How to Write a Song that Matters

Confession; I am sure that my review does have a slight degree of bias as I was lucky enough to be introduced to the music of Dar Williams by my sister many years ago. Not to mention I am fortunate to have seen her in concert many times, met her several times and I'm participating in a Zoom book club meeting tonight to discuss the book!I do not have, nor claim to have, a smidge of knowledge about chords, the art of songwriting and construction of the notes that go with it, nor any kind of musical talent, other than appreciating what I like when I hear it. That being said, it was Dar's personal touches that made this book so relatable for me, specifically the examples she cited - whether her creations or those of other songwriters, most of whom I am familiar with.Page 21 hits the jackpot with references to Cliff Eberhardt, Ellis Paul, Jules Shear and Lucy Kaplansky. Even with my lack of knowledge about the construct of music/chords, page 42 provides a visual that even *I* can understand in some way, shape or form.Substituting words (see any parentheses with in my case) helped me further understand and appreciate her advice/tips/guidance. "Songwriters (writers in my case) don't have to get every detail right. And chances are that if we don't really "go there", and we offer a picture with no insights or evidence of personal connection, a song (story in my case) will simply and innocently go by the wayside." "The process of getting ourselves into the shoes of our narrators, even if we don't hit a bulls-eye, can yield more meanings, for our listeners (readers in my case) and ourselves, than writing what we think the world wants to hear or writing to point fingers and visit judgment upon others from a distance."The small/bigger/biggest picture analogy on page 110 was brilliant! And again, I just loved all of the deconstruction of Dar's songs by Dar - leading me to actually play her music while I was reading. I typically read in silence, but re-listening to her songs (for sure hit on As Cool As I Am, When I Was a Boy, Mortal City, FM Radio, You're Aging Well, The Ocean, The Babysitter's Here - and many others) made me appreciate the lyrics and musicality even more than ever before. She is a BRILLIANT singer/songwriter with such an understanding of "How to Write a Song that Matters." Love that she is leading retreats of this same name and goal, and the participants are lucky to have such an amazing mentor.My favorite quote was on page 255: "Creativity is defined as the ability to find new ideas and solutions. Creativity is not what we create; it's the synaptic transactions that go into the things we create. We might believe that creativity is employed only in making art and that only some people are creative. But if I find a way to turn leftovers into the fillings for tacos, that's creativity. When we're stuck in a pattern of negative thinking and come up with a positive reframing of it, that's creativity, too."And lastly: "How I write is between me and me. How you come to write is between you and you. To make distinctions between correct and incorrect practices is to dance dangerously close to designating who is and who is not a real writer."Loved the focused, bite sized chapters, as well as the specific examples and of course the acknowledgments - many names I am familiar with. Looking forward to tonight's discussion and hope to utilize some of these tips in my own writing journey.

If, like me, you are a novice who loves music, and have always wanted to dabble in the songwriting process, or if you've been writing music for a long period of time, this book gives you the wonderfully creative tools to finally bring your songwriting dreams to fruition, or to bring you back to the days when you first started writing and why.Filled with insight from years of honing her craft, Dar Williams covers the essences of the writing process, complete with snippets and stories of real life examples from her own writing, and from years of teaching her songwriting workshops and retreats. Flowing along at an easy pace, you'll learn what it takes to put together songs of true meaning, from lyrical choices to chord exchanges. More importantly, you're given permission to take your music in your own direction. After all, formulaic music creation would completely result in the final musical product all being the same.This book is a guideline, one the allows your music to see the light of day, without judgement , and without fear. So often when embarking into new territory, we ask ourselves, where do I begin? This book will give the beginning, the middle, and the completion. With stories and examples of her own writing history, and using examples of her students coming across roadblocks, stumbles, and dead ends, Dar takes you on a journey to work through your own process. Like her music, this book is a story in and of itself, one that you'll find both enjoyable and educational, regardless of your experience level. My copy is dog-eared, highlighted, and has so many notes on the side pages from returning to it again and again!

“How To Write A Song That Matters” by Dar Williams does several things at once, including offering a blueprint for realizing the words in the title.In a non-prescriptive manner infused with humor and humility, the insights imparted land warmly, coming from a place of thoughtful self-reflection, generosity and humility. Dar Williams genuinely invites, inspires and gently challenges the reader to tap into their own creativity, which she is certain lies within, and her belief is contagious.Packed with nuggets of wisdom that come from an honest, sacred place, Dar uses her own life experiences to relate the points she is making. Messages in the book often transcend songwriting in a way that made me think about broader and deeper questions.Even the structure of the sections of the book are thoughtfully arranged to offer a narrative, from thinking poetically, to getting your music out into the world, and why it matters. There are insights, inspirations and actions in the book for every level of songwriter. Brava!

Have you ever wanted to just sit down and have a long conversation with someone whose work you admire, and just ask them about what they do? Well, if songwriting is your thing, that’s what this book feels like. Dar Williams takes the reader on a journey through the creative process of songwriting, sharing tips and techniques along with glimpses behind the curtain of her own songs and journey. You don’t have to be a fan of her music to find “How to Write a Song That Matters” a treasure trove of ideas, inspiration, and tools, though. Anybody who’s interested in the craft of songwriting will find much to love in its pages. Definitely recommended!

This is the one of the best books I've read about the creative process in music and in writing in general. Dar Williams breaks down each element of a song and explains how to put your own together. As a music lover I learned much and can appreciate songs in an entirely new way.She discusses not only her own amazing songs but those of people who have attended her songwriting retreats and other musicians, but you don't need to be familiar with any of them to appreciate the points and cogent explanations.

Dar Williams is a precise, gentle, and beyond thoughtful teacher and guide. She teaches us how to learn the sound of our own voices in our music and to always ask the deeper question. Not just "what happened?" but "What REALLY happened?" So excited to see all this wisdom distilled into a beautiful and accessible book. Buy it! You won't be disappointed.