By Jerry Romansky* - advice columnist at Seacoastonline.com in an article found here. I've done everything that Mr. Romansky talks about, but I haven't received by Grammy nod just yet...
January 27, 2008 6:00 AMDear Jerry:
After watching the movie "Music and Lyrics" with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, I felt like I might be a natural lyricist. I write and sing songs to myself all the time and have done so all my life.
What does a person do with this talent?
- Rebecca D.,
Arlington, Texas
Dear Rebecca:
Peruse the latest edition of the "Writer's Market" at your public library.
The book is typically used by writers for the purpose of getting something published. However, you would consult the book to identify magazines of interest to song and lyric writers. After reading in the "Writer's Market" about various magazine' contents, you may want to subscribe to one or more such magazines for song-writing and lyric-writing ideas.
Specifically, in the alphabetical index at the very back of the book, look for the words "songwriter." You will find such listings as "Contemporary Songwriter Magazine" (formerly "Songwriter Magazine") and "Songwriter's Monthly." Within the "Consumer Magazines" of the book, a category titled "Music" lists and describes a variety of publications.
In addition, check your local universities and see which ones offer songwriting courses. You might audit a college class or register for a course in adult or continuing education.
Because your letter arrived in my mailbox (not e-mail) box, I am presuming you may be writing lyrics with pen and pad or on a typewriter. While you may decide to join the computer generation and there are songwriting courses available online (i.e., via computer), I would suggest an actual classroom course. That way, you can experience the participation with prospective songwriters. You will enjoy critiquing and being critiqued by other students.
Meanwhile, I made a note on my 2009 calendar to watch for your name among the Grammy Award nominees.
*Jerry Romansky is a syndicated columnist. Readers are invited to write in English or Spanish: Ask Jerry, P.O. Box 42444, Washington DC 20015. E-mail askjerry@earthlink.net and (because of spam situation) write the name of your newspaper in subject heading. Questions of popular interest are answered in the column. Unpublished letters cannot be answered individually.
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