These days, when new country acts need material, they start start with a producer, who cuts a track.  No melody.  No words.  Just the track.  Someone else, usually a person who hops on the band bus, writes the “top lines”, which consist of the melody and words.

The creative process is different for everyone who ever uses his/her imagination, with or without a partner or writing/production team. But it NEVER – EVER, EVER, comes out whole and perfect on the first try.

For the first half of my life, I thought being exquisitely sensitive was wrong. Other people hoped I'd get over it, so I could be like them. But for the second half of my life, I've realized that the best part of me is my sensitivity, and without it, I'm just another pretty, witty face with a bad back.

One of the great things about Gospel and Contemporary Christian songs is they are never outdated.  God, plus your love for Him and His love for you, will always be in fashion. I’ve condensed what a gospel song demands into five easy steps.

A number one song can earn $250,000.00 a week, every week it’s number one, plus an additional $250,000.00 a year, every year after that for your whole life plus 70 years, which is the duration of the copyright. I’ve condensed their demands into five easy steps.   

So many of my present and potential clients have asked me to give them a current example of one of my own lyrics and point out what I feel is good about it.

As creative people, we have special gifts that “civilians” don’t, even on their best days. With our gifts comes the responsibility of keeping ourselves in a creative flow. It doesn’t fall to a groupie or manager, a spouse, therapist, healer, dealer or TV evangelist with permanently bad hair. It’s our job.

Part Three of The Care and Feeding of Your Creative Spirit

Part Two of The Care and Feeding of Your Creative Spirit