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I feel like so many books about tips for songwriting and making music in general fail to be encouraging and really just at their core feel like disingenuous pep talks or lessons on music theory that do nothing to motivate you to actually make music that you want to make. I think that this book really understands the pitfalls of that perspective. The core of the strategy the book lays out (in my opinion) is that you get past songwriter’s block by writing songs. Which seems like it could be real patronizing… However, the book puts in the effort to give you a framework for how to pull it off, with care and understanding, and wonderfully so.

Later parts of the book, which largely concern music theory concepts, are of limited use. Especially for me, a person heavily influenced by dance music, the advice particularly around chord progressions and musical form seem impractical. However, there are commonly bits that tie those into methods to come up with and develop ideas. So, I think that those sections are worth a read for that aspect. Even if I think that the music theory ideas (even as it pertains to rock, pop, folk, etc.) are far better covered elsewhere. Also, the common references to “scientific research into writer’s block” rings some alarm bells to me, because it seems so similar to how similar things are invoked in grifty self-help books, but this one is clearly not trying to sell you something or deceive you. So, it’s easy to give it a pass even if I keep getting the feeling that I should follow up on the research to verify it.

Though to come back to the core of the book, I think that the ideas particularly around: building a songwriting schedule, making a routine, pushing yourself to finish songs, developing songwriting warm-ups and exercises, and et cetera, are truly indispensable. There are things that help you understand where you’re making progress even on bad days. Which will tie into how to give yourself grace and be less hard on yourself to avoid falling into a trap of doubt that makes writing even harder. It’s really a good boost of confidence for getting you going, I think.

I definitely believe that even though I don’t think it’s perfect, it’s definitely among the best books I’ve read for songwriting advice.

Excellent. Probably my favorite in the series thus far. It got real slow around the middle, but I'm glad I stuck it out, because it takes off like wild after that.

Spent long periods putting this down and picking it back up. Especially in the midst of other audio programming books, but I'm almost at the end. So, we'll see how much longer it takes.

Absolutely adored it. Might have quickly become one of my favorites. I've been thinking about some of the parts from this book (like the part where Shevek as a child kind of stumbles onto one of Zeno's paradoxes, or his "I come to you with empty hands" speech, so incredible) ever since. Will probably stick with me for the rest of my life.