February 2005
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 10, No. 2
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, February 6th 2005
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Hope all of you are looking forward to this
week’s meeting—I am! Although I talk to
some of you on the phone between meetings, it’s even better to see you on first Sundays with a song to critique. If you have one, be sure to bring it Sunday!
I have something new to report. Several of our members on the east coast of Florida approached me a few days ago about starting a new chapter of the ISG. Some folks have been traveling to Orlando for our meetings, and would like to start a group closer to where they live. In turn, they do plan to continue to attend the meetings here too. I told them that some of us would make the trip over there as well. There are a number of good writers over there, so this could work out for everyone.
It just dawned on me that next month has a great day for a love song—Valentine’s Day! Hey, I have a Valentine song; do you? If you don’t, see if you can put together a quickie one by meeting time.
Hope to see you Sunday. No kidding, do try
to do something for Valentine’s!
See you Sunday. Best ever,
Russ Robinson
********************************************************************************
Haven’t Been Writing…
By Matt Griffin
Those of you who know me, or who read my articles for this newsletter, know that I dispense a lot of songwriting advice! I’m confident (arrogant?) enough to believe that I know what I’m talking about, most of the time anyway. But now is one of those times when I don’t have the answers. This article will read almost like a confession of sorts; I’m printing it in hopes that reading about my struggles might help others in the same boat.
Here’s the confession part: I haven’t been writing songs lately. I’ve written a few little bits and pieces here and there, but…I think I’ve finished only one song in more than a year. It’s a hard thing for a songwriter to admit, especially one who professes to love writing.
Of course I haven’t had anything to play at our monthly meetings, and a few folks have asked me about it. I have a few standard answers: been extremely busy, inspiration running a little dry, songs in the works but nothing finished, etc. They’re not lies; I have been extremely busy, the new idea well seems very dry, and I do have several songs in various stages of development. But productive writers have to make time and do the dirty work necessary to keep moving forward.
And I’m convinced that, if you’ll forgive the misquote, inspiration favors the prepared mind. I have a theory that we all are bombarded with inspiration most of the time, but we just don’t hear it unless we’re listening for it. In other words, if I start writing songs again, I expect the ideas will come (he says hopefully!).
Funny, I’ve authored whole articles on how important it is for writers to write as a habit. Turns out that not writing can become a habit too! I’m making a conscious effort now to start writing song material regularly, and I’m amazed how hard it is to get moving again. The difficult part is making regular time for writing; seems like there’s always something more important to do, doesn’t it?
But writers need to write, emphasis on the word “need”. I need to make time for writing, and I will. It’s not exactly a New Year’s resolution, but I am resolute
**************************************************************************************
January 2005 Top Three
(1) The Grave Dan Cook
(2) The Lighthouse Patricia Locke
(3) Thanks For Letting Me Do Things For You Carlos Colon
© 2005 ISG