POPULAR LYRIC WRITING > 10 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING by Andrea Stolpe

Through a meticulous curriculum of conversational exposition, breakdown and reconstruction of the writing process, interactive exercises, and other devices, Stolpe makes the same point about creating lyrics that Julia Child did about gourmet cooking Crafting words, like conjuring coq au vin, is more science than art, and even the head-scratching scribe, deviled by that twist of phrase dancing just beyond conscious thought, can whip up something good by simply following the right instructions.Label: BERKLEE PRESS
[RATING: 3]

Videos by American Songwriter

Through a meticulous curriculum of conversational exposition, breakdown and reconstruction of the writing process, interactive exercises, and other devices, Stolpe makes the same point about creating lyrics that Julia Child did about gourmet cooking Crafting words, like conjuring coq au vin, is more science than art, and even the head-scratching scribe, deviled by that twist of phrase dancing just beyond conscious thought, can whip up something good by simply following the right instructions. It is hard to fault Stolpe’s method, in part because her words are as easily savored on the page as in a tune. Yet her premise is limited; one writes, she argues, ultimately to expel some residue of pain or joy. This may be true for most modern writers but not necessarily for architects of a more impersonal eloquence (Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart) or those who paint elusive abstractions (Dylan). In the end, while certainly applauding any method that can elevate musical discourse, one hopes that something more than a willingness to follow someone else’s lesson plan defines genius in writing.


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