Songwriting 101

I used to own a book on songwriting. I read about half of it then ended up donating it soon thereafter.  It was pretty stock advice: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. The hook is essential for a hit. Duh!

Sound advice for sure.

Of course, one should try to make a nice hook, but for me the best thing to do is to not follow any rules.  When I'm stuck while writing a song, I remind myself that there are no rules.
After that, BOOM! The ideas flow like Niagra!  I follow absolutely zero rules, which is pretty obvious, if you've listened to any of the songs I've written.

That has been the most liberating thing about doing the First Take Fridays series.
Can you imagine how boring the world would be if every artist made the same art?