Monday, June 10, 2019

Using Songs To Inspire Writing

Songs and Writing


All things that serve as memory triggers are definitely a writer's friend. We see something that brings us back to our mom's kitchen. We hear a noise that suddenly makes us think of Dad's workshop. We taste a piece of cake that shouts "Grandma!" to us. Those memories give us story ideas, fuel for memoir pieces, and inspiration to write many things.

Songs are one of the greatest memory triggers. Maybe even a few lines of the lyrics of a song that meant something to you or returns your thoughts to a certain era of your life. Even the title of a song can give us the inspiration to write. 

For a writing exercise today, choose any of the song titles below and start freewriting. It could be just words in the title that inspire you, or it might be what experience or time of your life that the song title triggers. You may be a fan of the composer or lyricist, or know the history of the song. What about the Happy Birthday song pictured above? Do you know who wrote it? When? Why? 

The List of Songs:
  • Body and Soul
  • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
  • Greensleeves
  • We Are The Champions
  • Little Yellow Submarine
  • Crazy In Love
  • Eye of the Tiger
  • Mack the Knife
  • You Always Hurt The One You Love
  • Stairway To Heaven
  • Happy Birthday
  • Stormy Weather

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