Lyric Mastery - Storytelling in Songwriting

Melanie - Certified Story Grid Editor

Narrative Songwriting Explore. This podcast is all about how you can write a song that tells a story. The LyricMastery Podcast helps you look BEYOND lyric structure and form AND focus on what's important: how to hook, move, and impact your audience. And we achieve that through the power of storytelling. In this podcast, you get amazing tools on how to craft, write, and revise your lyrics without hitting writer's block ever again. Hit subscribe and get ready to get to another level! read less
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#65 How To Write A Chorus - Lyrics For An Empowering Song
29-10-2024
#65 How To Write A Chorus - Lyrics For An Empowering Song
Michael Jackson knew the secret. A song can have incredible power over the audience. You’ve seen it—when the crowd sings along, especially during the chorus, something magical happens. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist â–șWant to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com â–șOnline Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start According to Jackson, it’s more than just words. When people sing a chorus over and over, they enter the alpha state—where the subconscious mind kicks in. They start to internalize the lyrics, and in a way, become what they’re saying. But here's the exciting part: you can create that kind of power in your own songwriting! In this video, I’ll show you five powerful ways to write a chorus that doesn’t just sound good but actually empowers people. We’re talking about choruses that can impact your audience on a deep level, maybe even change how they see themselves or the world. And here’s the kicker—these five methods increase in power, depending on the level of impact you want to create. So, stick around, because we’re going to break down all five and get you writing choruses that really resonate! If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite empowering chorus?
#63 Taylor Swift's Storytelling and Songwriting Explored
08-10-2024
#63 Taylor Swift's Storytelling and Songwriting Explored
Is storytelling truly the thing that sets Taylor Swift apart from every other music artist? In this video, I analyze Taylor Swift’s storytelling craft by examining her 11 studio albums and over 160 songs. Using 75 different storytelling criteria, I’ll break down where she excels, where she surprisingly needs to improve, and what her special sauce is that makes her who she is. As a Story Grid Certified Editor, I’ve dissected her entire discography to uncover the truth behind her storytelling techniques. If you’re a songwriter or just a fan of Taylor’s music, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of her best practices and learn how to apply them to your own craft. And if you’ve ever wondered how Taylor’s songwriting has evolved over the years, we’ll explore that, too. Stick around to find out: Is Taylor Swift as good of a storyteller as we all think she is? ⚡Grab the list of how TAYLOR SWIFT included the place in her song lyrics https://www.lyricmastery.com/taylorswift-where If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite Taylor Swift song, and do you think she’s a great storyteller? ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist â–șWant to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com â–șOnline Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start â–ș Subscribe to see a new video each week, and a breakdown of the 5 key story moments in a popular song each day.
#62 Lyric Breakdown of a Crime Story - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
01-10-2024
#62 Lyric Breakdown of a Crime Story - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
In this video, we dive deep into Vicki Lawrence's classic hit, breaking down its gripping story of betrayal, murder, and shocking twists. ⚡Get the Lyric Blueprint: https://www.lyricmastery.com/lyricblueprint-011 We'll cover everything from how the song begins and introduces its characters, to the hidden layers within the lyrics. Why are names important? What’s the impact of the narrator's relationship to the main character? And how does the song masterfully mislead the listener with its chorus? With key story moments dissected—from foreshadowing to a jaw-dropping climax—you'll see why this track’s storytelling is still unmatched. We’ll also explore the song’s clever use of an unreliable narrator and how it delivers a surprising yet inevitable ending. 💡 What you'll learn: Using Red Herrings: Learn how to craft misleading clues in your story, like the song’s chorus, to keep your audience guessing until the very end—creating a more engaging, suspenseful experience. Telling a Gripping Story: Discover techniques for weaving character relationships and narrative tension into your storytelling—making your audience emotionally invested and eager for the resolution. Masterful Setup for a Payoff: Understand how to foreshadow and build towards an unexpected yet inevitable conclusion—leaving your audience satisfied with a clever, memorable twist. If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I love hearing from you and I will read / reply to every comment. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist â–șWant to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com â–șOnline Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:48 Song's Beginning, 03:18 Naming Characters in a Song 04:21 Establishing Relationship between characters 05:36 Narrative Distance 06:36 Key Story Moment 1 - Inciting Interaction and Progressive Complication 08:30 Using the Chorus as a Red Herring to Mislead the Audience 09:48 Foreshadowing the ending 10:22 3rd Verse, Resolution Andy's story 12:33 Revealing the relationship between Main Character and the Narrator 13:32 Progressive Complication as an Affordance 15:19 Prepring for the story's climax 18:28 Key Story Moment 2 - The Turning Point 19:28 Key Story Moment 3 - The Crisis 20:58 Key Story Moment 4 - The Climax 21:27 Key Story Moment 5 - The Resolution 23:01 Should a heroic choice lead to a bad outcome? 25:31 How to deliver a surprising but inevitable payoff 28:27 Using an unreliable narrator 29:48 How great is that song
#60 How To Write A Song Based On A Story (Key Story Moments)
20-09-2024
#60 How To Write A Song Based On A Story (Key Story Moments)
Discover the five key story moments that allow you to hit every mark when telling a story - whether it's in your novel, your screenplay, or your song. In this video, we explore the 5 key moments for a cautionary and a prescriptive tale. Spoiler: They are the same, but there's one significant difference. And I show you in the video what that is. 💡 What you'll learn: - the powerful progression of a story that works so that you can tell a story that will keep your audience engaged - the progression of a prescriptive and a cautionary story - where to begin your story, where to end it, and what to put in the middle so that you are never lost and know exactly what to focus on If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I love hearing from you and I will read / reply to every comment. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist â–șWant to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com â–șOnline Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start â–ș Subscribe to see a new video each week, and a breakdown of the 5 key story moments in a popular song each day.
#59 - Quick Guide to Storytelling in Songwriting
15-09-2024
#59 - Quick Guide to Storytelling in Songwriting
Do you want to write a song that tells a story, and you'd love to have a list of all the components that go into a working story? In this video, you will get a step-by-step list on how you can tell a story in a song. It's a five-step process that will allow you to outline your song, but also analyze the narrative structure of the songs you love. 💡 What you'll learn: - the V.E.R.S.E. framework to outline your song lyrics so you know what you can put in the chorus and in the verses - the five essential elements to include and the 5 key story moments to make for a strong narrative - what questions you need to ask yourself about your story's setting to make it feel real - how to bring it all together into a coherent outline If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I love hearing from you and I will read / reply to every comment. ⚡Grab your CHECKLIST on Storytelling in Songwriting https://www.lyricmastery.com/storytelling-checklist â–șWant to WRITE songs that tell a story? Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com â–șOnline Course on Storytelling in Songwriting. Go here: https://www.lyricmastery.com/start
#51 - How to Write a Viral Song
30-03-2023
#51 - How to Write a Viral Song
How many of you have a message for the world, but you need help finding your voice or your audience? Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. I want you to imagine millions of people listening to your song. I want you to imagine thousands of people knocking your door down wanting to know when you come to their city to play them the song live because that song is so valuable to them. You can open your eyes. And I will tell you this. This doesn't have to be limited to your imagination.  This is what happens when you go viral. And I'm going to tell you exactly how you can achieve it. So pay close attention to this episode of the Lyric Mastery Podcast because it will help you find your voice and show you how to make your song go viral.Episode Overview: What does it mean to go viral?Writing A Viral SongFor whom are you writing this song? Storytelling in SongwritingMake it Exciting Distribution: How to get your song out there.Have a TastemakerNo Social Media Tastemaker? Don't worry. Links mentioned in this episode: FOREVER FREE PLAN: Email Newsletter and Marketing Platform: Systeme.ioWrite Attention-grabbing Opening Lines: A Song's First LineFlowers lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, IncI Will Survive lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Groupbad guy lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group Visit ⁠lyricmastery.com⁠ for everything on storytelling in songwriting.
#48 - The Ultimate Dilemma for the Song’s Main Character – Waypoint #3: The Crisis
20-10-2022
#48 - The Ultimate Dilemma for the Song’s Main Character – Waypoint #3: The Crisis
In today’s episode, we’re gonna explore what it looks when we write about facing a crisis. We’ve all been in a dilemma in our life, right? It’s when no matter what we choose, there’s always something to lose, but also something to gain. But it’s normal if we fear the loss more than having the potential to gain something. Being in a dilemma, there’s just so much uncertainty attached it. And we might fear making a choice at all. So when we write lyrics about a dilemma, we can actually provide guidance to our audience 
 whenever they face a similar crisis. And in this episode, you will find out how you can write lyrics about a person’s dilemma. What it takes to truly create a hard choice for your song’s main character and I’ll also show you all the options of where you can place that crossroad moment in your lyrics’ narrative. And as a lyric example, we’ll look at Gloria Gaynor’s song: “I Will Survive” because there’s so much to take away from the way those lyrics were written. Sound good? Awesome, then let’s get started! What's the episode about? [00:01:45] Overview: Waypoints Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis[00:04:29] Crisis[00:06:41] Real Choice[00:07:42] Meaningful Stakes[00:08:59] Best Bad Choice[00:10:08] Irreconcilable goods   Show Notes: Online Course on Narrative Songwriting: lyricmastery.com/start“Lose Yourself” by Eminem If I Let You Go lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing GroupWarning lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, IncI’m a Believer lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group Visit ⁠⁠lyricmastery.com⁠⁠ for everything on storytelling in songwriting.