Last night, we saw the Smoky Mountain Opry show with a group of friends who have traveled here from three different places in the USA. We all lived in the same town many years ago, then everyone moved on but we meet somewhere once a year. One couple is host and selects the place we visit.
This year, we are in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg and Pigeon forge area. It's a touristy kind of place but surrounded by natural beauty with the mountains and forests, hiking trails and more. Lots for shoppers here, as well, and those who like to eat.
The show we saw was a musical revue touching on all kinds of music--rock and roll, Broadway, movies, gospel, patriotic and more. All very well performed by a talented cast. Beautiful costumes and sets, as well.
As I enjoyed the show, I thought about the people who wrote the music and lyrics for the multitude of songs we were privileged to hear. It's a kind of writing we don't always include in our list of kinds of writing. We should. The people who write the lyrics to the songs we hear and often grow to love are telling a story just like writers of fiction. Their words are often more poetry than prose.
Did you ever try to write lyrics for a piece of music? Or write lyrics and find someone to create the music to accompany it? I certainly never have.
A few years ago, I attended my state authors convention and one of the workshops I chose to go to was about writing song lyrics. I found the leader had some fascinating information to share and I also came away with a much greater appreciation for the songs I heard thereafter.
One of the nice things about entering the writing world is that we have a wide array of kinds of writing we want to pursue. Try one and then another until you find the place where you feel most comfortable. There is no rule that says you must write one and only one type of writing. Personally, I would be bored writing the same things over and over. But that's me. For some, it's perfect. I like to have a variety in my writing which is why I write creative nonfiction, poetry, short stories for kids, a few adult short stories, personal essays, memoir and articles on writing. That's a wide range but I do concentrate more on the personal essays and memoir.
How about you? Do you stay with only one kind of writing? Or do you like to venture into several?
Next time you listen to a song, pay attention to the lyrics and think about the writer. They have to say a lot in a concise amount of words. And make a statement--make it memorable. Not an easy task. They are to be admired.
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