How Songwriting Has Helped Me Grow As a Writer

My writing process and how I’ve never looked back.

Sometimes the best moments in life come when least expected.

At a young age, I was singing everything I could: popular songs on the radio, classic hits, theme songs to television shows. Before I knew it, I was changing the words around and making up my own to the melody.

My parents thought it was normal. But when they asked other parents if their kids did it too, they would all say no, my kid doesn’t do that too. During junior high school, I began writing lines of poetry, or in better words, verses of songs. Whenever an idea hit, I would write it down. And that habit has never changed.

It wasn’t until high school when I wrote my first one. Honestly, I don’t remember what it was about or what it was called, but I wrote a few of them. I know they had to have been awful because otherwise, I would remember them. I kept going. I continued to write lines or full songs whenever an idea struck me. Sometimes I forced it, but most of the time, it all came naturally.

In high school, I wrote a song about my hometown. It’s still one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. And thus, the passion was born. I never planned writing sessions or how much I was going to write in a day or week. I just did and hoped for the best.

But my songs grew better. At least I thought so. I kept writing off and on until college, but the pandemic. Because there was nothing else to do in 2020 besides staying home, I wrote every day. I planned out my songs. I kept jotting down ideas. I treated it like a job. And then I realized something. Songwriting has helped me grow as a writer. It’s weird to think how it has, but it’s true. I don’t know where my writing would be today without it.

What Songwriting Has Done For Me

Songwriting has opened my eyes to the world. I observe life around me, anything that could make a great song. I write every day, whether it’s a full song, an idea, or just a few lines. I am dedicated and persistent. I never take a day off and I give it all 110%. These songwriting habits have helped me grow as a writer.

I write faster in a shorter amount of time. I write concisely and smoothly. I hardly ever use weak verbs anymore. I can tell I’ve grown as a writer. I never knew songwriting would do this for me, but it did. I don’t know how I could ever repay my passion.

You Don’t Have to Write Songs

Songwriting is my passion, but it doesn’t have to be yours too. It can be but force nothing you don’t like. It’s helped me grow as a writer in so many ways. And I knew there are brighter days ahead. Whatever your writing passions are, don’t run away from them. Discover them, try them out, and pursue what you love. I love writing. Sometimes I love songwriting even more so. It’s one of the best parts of my life, and I don’t see it leaving soon.