Q&A for How to Write Meaningful Lyrics

Whenever I hit some kind of writer's block, I'll often just hop in the shower and sing whatever I feel like singing. Most of the time the lyrics are random and nonsensical, but as I'm freestyling, I often hit a melody or a phrase that really resonates with me, and that can be great inspiration for a new song.

Fortunately for you, unlike the preponderance of songs about little else than love, there is a wide range of equally and often better things you could write lyrics about, and spare the world from yet another love song! Consider such themes as: Innocence, feeling happy or sad or angry or any emotion, wondering about your purpose in life, loss of a loved one, having a happy day out, an ode to your pet, humor or parody, etc. You could even write about love -- wanting to find love but not having it yet. There's much more to writing music than romantic love.

For me, it usually takes a day or two, but sometimes it can take as long as a month if you get stuck or writer's block.

It's fine if your song is more unique than others, it could make it stand out more in a positive way.

Just keep writing. Remember that writing is a skill that develops like anything else, especially through mindful practice. Don't go back to square one every time you recognize that something you've written doesn't hold up to your standards, because you now have tangible examples of where you're going off track. So don't let yourself be embarrassed by your writing at its early stages, but use it to analyze your tastes and look for places to improve. Write, revise, repeat, and be patient. It's like learning to swim when you've only ever walked.

Keep trying. Don't push yourself too hard, breaks can be beneficial to the writing process. Sing the lyrics to yourself up to where you're stuck and see what comes next to you. If you're still stuck, await your inspiration, it will come to you. Just don't force anything; lyrics like: "I love how you walk / I adore your talk" feel contrived and cliché, so avoid them.

You can start busking, posting videos online, performing at your local events and places, playing for your friends and family.

There are many options for getting your voice heard. You can post your song on Youtube or on another social media site. You can also find places to perform, like at a talent show. Or, if you're not quite ready for the big stuff, start by simply sing your song in front of a few friends.

Start small. Play anywhere you can, be it a local festival, bars, or the streets. If you can't go places on your own, post your song on social media or YouTube. Get noticed by the public and you'll have quite the renown locally.

Take a break and find another activity. Sometimes taking a step back can give you clarity to find something to write about.

Using facial expressions, hand motions, or just raw emotion inside your voice.

Experiment with different melodies and tunes. It will come to you eventually. As for the stage fright, you should start out by performing for family and/or close friends. But don't jump right to on-stage performances if you don't believe you're ready.

You don't need to play an instrument. Try writing poetry.

It might just take time. You'd be surprised at how many popular, well-known songs sound cheesy if you just read the lyrics. Sometimes it takes the melody of a song to overcome that issue.

Write a rough draft, then proceed to editing it. Once your rough ideas are down, you could find synonyms or words that rhyme or sound better.

You might want to follow your mind's wandering and explore this other subject instead. Perhaps it will be more inspired than heartbreak right now.

Be confident about your song. If you think it's great, then it probably is. It's always a little nerve-wracking to share your art with other people, but it's worth it!

Take a break and try to get inspired, or press through and free write or brainstorm until you get a breakthrough.

Once you've written the lyrics, pick a phrase that best respresents the song or is repeated in the song as your title.

Yes, assuming you don't misrepresent people or cultures because of your lack of research. I would recommend learning about topics before you write about them though -- not only does it avoid any potential problems with your writing, but it gives your writing more depth.

Keep trying. Think of different ways to say what you're trying to say. Think of images that capture the feeling, and use simile or metaphor. If you still can't come up with anything, try writing a song on a different subject.

You could learn an instrument. Piano and guitar are fairly easy to learn, and to write music with.

Just play around singing the lyrics in different ways until you find a melody you like, or one that fits.

Try thinking of what makes your topic special to you. Why does it stand out from other similar ideas? Why did you choose to write about this theme? Get some distance and recall how you felt when you experienced what you're writing about. If your lyrics still sound too generic and too cliché, try looking up synonyms for words to get away from lyrics that sound like every other song.

Just keep writing your own music. It takes a lot of practice to be able to express your emotions with music without letting it sound cringy or non-relatable. Also you can try to write about topics you didn't experience yourself but can empathize with. This is a way to tell new and interesting storys to your audience without having the feeling of telling things that's too personal.

If you're a songwriter, or lyricist, one of your goals should be to get with a music publisher who likes what you do.

Change the chords so that the ideal melody can harmonize or take more of a monotone approach with less pitch range.

First, try to be creative. You could make your bridge an instrumental session, or even just humming a melody, or you could make a pre-chorus instead of a bridge. Do whatever you feel is right to make it memorable.

This method should work for any type of music you would want to write. As long as you stick to a theme in your song, the style should not matter.

Take the time to mentally review all the moments you spent together. Reflect on how you felt in those moments. Free write about what comes to mind.