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

Check the point of view you are writing from in every song you write. Sometimes it will turn a good lyric into a killer one. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips

The way you say something either supports what you’re saying or gives signals to a different meaning. What is the structure in your songs? #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools

Structure can sometimes support or even determine the attitude of the character. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Try separating the perspectives in your song into the verses – does the idea develop better? #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Unbalanced sections in a song make you want to move to find a stable spot. Balanced sections of a song stop motion and pause for a rest. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools

Structure doesn’t happen to you. You can make interesting things happen in your songs. You have choice. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Your verses control the angle of entry into the repeated choruses. Focus each one on a separate idea. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Don’t leave your dance of ideas without a partner: give them an interesting structure. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

Statements can often be easy prey for productive repetition. Check out Joni’s Roses Blue: only with your laughter can you win. Can you win? Can you win? #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips

Every section of every lyric you write has the same five elements of structure. Are you using them to support your ideas or do they just happen by accident? #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #lyrictips #lyrictools #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips

"Verbs are the power amplifiers of language. They drive it - set it in motion. If you go through some great poets work (Yeats, Frost, Sexton, Eliot) and circle their verbs, you will see why the poems crackle with power."

Don’t be seduced by “perfect” rhymes - it doesn’t mean they are better. A family rhyme may be far more expressive. #songwriting #songwriter #writing #writer #lyric #lyrics #writingbetterlyrics #writingtips #writingtools #songwritingtips #songwritingtools

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