JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum A re-writer

Hey There,

You might want to check out some of JPFer, Ron Boyte's posts over on the lyric board. He has a famous stress test he uses in critiquing and knows a lot about meter.

Thanks for posting,
Ashleigh

Hi Mary,
I think Ashleigh has given to you a great advice. I´ve worked with Ron and he´s really good on that stuff. But first, do your best and try to fit the words by yourself, and once you get it right look for help. If you don´t write whole songs you´re half a songwriter, and if you never learn what you don´t know you´ll never improve your writing. Look for people who write songs with, not people to rewrite your songs.
If you need anything else, just ask!!
Juan

Mary, cowriting is a lesson to be learned. Also to write songs one must learn flexibility especially if you can't write all of the song, words and melody both and can't perform them then you'll find that there are going to be changes asked of you that seem to dilute what you've already got. Now that said, this is all a part of learning to be a "great" songwriter and that is the only way anyone will ever be published and recorded is that your song is so much better than the record companies' own songwriters that are there for every beck and call. Being an unpublished, unproduced and unrecorded lyric writer is a tough row to hoe and one has to get a very thick skin right off the bat. I'm not trying to discourage you, but trying to warn you that these things will hit you coming and going and if you're going to stick with songwriting then maybe I've helped you be aware of the pitfalls before you get hit too hard. I just wish someone would've told me before I got that deep into it.

Hi Mary,

If you are talking lyric rewrite, I'm sure I could accomodate you. I've done A&R work and I've seen so many good songs that could've been so much better. I certainly would not ask 50% either, if I'm just changing a few words around. I believe a smaller percentage would be more fair to you having written the majority of it. I also have some pro connnections and would add any songs that I have credit for to my demos with submissions. Below is a list of some comments on my writing. If you are interested contact me, I'll give you an address to send the songs to and we can discuss how much work would need to be done and a fair percentage.

Songwriter/Lyricist Reviews

“Easy to work with, great titles….I like working with you, most lyricists won’t make changes, I like the way you incorporated those 3 lines into one on “Kiss It Where It Hurts,” it’s great, you didn’t lose the idea, and it’s still catchy. I like that…. “Country Xmas Ho Ho Ho Down,”… you have great titles and hooks. Desmond Child would like your lyrics. He says once you have a great title, you can write a great song.” Ray has also invited me to collaborate with him for a record company which is backed by “XXXXX”…….Ray Powers, Billboard Award winning songwriter, producer, performer, promoter…..members.tripod.com/innersoul or njrocks.com/innersoul.

“good songs, nice arrangements on “I Know Your Body By Heart,” catchy titles and hooks, all the elements are there, “More Power To Ya” is good but sounds dated, but I think Rock is coming back.”…..demo review/critique by anonymous industry insider of Indie Music Forum, www.indiemusicforum.com.

“you have a lot of great ideas, you can write anything, yeah, this is good stuff, I think that song could be a hit…”…….Ray Monte, singer/drummer, producer of LOU MONTE SINGS FOR YOU AGAIN, www.LouMonte.com

“I liked your songs, they’re all different, I like your words, I want to see more, I want to profile you as a writer for our magazine.”…….Guy Tetro, Senior Editor, writer, CD reviews of HIPNOSIS, New Jersey’s Arts & Entertainment Mag. www.Hipnosis.com


“love your lyrics, very nice, I can do a lot with those beautiful words.” ……….John “Fiddler,” songwriter/musician who has worked with many “greats” including Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Songwriter Joe Croker out of Nashville wrote into an arts & entertainment mag. I was profiled in looking to find where he could get a hold of more of my work. I have been in contact with him, he says…“I like your gutsiness.”


Dorothy Ann
Music, Madness, & Miscellaneous
SpiritofSong@hotmail.com

If you`re co-writing with someone in person, just put on the tape recorder and have fun. Good music wont come outta stress
I bet half of the songs Paul and John (Beatles) co-wrote were just them laughing about in the back of the Star club.
Never worked with somone over the net so no adivce about that, sorry.