There are so many different mediums to write creatively in—short stories, novels, flash fiction, comics, novellas—the list goes on and on. But there’s one particular medium that seems to make many of us feel quite vulnerable.
Songwriting.
Whenever I bring up songwriting as a form of creative storytelling, I tend to get one of two reactions—delight or abject fear. And I get it. There is something incredibly personal, exposing, and ultimately vulnerable about writing lyrics, especially if you are writing something deeply personal and, even more terrifying, if you go on to sing those words yourself. No wonder writers often shy away from lyrics—but do we need to?
Ballads are considered one of the earliest forms of storytelling, often depicting folktales, legends, politics, and real-life historical events. Storytelling through song was, and still is, a popular, memorable, and influential way to pass words on to large groups of people, who will then pass it on even further.
There’s a magic that comes with music (as Sir Terry Pratchett said, “Magic and music had a lot in common. They were only two letters apart, for one thing.”). All of us have a natural rhythm in our bodies—we all have a heartbeat—and everything, whether we consciously realize it or not, either matches, slows down, or speeds up this rhythm. And you know, as a writer, when the rhythm in your writing is off. Words have a musicality to them. So all of us, no matter how tone-deaf we believe ourselves to be, have a natural music within us.
And lyrics have a shape—songwriting has patterns and structures. You know there’s going to be a verse, a chorus. You know that you need to pick your words carefully because every single word counts if you want to get your story across properly, and not end up with a song that takes two months to sing. Your words really have to matter—and sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of that.
If the idea of performing in public just made your sphincter tighten – its OK, you don’t have to sing! You don’t even have to play music. Plenty of writing duos and groups share the creative process, each focusing on the part they personally excel at. Sir Elton John and his writing partner Bernie Taupin famously create together, with Bernie writing the lyrics and Elton composing the music and performing.
Many novels include ballads and song lyrics as a form of storytelling—pushing the narrative forward or expanding on backstory by having a character sing an ancient ballad around the campfire or come across a strange incantation. It can be an effective way of bypassing exposition.
So if songwriting or ballads are something you’ve not explored as a creative writer, it could be a fun way to expand your imaginative storytelling process. No creative medium should feel shut off to you. We are all creatures with a heartbeat, a rhythm, and a story to tell. One of the best things about being creative is that we get to experiment and play—and it doesn’t have to be perfect.
So why not explore the beautiful world of songwriting in your next creative piece? Or just stick to mouthing Happy Birthday at awkward office parties. Both are valid responses.
Moor Imagination 