Crafting a Writable Idea

So much more than a song title.

In both of my books on songwriting, I've explored various tools to help songwriters consistently craft quality lyrics. One of the most powerful techniques to prepare for going into the writing room is the concept of "Writable Ideas." Given how important it has been in my experience as a staff writer at Universal Music, Nashville, I thought it might be helpful to talk a little more about this here.

What is a Writable Idea?

A writable idea is a lyrical technique to take two things together:

1. A song title

2. A strategy for developing that title.

So it’s more than just a song title; it’s the combination of both that gives you something more tangible when you’re faced with your co-writers asking,

“What’s in your hook book then?”

once you’re sitting there in the writing room.

So much more than a song title

A title alone is insufficient for crafting a song because it lacks direction. A development strategy, such as a Song Map, provides that direction by outlining a plan to bring the song from point A to point B. The Song Map provides a series of ideas for recoloring and expanding the title.

Similarly, a Song Map is not a writable idea on its own; however, it needs a title that resonates with you, your co-writer, and ultimately the artist and listeners. The Map is a potential guide to arrange ideas around the title and develop a payoff that makes the listener want to hear the song.

Writable idea: “Follow The Dream”

For example, a title like “Follow the Dream” can be applied to a Tension/Response Song Map. This Song Map outlines a plot structure where Verse 1 describes how tension is sensed, the Chorus presents the response to the tension, Verse 2 outlines how the solution to the tension is sensed, and the Bridge shows how the singer feels about the response.

It’s quite possible to go in a writing room with one or two other co-writers, and neither might even have thought of Writable Ideas. But, especially if you are writing up with more experienced songwriters, this is a brilliant way to walk into the room with a stack of Writable Ideas that are more likely to be loved in the room.

Think of it like building a house—you can’t just start building without a blueprint. The blueprint helps you plan and structure your song, ensuring it's well-crafted and impactful.

What Does a Writable Idea Look Like?

Bringing those two things together:

• Title: Follow the Dream

• Song Map: Tension/Response

Here’s what a writable idea would look like:

Title: Follow The Dream

Verse 1—How the tension is sensed

• Weighed down by my ordinary life

• Stuck in a box

• Looking out of a dusty window

• To where I know I should be

• I wanna...

Chorus—The response

• Follow the dream, metaphors

Verse 2—How the solution is sensed

• Like the dawn of a new day

• Sunrise

• A new chance

Chorus—The response

• Follow the dream, metaphors

Bridge—How the singer feels

• Like a weight has been lifted

• A prisoner set free

• Now, my life can begin

Chorus—The response

• Follow the dream, metaphors

This writable idea provides keywords and phrases for writing the complete lyric. The goal is to ensure that the lyrics in each section support the function designated by the Song Map.

Song Maps are visual representations of how your lyrics are structured. They help you see the big picture of your song and ensure that all the parts are working together. The idea of Song Maps is to take an idea and then recolor and expand on it to capture the listener’s attention.

The Four-Step Process Crafting a Writable Idea

Here's a four-step process for crafting a Writable Idea:

1. Brainstorm Titles: First, develop a list of potential song titles as a good foundation for the rest of the song. I put all titles in one of three boxes:

   1. Neutral titles

   2. DNA titles, and

   3. Titles that will always be going to work. (See more about this here)

2. Choose a Song Map: Next, choose a Song Map that will help you to develop your title. There are many different Song Maps available, so you can choose one that's best suited to your song.

3. Draft a Writable Idea: Once you've chosen your Song Map, it's time to sketch out how your title will be developed into your writable idea. This means deciding what ideas you want to express in each section of your song.

4. Capture it!: Wherever you keep all of your ideas (see more about how to do this), make sure you have all of these Writable Ideas when you are about to go into your writing session. So, even when they are the most basic version of your writable idea, capture it right there.

The cool thing about this process is that sometimes even the most impossible ideas can often be turned into something that could be crafted into a spectacular song. And this could be a way of writing a song edge of the table (more here). Spending more time sketching them into a writable idea makes you think this might work as a real song that could be pitched to an artist.

Trust the process and see where it takes you. It doesn’t matter how random or obscure the title is: it’s all about where it ends up in the writing room.

In Summary

Creating a writable idea is incredibly helpful for any songwriter who wants to write great songs. Combining a title with a development strategy ensures that your lyrics are well-crafted, engaging, and marketable. The Song Map process offers a simple and effective way to do this. If you'd like to learn more about this, I recommend checking out my book Song Maps - A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics.

Questions

Here are a few questions you might want to think about:

• What are some of your favorite songs that have been developed well?

• Have you tried using Writable Ideas as a stepping stone before going into the writing room?

• Where do you capture your catalog of Wriable Ideas?

Hope this helps!

Simon.

www.simonhawkins.com