At some point in your career you’re going to have to sit down and try to write a song with someone who is “better than you” (for brevities sake, a Songwriting Pro). It may not be that the person really is, it may just be a person whom you respect a great deal, but you’re petrified!

What do you do? The following six songwriting tips should help get your partnership moving in the right direction:

Tip #1 - CALM DOWN!

This is just another person, no different than yourself. Even more, you’d be surprised to learn that a great number of songwriters in a better position, with more clout, or more experience still haven’t lost their insecurities - something generally reserved for all those with a passion for ‘art’. They are just as scared of you as you are of them! Here’s one reason: Pro songwriters are out of ideas. Now that sounds ridiculous. But why else would a songwriter of stature take a gamble on a ‘newbie’? Because more often than not, those ‘newbies’ bring fresh ideas to the table.

That’s the second thing you have to do:

Tip # 2 - Bring Fresh Ideas to the Table!

Don’t look at this person as the one who will have all the ideas. If they had all of the ideas, they would write them themselves! What those with experience have in place of new ideas is a knowledge of how to write those new ideas. And that’s where a lot of new songwriters get into trouble.

Tip #3 - Don’t Get In A Hurry To Impress!

Often a new songwriter ‘knows’ when they are on a roll writing. They can ‘feel’ it in every fiber of their being that what they are writing is the greatest prose ever placed from pen to paper. A Pro writer will know better. With a Pro writer (generally) they aren’t concerned with how it ‘feels’, they are concerned if it is the best possible line, or word, or phrase. Feelings almost never show up in a Pro writing session. Pro’s rely on Craft! And the lines that are so great when you are alone will pale in comparison to what you’ll be expected to provide. Each line, each word, each phrase you submit will be called on the carpet if it’s not good enough. Don’t let your feelings get involved, it’s never personal, it’s about the song.

Tip #4 - Know Your Craft!

“I” before “E” except after “C”. 2+2=4. These are basic principles we all have to live by. You may be too advanced to need a primer on the Craft of Songwriting, but it never hurts to brush up on the ‘rules’ before you show up. Like, know that the opening line is most often the most important line. Know that all roads lead to the chorus. Know that interchanging first and second person with third person almost never works correctly in under three minutes. Know that 3 minutes is about all the time you have to tell your story! The more knowledge you have about the basics, the more apt it is the Pro will like you. Which leads to:

Tip #5 - Be Yourself!

No one likes to be ghermed (or groveled upon). As I mentioned, these are ordinary people, and I’ve not met one yet who likes slobber! Sure!, congratulate them on their success. Yes!, compliment them on their writing. Absolutely!, let them know you’re enthusiastic to be writing with them. Not because of them per se, but because of the Ideas you’ve brought to write about - with them. Be enthusiastic about the material you’re presenting. Loosen up and let your ideas, those fresh ideas, take you places you’ve not been before. Good writing. Personality has a lot to do with good or even great writing. The person sitting in front of you can have a Grammy, but if there’s no ‘there there’ it won’t make any difference in the world (trust me, I know!). You’ll do your best by just being yourself.

Tip #6 - Learn Something!

Don’t leave without knowing more than when you went in. In fact, after you leave your songwriting session stop to get some coffee, alone and away from everyone and life, and reflect on what just happened. Ask and answer truthfully as many questions as you can think of. Did it go good? Could it have been better? Should you have fought for a line more? Should you have gave in more easily?

Are you satisfied with the song you’ve written? I hope you are.

If you have suggestions for what helps you when you write with others, let us know in the comments below.