As a recently transplanted songwriter from Nashville to New York City, I’ve had the chance to observe, up close, the approaches to songwriting and the songwriting communities in both cities. While there are of course many similarities, there are also quite a few differences. This article breaks it all down covering finding other songwriters, cowriting, lyrics, and more.

By now the Twitter phenomenon is far enough along that it’s fair to say you have at least heard of Twitter. If you haven’t, or are not clear on what it is exactly, then let me explain. Or at least try. Twitter is yet another online tool for you to use to promote your music and gigs. As your following (both real and virtual) grows, Twitter can be a great way to continuously interact with your friends and fans.

Often times the best addition to a song is a subtraction. Keeping things simple and straightforward can serve your song quite well. By stripping away the clutter you can focus your audience’s attention on the core concept of the song.

Until the royalty checks, label deals, and world tours take flight, we need to find a balance between keeping afloat financially and turning our passion into our profession. Don’t let the nine-to-five drain your enthusiasm! Here are some ways to use your day-job to your advantage and work its benefits into your goals as a songwriter.