How Twitter Can Make You A Better Songwriter

You probably have a tendency to say more than you need to.

You are born with a need to communicate.

That’s why I love Twitter. I love the effect it’s had on my writing and learning.

Ever been on Facebook and seen one of your friends leave a status update that’s like 14 pages long?

Obviously, they are full of passion. So what’s the logical thing to do? Rant and rave until you stop making sense. What could have been said in a sentence or two has been diluted with too many words.

That’s why I spend much more time on Twitter than I do on Facebook. Less clutter, more connection, more value.

The Problem With Your Songs

Brevity is also your challenge as a songwriter.

You have a lot you want to communicate.

You don’t want to be overly simplistic. You don’t want to be a copycat.

So what do you do? Well, if you’re like me, you pack inordinate amounts of lyrical clutter onto your songwriting train and ride it off a cliff.

Crash.

OK, maybe a little dramatic, but you get the point.

It’s time to learn a lesson from father Twitter.

5 Songwriting Tips From Father Twitter

I believe Twitter can make you a better writer.

The challenge is actually transferring these lessons over to your songwriting.

Here’s how:

1. Learn to Craft Concise, Punchy Phrases.

As writers, many times we get caught up in little prepositional phrases. In our quest to be descriptive, we use too many words. Evaluate every line, every phrase in your song and make it count. Don’t waste a word. The more you are mindful of this, the better.

2. Embrace the Power of Editing

If you think about it, editing is constantly happening on Twitter. Most everything you say is too long. So what do you do? You edit. You find a shorter way of saying what you want to say. You abbreviate. You take out a few spaces. As a songwriter, you should have a rigorous editing process. Don’t stick with your original ideas. God is OK with your editing. Push your songs further.

3. Build a Songwriting Network

When you’re not being a self-absorbed Twitter jerk, it’s amazing the people you connect with. From a songwriting perspective, your songs need community. They need to be tested beyond the confines of your bedroom. Connect with other writers on Twitter and co-write together. Anyone game?

4. Collect Resources

I can’t tell you how many books, artists, conferences, and other resources I have found on Twitter. It comes down to following the right people. People who use Twitter wisely use it to share valuable information. I discovered Bobby & Kristen Gillies (Sojourn Music) and their blog through Twitter, which contains some great songwriting tips.

5. Step Outside Yourself

This is less practical, but I’ve learned that Twitter and other forms of social media are not platforms to announce yourself. It’s a place to give – a platform to change the world.

Especially in the context of worship songwriting, don’t simply write what you’re feeling. Resist writing for you and you alone. Write for the church. Seek to aid their expression of worship to God. Serve them in their worship.

So as you login to Twitter today, be mindful of the ways it can inspire you, teach you, and launch you in a new creative direction.

Question: What has Twitter taught you about songwriting or creativity? Do you have any other resources to share? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

By the way, if you’re not following me on Twitter, you can do so here. We have a good time 🙂

Photo Credit: Flickr (Creative Commons)