Ratings12
Average rating4.3
There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn't so mysterious and was actually achievable for anyone who wants to experience more magic and creativity in their life? That's something that anyone will be inspired to do after reading Jeff Tweedy's How to Write One Song. Why one song? Because the difference between one song and many songs isn't a cute semantic trick—it's an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a capital-S songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as a focused, self-contained event, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an exciting pursuit. And then there is the energizing, nourishing creativity that can open up. How to Write One Song brings readers into the intimate process of writing one song—lyrics, music, and putting it all together—and accesses the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this curious, yet incredibly fulfilling, artistic act. But it’s equally about the importance of making creativity part of your life every day, and of experiencing the hope, inspiration, and joy available to anyone who’s willing to get started.
Reviews with the most likes.
Good advice for any artist or person who wants to play with art.
Tweedy specifically gives some insight into his "word ladder" and "cut up" exercises for lyric writing and how to pull lyrics out of every encounter you have with words throughout the day.
earnest and encouraging, if occasionally industrial. but it's less about receiving new information, more about opening yourself up to jeff tweedy's radical acceptance of your ability to create
I'm not a songwriter, or even a musician. But I do like reading books by creative people about the creative process, regardless of their art form. (See Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit.)
This book has some good exercises, but is weighed down by too many anecdotes and paragraphs describing common creativity tropes. It also seems to think that every reader knows about the author and his work. “The reaction I got from the Warner Bros execs when we handed in Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot has been well documented.” Or “I'll assume you know most of the details, but....”
Some decent ideas, buried in some humblebrags and what kinda feels like false modesty.