My favorite Muse Ticklers

I re-wrote the lyrics to all of the Christmas carols at about age six and would sing them to anyone who would listen no matter what time of year. I wish I had a recording of that, I am sure it was hilarious. I started writing songs consciously when I was about thirteen. For me, songwriting comes naturally, most of the time. Most of the time, being the key phrase because like all writers, I too have to tickle the muse.

My favorite “Muse Ticklers” include going to a bookstore and surrounding myself with great titles. You can't copyright a title so this is fair play. I also read several books a month on multiple subjects and genre. This keeps the ideas coming at me probably more than anything.

I also like to play with rhythms. I use different programs on the computer or sometimes a drum loop or I just goof around on the guitar.

I also like to work in a program called Masterwriter. If you are a writer of any kind this could be a useful tool for you. Most serious songwriters I know use it. They have recently released the 2.0 versions, it has some new features that I am still wrapping my head around, but I love it. Masterwriter is a rhyming dictionary-thesaurus on steroids. www.masterwriter.com

I get random ideas about songs all the time but if I don’t pluck from the world of ideas and claim it as my own, I believe it will be taken by someone else. I hate that when itt happens so I keep a little purse sized journal with me at all times and I take notes on interesting things people say, or images that pop out of the ordinary. When it is time for me to write I take out the journal and look for something that resonates emotionally with me. I sit with the guitar or the piano and with simple chords I build the song from there.

The most important thing I do to keep the creative pump primed is to make time for my craft. It takes some self-discipline because life is fast and busy. I love writing and I know my songs can’t get written with out me. All the songwriters I know have their own way of going about it, this is mine, I hope this insight into my process is helpful.

Stay tuned,

Elizabeth Edwards