The Literal, The Poetic & The Balance.

This challenge is not intended to be a “finish-song-in-a-week” exercise, rather, a challenge to keep your creative mind busy and build mindsets and frameworks that become useful songwriting tools.

Every Sunday, I’ll throw a new word, set of words, expression or phrase at you.

This week’s word(s): STREET CORNER √
This week’s word(s): PAPER √
This week’s word(s): EMPTY

1. Spend 10 minutes scribbling everything and anything that comes into your mind when you read “EMPTY“. Don’t come up for air and stop at 10 minutes. 

2. Immediately after you stop, quickly scan your scribbles for a potential song title and choose one. After you have chosen one….have a rest. Preferably, you’ll go for a walk and ponder your scribbles and a song topic based on your title. 

3. Start by writing one line (based on your chosen song title), using literal language, then make the next line more poetic, then blend the two, then finish off your set-of-four lines, with any of the above. 

Example:

Line 1: *using the literal* (say it exactly how you see it)
Line 2: *using imagery and metaphor* (the poetic)
Line 3: *blending the literal and the poetic*
Line 4: *any of the above or mash-up*

4. Post your 4-liners right here in the inside songwriting community group https://www.facebook.com/groups/790808710939857/ or as comments below.

You can also email me your four-liners directly mickyblueeyes@insidesongwriting.com.au

I may not get around to answering everyone but I will definitely read your email. 

There is a new word or phrase each week so feel free to spend the rest of your week completing your song… or just keep a file and stockpile your new ideas so that you are ready for when the magic strikes.

Have fun and see you in the challenge.

All the best!

Karl