ASW Skill Lab: Lyrics
Presented By American Songwriter
Enrollment for Fall '26 Term: Open Now (Spots Limited)
October 5th - November 1st, 2026
Intermediate Course
Enrollment Deadline: October 2nd, 2026
What is it?
Say What You Mean.
Learn to Write Better Lyrics with American Songwriter.
Skill Lab: Lyrics is a focused, four-week, four-module online course for writers who are seeking stronger lines, clearer ideas, and more intentional songs. Bring your lyrics, drafts, or works-in-progress, and learn how to improve them with more purpose, more detail, and more emotional impact. Learn from pro songwriters, workshop in real-time, and leave as a better songwriter and lyricist.Â
Videos by American Songwriter
Advanced Lyric Feedback
Weekly detailed workshops, feedback, and exercises from pro songwriters, tailored to your lyrics
4-Module Detailed Curriculum
Four focused, in-depth modules covering the core principles of lyric development, from voice to editing to specificity
Repeatable Writing Workflow
Designed to build a lyric development & revision process you can use well beyond the course.
ASW Skill Lab: Lyrics is a focused, four-week online course designed to help developing songwriters sharpen their lyric writing, strengthen their voice, and revise their work with more clarity, detail, and emotional impact.
Through live instruction, guided writing exercises, lyric analysis, and feedback-driven revision, you’ll dig into the core elements of strong lyric craft: specificity, point of view, structure, imagery, emotional clarity, and the line-by-line decisions that make a song connect. This course is built for writers who already have lyrics, drafts, or completed songs and are ready to move beyond the basics into deeper, more intentional writing.
By the end of the course, students will leave with refined lyric work, practical revision tools, and a stronger understanding of how to write words that feel honest, memorable, and built to last.
Student Testimonials
Course Curriculum Preview
In-Depth Skill Lab Curriculum – Four (4) in-depth, hands-on modules from idea to production. Modules are supported by weekly live sessions, plus all live sessions, exercises, and course materials are permanently downloadable for all students. Build your skills now, take them with you forever!
- Module 1: Hooks & Focus
- Module 2: Specificity & Sensory
- Module 3: Flow, Rhyme, & Movement
- Module 4: Editing & Voice
Meet The Instructors & Special Guests
ASW Skill Labs: Lyrics is an immersive songwriting course led by American Songwriter’s Membership Community Director & professional songwriter, Dean Fields.
He will be joined by #1 songwriters, industry experts, and multi-platinum ‘special guests’.
Summer 2026 Term – Special Guests to be announced soon…
Pricing
Frequently asked questions
If you’re still deciding whether to enroll, you’re probably wondering how it all works. Here’s everything you need to know before beginning your enrollment process.
Have an additional question? Reach out to us directly below.Â
The entire 4-week online course is held within the virtual American Songwriter Membership Hub + supported by weekly live sessions via video call.
Summer 2026 Dates Coming Soon – Enrollment Open Now
Please note: Course dates are subject to change in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to all enrolled students.
The course is open to anyone (18 and older) who wants to deepen their lyric writing ability. It is recommended that students have taken Foundations (or have written their first few songs) before enrolling in the course.
Start/Close Dates:Â October 5th – September 1st, 2026
Module 1: Hooks & Focus –Â October 5
Module 2: Specificity & Sensory –Â October 12
Module 3: Flow, Rhyme, & Movement –Â October 19
Module 4: Editing & Voice –Â October 26
$499.99 – Price includes four guided, downloadable, in-depth songwriting modules supported by weekly live sessions. Every student is guaranteed to leave with advanced lyric feedback, repeatable writing processes, an American Songwriter membership, access to community, and more!Â
Skills Lab: Lyrics is designed as an intermediate course for writers who have some basic experience in songwriting or have written a few songs. If you are looking to get started as a beginner, we recommend our beginner’s course: Foundations.Â
No advanced technical experience is required. You’ll just need access to a computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection to complete the online modules. From there, Skills Lab: Lyrics is designed to meet you where you are and help you build a lyric-writing workflow you’re proud of.Â
Not at all. You don’t need to play an instrument to be a songwriter. ASW Skills Labs give you the tools and guidance to develop a writing workflow that suits you.
Skills Lab: Lyrics is a step up from Foundations, but is designed to fit into a busy schedule and will require around 3–5 hours per week. This includes live lessons, completing songwriting exercises, participating in feedback/community, and working on your songs. The course is fully structured to be manageable alongside your full-time commitments.
Say What You Mean. Improve Your Lyrics With ASW Skill Labs.
Looking for a different course?
Write lyrics that land.
A focused, hands-on lyric intensive. Each week breaks down a core element of lyric writing and puts it to work on your own songs, with live feedback and guided rewrites from working hit songwriters.
A small room, real feedback, sharper lyrics
Skill Lab: Lyrics is built around doing the work, not just learning about it. You'll write, share, and rewrite every week alongside a small group and pro songwriters.
Live Feedback & Guided Rewrites
Bring your own lyrics and rewrite them in real time, direct critique from a pro and your group, then a guided rewrite on the spot. This is the lab.
4 Live Sessions
Four weekly 90-minute live workshops where each element of lyric writing is taught and worked in real time.
An Intimate Group
A deliberately small cohort, so every writer gets real attention and time on their own work.
Guided Listening
Each mini-lesson breaks down popular songs through a specific lens, so you learn to hear what's working, and why.
One Element a Week
Each session isolates a single craft element so you build real skill instead of skimming the surface.
Taught by Pros
Learn from working hit songwriters who do this for a living, craft, instinct, and real-world process.
Four weeks, four elements of a great lyric
Each week isolates one element of lyric writing and puts it to work on your own songs.
"Do I understand what you're saying?"
"Do I believe it? Can I see it?"
"Does it feel good to sing?"
"Can we make it better?"
Is Skill Lab: Lyrics right for you?
This is for you if…
- You've written some songs and want your lyrics to hit harder.
- You've finished Foundations and you're ready to go deeper on the words.
- You can bring works-in-progress and want real feedback on them.
- You learn best in a small, hands-on group.
Maybe start elsewhere if…
- You're brand new and haven't finished a song yet, start with Foundations.
- You're an experienced writer ready to collaborate, look at Co-Writing Rooms.
- You want a full idea-to-produced-demo course rather than a lyric intensive.
Learn from working hit songwriters
Skill Lab: Lyrics is taught by writers, for writers, the same caliber of working songwriters behind Songwriter U, sharing the tools and instincts behind the songs you know.
Dean Fields
Cuts by Lori McKenna & William Clark Green · No. 1 on Texas radio · Disney, Paramount & ABC placements.
Adam Wright
Multi-Grammy-nominated · cuts by Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood.
Sarah Siskind
Covered by Robert Plant, Alison Krauss & Wynonna · 20+ songs on ABC's Nashville.
Thomm Jutz
Grammy-nominated · ten #1 bluegrass hits · IBMA Songwriter of the Year.
Ava Suppelsa
Cuts by Keith Urban & Carly Pearce · 350M+ streams · "30 Under 30."
Aaron Espe
Songs in Grey's Anatomy & The Voice · campaigns for Target & Honda.
Questions, answered
What is Skill Lab: Lyrics?
It's a focused, four-week lyric-writing intensive from Songwriter U. Each week breaks down a core element of writing lyrics and puts it straight to work on your own songs, with live feedback and guided rewrites in a small group.
How is it different from Foundations?
Foundations takes a beginner from a blank page to a finished, produced song across the whole craft. Skill Lab: Lyrics is an intermediate deep-dive into one part of that craft, the lyrics, for writers who already finish songs and want the words to be stronger.
How do I know if I'm ready?
You're a good fit if you've written some songs, can bring works-in-progress, and want direct feedback on your lyrics. Finishing Foundations also prepares you well. If you haven't completed a song yet, start with Foundations first.
What's the format, live or self-paced?
It's a live, cohort-based intensive: four weekly 90-minute sessions with a small group. Each session is a short mini-lesson with guided listening, then about an hour of live feedback and guided rewrites. Between sessions you revise and bring updated drafts back.
What will I leave with?
Sharper lyrics on the songs you bring, plus a repeatable approach to lyric writing you can apply to everything you write next.
When does it start?
Skill Lab: Lyrics is coming soon. Join the waitlist and you'll be the first to hear when dates and enrollment open.
Be first in the lab.
Skill Lab: Lyrics opens soon, and the cohort is intentionally small. Join the waitlist to get early access when enrollment opens.
Join the WaitlistLooking for a different course? Explore all Songwriter U courses →
Join the Waitlist
Be the first to know when enrollment opens. We'll only email you about Skill Lab: Lyrics.
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