When people talk about songwriting, they usually focus on trimming things down, cutting the fat, tightening the line, getting straight to the point.
And that would make sense. Songs are short. They’re compact emotional containers, designed to get in, hit hard, and stay with you.
But here’s the twist: sometimes, the best way to write something short and sharp… is to start by writing something loose and long.
That means starting with long-form writing, journaling, personal essays, letters to no one, even storytelling, as a way to get to the heart of the song. And once you’ve said everything you need to say, you go back and start shaping the song out of the rubble.
Sound familiar? It should. It’s a bit like what Michelangelo said when asked how he carved the statue of David out of a block of marble:
“I didn’t create David. He was already in there. I just chipped away everything that wasn’t David.”
The same applies to songwriting. The song is already in you. Sometimes, you just need to write it all out first and then start chipping away at it to reveal the song underneath it all.
Why Bother Writing Long If You’re Going to Cut It Anyway?
Because simply long-form writing lets you find what you’re really trying to say.
When you’re not worrying about rhyme, rhythm, or song structure, something shifts. You stop performing and start telling the truth. You say what you mean instead of what fits a melody. You get raw, messy and above all… HONEST.
And that’s where all the real stuff lives.
A few reasons why this approach works:
- You unpack the whole story or emotion, not just a highlight reel.
- You stumble on images or lines you wouldn’t have thought of if you were trying to be “clever.”
- You uncover the emotional core that the song needs to orbit.
- You write without pressure, which kills a lot of writer’s block before it starts.
You’re not trying to be a poet or a genius. You’re just trying to be real. And from that honesty comes the gold.
A Simple Process: From Journal to Chorus
If this sounds like something you’d like to try, here’s one way to approach it:
1. Start With Free Writing
Choose a topic that’s tugging at you, a memory, a conversation, an emotion you can’t shake and just write about it. Don’t edit yourself. Don’t try to be lyrical. Just dump it all out.
You might write 500 to 1,000 words, maybe more.
2. Let It Sit, Then Read With a Songwriter’s Eye
Come back to your writing later and look at it with fresh eyes. Highlight the following:
- Recurring phrases or images
- Emotional turning points
- Lines that surprise you
- Tension, contrast, or contradiction
These are the pieces you’ll shape into lyrics.
3. Find the Core Idea
Ask: If this whole thing was only about one feeling or message, what would it be? That’s your chorus. Everything else either leads up to it or supports it.
4. Start Chipping Away
Now you can begin translating your writing into lyrics. You’ve got the raw emotion, the images, the point of view, now it’s about sculpting.
You’re carving out the song that was already there. You’re finding the rhythm, choosing the right words, letting the melody come through.
Why This Method Works (And Why It’s Underrated)
This process works because it lets you get out of your own way.
When you sit down to write “a song,” there’s a natural pressure to be poetic, profound, catchy, clever. That pressure can get in the way of honesty.
But when you sit down to write a journal entry, a letter, or even a rant, you say what you really feel. And often, that’s the line that becomes the hook.
That’s the sentence that breaks your heart, or theirs.
You can always make something sound good later. What matters most is that it means something.
Remember, The Song Is Already In There
So, next time you feel a song stirring but can’t quite catch it, don’t reach for your guitar right away. Instead, open a blank document or notebook and just write. Let it spill out. All of it.
Because the song is already inside of you.
Your job is just to chip away everything that isn’t the song and let it flow out of you.
