Cyarla Carter - 30 Day Songwriting Challenge: 30 Song Starters To Help Get Your Ideas Flowing

Cyarla Carter

30 Day Songwriting Challenge

First published by WriteCliq Publishing 2021

Copyright 2021 by Cyarla Carter

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

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This book is dedicated to all the future superstars of the world!

Never stop!

Shine bright like a diamond.

C rafting songwriting ideas can be tricky. Anyone who has ever written a song knows how frustrating it can be at times. Its no surprise that sometimes songwriters feel stumped. Sometimes we arent sure where to start. Sometimes we just need a rush of inspiration to get us back on track. Ive felt blocked many times before and Im sure you have too Thats probably why youre reading this e-book.

Well, I have some good news! I made a list of 30 song-starters to get you writing. Sometimes you just need a little push to get your creative juices flowing. Song-starters are ideas that can jump-start your song. Use them as a tool to push past your inhibitions. These song-starters are designed to bring about an action or feeling and they are a way to keep you writing even when you may not feel particularly inspired. Song-starters also keep you from recycling the same old ideas. Lots of creatives use writing prompts to help them create. Its not cheating! I know from personal experience that sometimes it can be all that is needed to kick open the floodgates of inspiration. If youre ready for a new challenge or looking for some inspiration, beginning with a song-starter can result in something beautiful.

The ideas in this e-book arent intended to be gospel. You can use the song-starters as they are or you can make changes. Always remember to do what is right for you.

Types of song-starters in this ebook include:

• Word Sets
• Dialogue Prompts
• Lyric Prompts
• Setting Prompts
• Title Prompts

Heres how to get the most from these song-starters:

• Use these song-starters as creative suggestions to inspire new songs. They are called starters for a reason. Use these prompts as a way to formulate ideas by giving yourself a specific focus. Dont weigh yourself down by trying to deliver exactly what the song-starter outlines. These exercises are about stimulating your brain and kick-starting creativity, so have fun!

• Dont be afraid of the eclectic and unusual song-starters. You will be surprised by what can happen with prompts you initially think are just nonsense!

• Commit to sticking with a song-starter and following through to completion. Build a habit of finishing what you start.

• Dont even consider if your ideas are good enough until you have a lot of ideas written on your page. Pablo Picasso said, The chief enemy of creativity is good taste. Dont allow your good taste to turn you into someone who looks down on your own work.

• Start writing and collecting your own song-starters so that you have an endless supply. Store them in your phone or a separate notebook.

• Lastly, for the 30 day songwriting challenge, complete a prompt-inspired song at least once a day for 30 days to make sure you are developing your songwriting skills.

You dont have to wait for inspiration to hit. Just write! Choose a song-starter and get started. If you trust the process, you will greatly increase your chances of coming up with a great idea. Feel free to run with these concepts! Also, if you use any of these ideas and decide to record it, please share it with us!

Send us your masterpiece to 30daychallenge@writecliq.com, we would love to hear it and we might even send you some feedback!

Day 1

W rite a song titled Wonderwall.

A wonderwall is a person you find yourself thinking about all the time, someone you are completely infatuated with.

Day 2

Take the lyrics from the chorus of another song and write a completely new song with them.

Day 3

Write a song about a world where magic is drowned out when it rains.

Day 4

If you were given the opportunity to go back in time to one moment in your life, where would you go? Would you relive that moment the same way or would you do it differently?

Day 5

Youve sold out. Youve done what you swore you would never do. Write a song about what you did.

Day 6

Write a love song from another persons perspective about yourself and all of your charming qualities.

Day 7

Open any book to a random page. Read until you find a word you like and then write a song using that word as the title.

Day 8

Write a song and dont use the words I or You

Day 9

Write a make believe magical spell include ingredients, mantras, and actions. Now turn it into a song.

Day 10

Write a song about 2020.

Day 11

Write a song featuring a visitor, a red dress, an hourglass and a camera.

Day 12

Write a song about the last thing that made you laugh out loud.

Day 13

Write a song, lyrics first. Do not think about melody or chords, just write the best story you can.

Day 14

Write a happy story with an intensely dark twist.

Day 15

Write a story about yourself finding out that you are the chosen oneexcept youre meant to destroy the world and not save it. Thanos vibes!

Day 16

Describe the setting that youre in and nothing else. Write a 2 minute and 30 second song about it.

Day 17

Write about a magical piece of clothing (i.e. Freakum dress).

Day 18

Write a song using the phrase, And suddenly we were strangers again

Day 19

Write a song that tells your story from a third person perspective.

Day 20

Write about a romantic moment you experienced in the heart of chaos.

Day 21

Write in detail about a person who lives in their own bubble.

Day 22

Write a letter to yourself that you will open six years from now. Include your current accomplishments and remind yourself of something that you want to make sure future you never forgets. Once you are done with the letter, turn it into a song.

Day 23

One afternoon you realize that everything happening feels very familiar. After much thought you discover that (choose one of the following plots):

1. You are reliving a day from a past life;
2. A dream/nightmare that you had is happening in real life; or
3. You keep repeating the same day and now you have to take drastic measures to figure your way out of it.

Write a song about this experience.

Day 24

Write a 10-word sentence that summarizes your entire day. Turn your sentence into a 2 minute and 30 second song.

Day 25

Remember a place where you used to live. Describe this place in great detail. Go from room to room recalling things that happened there. Dont focus on the obvious or the monumental details. Pay more attention to the insignificant and minuscule details.