Writing lyrics is a personal phase for every lyricist. Everyone has a specific approach that works perfectly for them. It is a known fact that what works best for one lyricist probably won’t be a right fit for another. Songwriting is changing, and it’s okay to carve out your own path. While some people need a few minutes to write, others take weeks and months. However, lyrics writing is a skill that you can always learn or improve with time. Lyrics are what takes your tune to another level. Below are some tips on how to write creative lyrics that will take your music to the next level. Remember that there is no specific or right or wrong method. You have to find what works for you and go with it. Now that you’re aware of what this article covers, let’s begin.
How to Write Creative Lyrics: Study Different Lyrics
One of the top ways of writing creative lyrics is by studying other lyrics. What better way to learn than from great lyricists out there? If you want to learn how to write creative lyrics, you should get analytic and explore different kinds of music. In times like this, the internet is your friend. It contains all types of music you could ever want, and you have varieties to choose from. You can start with your favorite music and check out their structure and rhyme scheme. You should also think about the images their lines evoke and why they could choose these lines.
When you’re studying different lyrics, you should understand how they work and compare them with others. When you explore different lyrics, you’re amassing techniques and tools. These tools are available in the art itself, which is why you need to access different lyric types. Understanding lyrics on your terms goes beyond taking people’s idea of what a good lyric is and finding out what sounds ideal to you. Study different lyrics, and soon enough, you would know precisely how to write creative lyrics.
Filter Your Words
Many people who are not into lyric writing think lyricists write words off the top of their minds, and that’s it. However, to create great lyrics, you should choose the words you go with carefully. You can’t go with every single word that drops into your mind. Creative lyrics usually go through a lot of nitpicking to become the masterpiece they are. Writing down every word that comes to mind in the lyric-writing process is essential. As a lyricist learning how to write creative lyrics, you want to have many options to explore. Once you have all the options in front of you, the next step is saying no to the bad, okay, or seemingly good ones. The only words that stick around are the great ones. Patience is necessary when filtering through your words, especially when it comes to discarding words that seem okay.
Words need to be specific when you’re writing lyrics. The words you choose have different effects on your listeners, which is why you need to only go for the best fit. Picking the best words doesn’t mean you should go for complicated words. Simple is still the goal, not lyrics that listeners need a dictionary to understand. When you have many words with the same meaning, pick what best resonates with your intention. Although filtering your words might not seem like such a great idea, this is what differentiates creative lyrics from average lyrics. A great way to begin is at the end; brainstorm phrases you would like to feature. These words and phrases don’t have to have rhyme or structure to them. This process helps you figure out what you want to say, and you can filter from here to create proper lyrics.
Keep the Lyrics Simple
Like we stated, you don’t have to choose complicated words to get your message across. The thing about words and music is that they work together to create a spectacle. The music behind the words is what makes it rich. Lyrics like ‘I will never forget you’ or ‘I will always love you are not remarkable on their own. However, when you add the music that accompanies it and the story it tells, it becomes profound. Whether your lyrics are unique or not, the music is what makes the words richer and remarkable. This fact doesn’t mean that you should underwrite your lyrics; it is imperative not to.
Keeping it simple is the key. While picking out the best words, you should also know when to cut words that aren’t necessary. When you have a message to pass, ensure you are courageous enough to say them directly and plainly. Remember that one word that succinctly passes your message across is better than three. Using too many words creates a cluster that makes the music sound noisy. Pick your words carefully, only use what’s necessary, and your music will do the rest of the work.
Keep Your Lyrics Conversational
Although this is a known and obvious fact, it bears repeating. A song needs to be sung by a person; we’re reiterating this because you need to consider learning how to write creative lyrics. A short story or an article does not pass as a lyric. Another thing you need to note is that poems do not pass as lyrics also. Poems, stories and articles’ existence relies on paper and sometimes a screen. Lyrics, on the other hand, go beyond that. Even if it exists on paper, the goal is so a person can perform it. It means that lyrics don’t have to sound formal; you’re aware of this already. That’s why yeah and filler words can exist in songs. Slangs and incomplete sentences also make great lyrics when used the right way.
There’s an art to creating great lyrics, and it is discovering how to make your words sound conversational. This feature is essential even if you have to spend months working on the songs to sound good. The best way to achieve conversational lyrics is by saying the lines out loud. It doesn’t matter if you are just a lyricist or a singer, too; sing the songs you write. Another option you can explore is having someone say it to you. This action will help you connect the dots, and you will begin to take note of what’s working and what isn’t. After a few trials, you will notice that your lyrics sound natural even if they took a lot of work.
Be Specific
Lyrics are not just a collection of words; your words create ideas and images in the mind of those who hear them. So make words as specific as you can. Saying ‘a dress’ doesn’t entirely create an exciting picture in your listener’s mind. However, when you take it further and say ‘a torn, red dress,’ it gives people a more specific clue about the person in your lyrics. Specific words are the key to amazing lyrics, and you should note them when learning how to write creative lyrics.
Although it might seem like specific words go against keeping it simple, it doesn’t. Great lyricists learn how to combine simplicity and details. There are lines where details should prioritize simplicity because they effectively make your lyrics more interesting. The best part about lyrics writing is that you can still paint a picture using simple words. You have to learn how to combine them appropriately. Learning how to write creative lyrics involves learning the right balance. You need to find the balance that works ideally for you and then stick to it.
Imbibe Your Personality in Your Lyrics
Lyric-writing is all about creativity, and this means there is no right or wrong? Do you have an artist or songwriter that you admire? When you check out their songs and catalog, you will start to notice a pattern in all their lyrics. It could be a word, sentence structure, phrases, or some other tic. These little patterns are usually a part of the lyricist personality. This feature is what makes your favorite lyricist different from the multitude out there. If you’re a beginner in the lyric-writing world, your focus would be on technique rather than anything else. We are aware that writing lyrics is a rigorous process that no one ever achieves overnight. However, one tip you should utilize is adding a bit of your personality to your lyrics.
If you have words you love or some silly expression you use in real life and love, add them to your lyrics. If there are structures or techniques your favorite lyricists love to use, and you’re curious how it works, try them out. Just like the filtering process takes time to make your lyrics remarkable, uncovering your personality as a lyricist can take a while. Finding out what makes your music unique is vital to ensure consistency. The best part about this is that the discovery process is also part of the songwriting process. You get to understand lyric-writing as an art and your unique writing personality in the writing process. The more lyrics you write, the better you become at it, and the more original your songs become.
Take Note of Your Environment
If you’re learning how to write creative lyrics, you should find the environment that works for you. Some lyricists have a standard room that makes it easier for them to be creative. If your four walls are beginning to feel a bit too much or boring, you should switch up the environment. Find a new place you can resonate with, and it will do wonders for your lyric-writing process. A change of environment can be the only step you need to take to write creative music.
Many top lyricists have drawn inspiration from their music and spoken about how their setting gave their music the necessary boost. Many musicians also write songs that reflect the environment that birthed the creative lyrics. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, the chances are that you need to change your scene. You can start with taking short walks, find a place where you can connect with nature, and you might find some inspiration.
It Doesn’t Have to be Words Alone
Words have power and influence; we established this at the beginning. It is a great way to create a deep connection with your lyrics. However, you shouldn’t feel a need to use words only. Learning how to write creative lyrics involves knowing how to combine words with simple sounds perfectly. When you take a walk through music history, you’ll discover that the best lines sometimes are not words at all. It could be simple sounds, and many songs have become global hits with lyrics like this. Sometimes, experimenting is key. Find a quiet environment and experiment with sounds. Combine these sounds with your words to see how they fit and go where it leads you.
Seek Opinions
Sometimes, writing the lyrics is easy, but getting to allow people to see your lyrics is challenging. However, you need to be willing to do this to become better in the songwriting process. Pick a person you trust and use them as your sounding board in the lyric writing process. You can bounce ideas off this person and find out their opinions on what you’re using. You could also pick a collaborator that will help fill gaps in your writing. Although lyric-writing is sometimes a solitary process, there are times when two lyricists in sync can create mind-blowing lyrics. You might learn a few new things from other lyricists when you seek their opinions, which could help you articulate better.
Keep Your Creative Mode On
Songwriting inspiration doesn’t work by the clock; it can arrive any time. Instead of creating a timetable for when you will write, always keep your creative mode on as you go through your daily life. Sometimes exciting people might be the inspiration you need. When you meet new people, experience new things, or listen to people’s opinions, it could inspire you. Stay ready by either having a notebook close or your smartphone note ready. When learning how to write creative lyrics, you should know how to draw inspiration from the world around you. You can keep these ideas and make them work together in your solitary writing time.
Conclusion
Lyric writing is an art, but it is also a skill you can always learn and improve upon. Learning how to write creative lyrics involves understanding the balance between substance and style. The tips above will shape you into a better lyricist and help you create memorable music. The idea isn’t to tell a story but to weave it in a way that makes people want to hear you out. The tips and tricks above will help you achieve this and make you an excellent lyricist.
