6 steps to songwriting success: the comprehensive guide to writing and marketing hit songs

Developing successful song structures: Identifying the most successful song structures and why they work

Identifying the components of a song

Building a successful song

Developing great song ideas and catchy titles: Understanding what constitutes a great idea and how to find one

Keeping a hook book

Making the singer look good

Using songs to help from

Using the three-step lyric-focusing technique

Acquiring the tools for successful lyric writing

Expressing one idea and one emotion

Maintaining one consistent tense and tone

Developing strong opening lines

Maintaining continuity

Incorporating detail, action, and imagery into lyrics

Keeping it conversational

Keeping your imagery fresh

Creating a lyric palette

Avoiding redundancy

Avoiding preaching (unless you're in church)

Writing the dreaded second verse

Using rhymes: Where to, when to, how to, and why to

Types of rhymes

Rhyme schemes

Using a rhyming dictionary and Thesaurus

Using the list technique

Looking for opposites and twists on words

Using assonance and alliteration

Saving key words

Writing the big payoff lines

Writing lyrics to an existing melody

Visualizing a hit

Rewriting your lyrics

Making each line its strongest

Additional lyric tips

What if I only write lyrics?

Writing for specialty markets

Writing successful children's songs

Writing Christian music

Crafting comedy songs

Writing Folk/Americana songs

Crafting successful Christmas songs

Writing cabaret songs

Writing for the Latin market

Composing memorable melodies: Learning effective melody-writing skills

Writing a cappella

Keeping it simple and singable (K.I.S.S.)

Using hymns and children's songs for melodic inspiration

Making it obvious where the title goes without the lyric

Altering the range, varying the rhythms, and inserting pauses

Marrying the music to the lyric: Prosody

Varying the rhythms

Choosing the appropriate melodic range

Using repetition effectively

Keeping your phrases short and catchy

Writing symmetrical phrases

Acquiring additional melody Writing techniques

Using fresh rhythms

Breaking the lines

Trying different notes

Learning to use nonsense syllables

Repeating words or phrases

Learning the power of sequential intervals, ascending notes, and descending notes

Varying the tempo and time signature

Finding those magic moments: Unexpected note or chord

Using signature licks

Incorporating modulations

Avoiding plagiarism

Melody test: Can you write effective melodies?

What if I write only music?

Learning how and when to record a demo: How to know when your song is ready

Identifying what's right for your song

Avoiding "The Big Lie"

Distinguishing between song demos and artist demos

Measuring up to the professional standard

Knowing how many tracks are necessary

Determining budgets

Deciding between self-producing and demo services

Preparing to record your demo: Preparing lyric sheets

Recording work tapes

Writing chord charts

Nashville number system

Deciding on an arrangement

Determining the proper key

Hiring the best musicians

Selecting the right studio

Learning to speak "Musician"

Choosing the best vocalist

Using technology to capture the best vocal performance

Mixing: Recording formats

Learning about track mixes

Mastering

Learning where the money comes from: Mechanical royalties

domestic and foreign royalties

Performance royalties and performing rights organizations

Print sales

Synchronization licenses

Writing jingles and placing songs in commercials

Music libraries

Church copyright license royalties

Works for hire

Using samples

Future sources of revenue

Understanding what music publishing really means: How to get a publisher and why

Working with your publisher to achieve your goals

Self-publishing

Using songpluggers

Understanding publishing agreements: Single-song agreements

Reversion clauses

Staff-writing deals

Co publishing deals

Making connections and pitching your songs: Networking

Collaborating

How to find a collaborator

How and when to copyright your songs

Finding out who's looking for songs and what they're looking for

Using pitch sheets effectively

Pitching your songs to the right people

Developing your pitch presentation

Understanding holds

Entering contests

Avoiding the scams

Hanging in there until the big break

Understanding what to expect

Making the time for yourself and your creativity

Getting past "No": Overcoming the obstacles

Coping with rejection

Finding validation from within

Dealing with the big critic inside your head

Finding a market for your talent.