How to Write One Song
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4.4 • 7 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn't so mysterious and was actually achievable for anyone who wants to experience more magic and creativity in their life? That's something that anyone will be inspired to do after reading Jeff Tweedy's How to Write One Song.
Why one song? Because the difference between one song and many songs isn't a cute semantic trick—it's an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a capital-S songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as a focused, self-contained event, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an exciting pursuit.
And then there is the energizing, nourishing creativity that can open up. How to Write One Song brings readers into the intimate process of writing one song—lyrics, music, and putting it all together—and accesses the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this curious, yet incredibly fulfilling, artistic act. But it’s equally about the importance of making creativity part of your life every day, and of experiencing the hope, inspiration, and joy available to anyone who’s willing to get started.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A great song, one that sticks in your head or speaks to your soul, can feel like pure magic. But longtime indie rocker Jeff Tweedy is here to tell you there’s no mystical mojo to songwriting. In this succinct guide, the Wilco (and before that, Uncle Tupelo) frontman walks you through pretty much every question you might have about writing a song of your own. From anxiety that you’ll suck—you totally will, at first—to the fear of exposing your inner feelings—accept it, writing songs means getting vulnerable—Tweedy helps you get out of your head and in front of your notebook or voice recorder. Personal stories really drive his lessons home, like the anecdote about how he wrote Wilco’s hit “Can’t Stand It” on a plane after a label exec demanded a catchy single, quickly dispelling the belief that songwriting requires “inspiration.” Tweedy distills all this wisdom into about a hundred pages, making his book like a short but sweet pep talk from a mentor. We found ourselves highlighting and adding bookmarks a bunch.
Customer Reviews
Show Up - Do the work - repeat.
I’m a professional, experienced songwriter - and I still found Jeff Tweedy’s excellent book incredibly inspiring and useful. Any opportunity to learn from another’s process is its own reward. But learning from Jeff Tweedy is truly a gift. He’s an excellent communicator, a humble artist, and his focus on developing a daily practice is sage advice for anybody at any level. A great read.