This information, including the linked articles,
originally appeared in newsletters published by ,
the Oklahoma Songwriters & Composers Ass'n. Some information has been
updated since its original publication.
Great Reference
Books For Songwriters
• The
New Comprehensive American Rhyming Dictionary,
by Sue Young (Avon, trade paperback, $14.00). Stands out for its inclusion of
multi-word phrases and slang.
• Roget’s
International Thesaurus, 5th Edition
(HarperPerennial, trade paperback, $13.50). Its non-dictionary layout (Roget’s
original format) lets you easily find closely related words and concepts.
• Word Menu,
by Stephen Glazier (Random House, trade paperback, $25.00). Lists and defines
every known example of a category – types of hats, for instance. Great for
adding specificity to a lyric!
• Bartlett’s
Familiar Quotations, 16th Edition,
by John Bartlett [Justin Kaplan, Gen. Ed.] (Little, Brown, hardback, $47.50). A
great idea starter – lyrics that play on familiar phrases can be especially
memorable!
Great Songwriting
Instruction Books
• Successful
Lyric Writing, a Step-By-Step Course & Workbook,
by Sheila Davis (Writer’s Digest Books, trade paperback, $19.99). An
excellent, exhaustive, college-level course on lyric writing.
• The Craft and
Business of Songwriting, by John
Braheny (Writer’s Digest Books, trade paperback, $21.99). Very helpful how-to
book covering lyrics, music and the business, written by someone who’s done it
all successfully.
• Tunesmith:
Inside the Art of Songwriting,
by Jimmy Webb (Hyperion, hardcover, $24.95). This extraordinary songwriter
covers the lyric, music and business bases exhaustively and entertainingly, with
special contributions from top music industry figures. Covers melody writing and
chord structures much more thoroughly than most songwriting books.
• Writing
Better Lyrics, by Pat Pattison
(Writer’s Digest Books, hardcover, $19.99). Pattison’s insights, reinforced
by lots of examples and exercises, will help your lyrics shine!
Online Resources:
– free e-mails filled with great how-to info on songwriting!
Songwriting Camps
and Schools:
• – late
May/early June
• –
mid-August
• – late
October•
- two sessions each year