Many great ideas have been generated across the country from workshops. One idea in particular that has created a lot of interest and provided a high degree of development for songwriters came from Cliff Nelson of the Orange County Songwriters group…”Write-Up” lessons.

This idea came out of a need expressed by one of their members who mentioned that “It’s one thing to get constructive critiques. That is very helpful. But, it would be even more helpful to learn certain rules and pathways as we are writing, instead of on the backend.” So the “Write-Up” lesson was born.

Now, hundreds of songs later - with a number on hold and / or currently in play – songwriters who have participated in the Write-Up lessons have a much better understanding of songwriting from a focused Nashville perspective.

How do Write-Up lessons work? They are a concentrated 2-hour appointment where the songwriter brings in ideas for songs and I work with them to develop their ideas and teach them how to effectively co-write. The best songs come from conversations and real life experiences. Although each song is different, there are rules that are followed. I help the songwriters to “get outside” themselves and look at the subject in a variety of ways…finding a twist or hook that makes the song memorable and better.

For example, during one lesson a songwriter wanted to write about how he had been hurt by a girl who did not return his affection. The first thought was to write a “poor, poor, pitiful me…you hurt me” song. Instead we gave it a twist, turning it into an up-tempo rocker called “It’s Gonna Be Me.” The guy in the song is oblivious to the girl brushing him off, with the best line stating “What the heck’s a restraining order?”

Another example is from a guitar player for the legendary Frank Zappa. He needed to adjust his guitar playing style to fit a country format. The result was a killer song that came from a conversation he overheard in Nashville. A waitress who had waited on Hank Williams in the 50’s is still remembering him today and is still… “Waiting on Hank.”

These Write-Up lessons have also been very beneficial for songwriters who haven’t written for years and need updating in their form of lines and present tense.

In all cases, my role is to bring sensibilities of looking at subjects in a variety of ways and styles. I’m able to lend my experience from what I’ve learned from the industry’s best through the years and applying it during the Write-Up lessons.

What happens after the Write-Up lesson? We spend time taking an objective look at all the songwriter’s songs. If creating a demo is a goal, we determine which songs warrant a demo and to what extent (Guitar vocal? Full demo?). This helps the songwriter best use their time and money when they take their song(s) into the studio.

Once the demo is complete, I pass all the songs by my song plugging contacts in Nashville. If the song catches the interest of a plugger as being “pitchable”, they take it from there. Because we take the time up front to create the song, then present it at its best on a demo, many songs are pitched. Since this represents people’s hopes and dreams, I take it very seriously and provide the best end product possible.

Look forward to working with you...

Marc-Alan Barnette

Hey all you fellow songwriters that might be considering a "write up" session- here a great reason to consider writing up with Marc. A fantastic benefit of writing up is the potential of your song getting played live in front of an audience. And I don't just mean at a guitar pull, I'm talking about in some of the hot spots in Nashville and other cities across the US. Now that may not sound like much, but trust me, it is an indescribable feeling to see a group of total strangers singing along to a song you have written. 

I have been very fortunate in that several of the songs I have co-written with Marc during write up sessions get played live by either Marc or his awesome group Volcano of Soul. Had I not done the write ups, not only would I have not written these songs, they certainly wouldn't have been played in clubs in from Nashville to California, and on the radio in Louisiana! Yes - all those great things have happened due to writing up with Marc. 

Marc is one of the most dynamic performers you'll ever see, and there aren't many people that can completely command a room the way he can. So to have him perform a song you have written is a huge moment for a songwriter. Let's face it, we write because we have something to say and we want people to react and feel the way we do. So to see folks moved emotionally by your words and music is the ultimate accomplishment. And nobody does like Marc does it! 

So I urge you all to give writing up with Marc a try. It really is a great opportunity for all of us up and coming songwriters. You will learn from one of the best, you will have fun writing and learning, and you will end with what is most likely one of your best songs. And on top of all that, you just might have the tremendous thrill of seeing it performed on stage! So what are you waiting for? It's time to get busy! 

Dave Smith /OCC Music Group/Orange County, CA