SWF 09 – the tasks
Each of our writers chooses from a list of tasks each day to develop a particular aspect of their writing. Here are the 2009 SWF songwriting tasks.
|
Task |
Brief |
Skill development |
|
Introductory task ñ ìMy Name Isî (This task should be completed before you arrive). |
Write ten titles. If you have time, choose the most inspiring one and develop it into a chorus. If you have (more) time, complete the song. |
Beating writersí block |
|
ìDo It Againî |
Write a chorus-based song where the title appears at least twice in the chorus. |
Making your songs memorable. |
|
ìFrom Me To Youî |
Complete a lyric based on one of your titles, and give it to a collaborator to set to music ñ and the other way around (you set their lyric). |
Developing craft without ëbaggageí. |
|
ìAnyone can fall in loveî |
Steal a fragment of dialogue from a soap opera and develop it into a complete song. |
Beating writersí block. |
|
ìThereís a Placeî |
Write a song with a place name as the title. |
Breaking out of lyric clichÈ/ developing emotional truth. |
|
ìAll Together Nowî |
Work with another one or two members of your tutor group and write a collaborative song. |
Collaborative negotiation/pitching ideas/creative space |
|
ìScream If You Wanna Go Fasterî |
Write a song at a tempo faster than 120 beats per minute (use a drum loop, metronome or wristwatch ñ 120BPM = 2 beats/sec). |
Avoiding mid-tempo blandness |
|
ìMiss Ghostî |
Write a song using a ëghost songí. Choose an existing hit and rewrite its lyric and melody, but keep the syllable count and scansion the same. |
Creative starting points/avoiding doggerel scansion |
|
ìWords are all I haveî |
Complete a lyric in its entirety and then add music later. Try describing your songís ëBig Ideaí in ten words or fewer before you start. |
Developing a strong central idea |
|
ìYou and Iî |
Write a song that features ìIî and ìYouî characters. |
Avoiding diaristic clichÈ |
|
ìPicture bookî |
Choose a selection of Google images and include them in your song lyric. |
Using imagery. |
|
ìAll by myselfî |
Write a song without using a musical instrument |
Developing melodic shape |
|
ìMy Name Isî |
Write a song with a characterís name as the title |
Avoiding diaristic clichÈ/ developing narrative |
|
ìTake it to the bridgeî |
Write a 32-bar song in AABA form. |
Controlling form/using hooks. |
