Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 28, No. 09
September 2023
Live meetings are Cancelled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
The next zoom feedback session will be Sunday September 3rd.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
If you want the zoom meeting details,
please e-mail us at isgorlando@gmail.com
Hopefully we will soon be meeting in person again.
Please stay tuned for more info.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
I was googling How to get over writer's block, and found this:
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-overcome-writers-block/
We are asking members to renew their dues for 2023. It costs only $5 per year,
and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's
paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can mail a $5 check to
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
Object Writing
by Jackie Mason
Returning to songwriter and teacher Keppie Couts I found another worthwhile video. It’s titled “How To Write Songs — 5 Songwriting Exercises that Will Change Everything” It’s also titled “Two Friends Talking” and talking with Keppie is songwriter Ben Romalis. It was published on YouTube on May 17th 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoUQ0kR-lTg&t=33s Someone in the comment section kindly provided a list of the exercises:
1 Object writing; 10 minute freewriting using your senses. Start with object. Focus on senses. 2 Write a song with no rhyme; no inner or end rhyme. Their song example is “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam, use storytelling. Use senses. The story is the focus. 3 Write a two chords song or a one chord song or no chords; Use contrast and melody. 4 Write an AABA song form; (no chorus). A repeated line. A centerpiece. Refrain line. The song examples are “I'm Gonna Find Another You” by John Mayer and “Angeles” by Elliot Smith. 5 Upgrade your verbs;
I kept the commentator’s notes for reference. Thanks to eemusik1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOuLHfrC8-i6my9gEam6mgw
The first exercise is Object Writing. Keppie says this idea is credited to Berklee College of Music professor and songwriting expert Pat Pattison. Keppie is a former student of Professor Pattinson. She also calls it Sense Writing. I found this article at flypaper.soundfly.com It precisely explains the exercise. It unfortunately has a very long link. Please accept my apologies in advance. It’s titled “How to Generate Great Songwriting Ideas with Object Writing Technique” and was written by Alper Tuzcu.
“An object writing exercise is done by first picking an object and focusing all of our seven senses on it’s attributes. That’s right, seven. We have five main senses: sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. Additionally, we have two more: organic sense and kinesthetic sense.
To get started, we will arbitrarily pick an object and focus on it with all five senses. Write out the five senses to the top of your paper in order to focus on them while you write out your observations. Your object writing needs to be a stream of consciousness process, so don’t stop and worry about having the right words or completed sentences at this stage.”
You can set a time limit of ten minutes or even two minutes. It’s a short free- form writing exercise which will help you free up your imagination. It’s best done daily and first thing in the morning. It’s not journaling which is more about unlocking your feelings, although the two processes are alike. It is like any other exercise in that the more you do it the better you will become. It doesn’t have to be an object. It could be a person or a place you focus on. I like to use photographs.
The article cites Pat Pattison’s 1995 book “Writing Better Lyrics.” I have that book and the first chapter is devoted to Block Writing. This is a link to his web page where you may purchase his books. https://www.patpattison.com/
I don’t have time to review the rest of Keppie’s video so I will save that until next month. Happy songwriting from the song motel.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the East coast.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for August, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2023 ISG
--
International Songwriter's Guild
Website: www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/