Songwriting Tips | John Mark McMillan | Write From Intuition

[@simonici]

I don't write songs. I just write little poems, journaling and motivational essays for myself as it's pure therapy... Your video reminded me once again how important it is to just let it out and write even throughout the day, in breaks from work etc. Just to play with those words as even if no one will ever go through them they are just my prayers to God. My thoughts. My craziness. And playing with words, letting it all out fulfills me greatly.

[@nachoduran4286]

I was just texting to a friend about writing songs when I started watching this video.... Thanks a lot! ;)

[@JonasBravo]

This video is what I was looking for, John. I started writing songs when I was 14. Today I do have at least 5 that I’m proud of and 3 that I can’t finish, that’s why I’d like to be better. Tks. God bless

[@muchadesign]

Wonderful tips! I look forward to more in this series. QUESTION for future video: How do you break out of using standard 1-4-5 or other super-common chord progressions while songwriting? Any theory tips related to that (i.e. substituting non-Key chords, major for minor) in a song? Or do you just let written lines and/or melody drive the song? Sooo many questions. ;) Thank you JMM, love you and your music brother! Appreciate you doing these songwriting tips!

[@karly6025]

I'm relatively new to your music and just listened to your latest album, Peopled with Dreams and couldn't help but notice no on else was credited with you in writing all the songs. I found that quite exciting. Would love to hear your thoughts on writing in a collaboration vs writing alone. By the way, I can see you have a real gift for teaching and am stoked to peruse more of your songwriting videos. Thank you!

[@marknedzelsky395]

Thanks a lot John! I think about it last month) It's a hard everyday work. And it' got to be a habbit. Thanks for your new album! I like this sound! And lyrics!

[@sophiaschlenoff523]

I had just made a resolution to start a songwriting process inspired by your music, and I found this video 👍👍

[@WorshipwithMeena]

Believable, honest song! Totally agree! Thanks for the tips! 💙😉

[@andrewbreslin3421]

I’ve been writing since I was 14, never heard of you until I was 24. Heard you tell the story behind “How He Loves”, it broke my heart. I listened to The Medicine album. Listened about 59 more times. I loved Borderlands. All those songs really helped my writing. You’re one of the artists who influences my writing. I’m looking forward to watching the next video in this series. P.s. Kim Walker-Smith sings King of my Heart beautifully but my favorite version of that song is the one Sarah sings.

[@wesreding396]

Appreciate this. Looking forward to more videos like this one. What's so hard for me is trying to figure out how to write something that isn't so cliche or corny. It's tough writing meaningful/thought provoking songs that don't sound like everything else. You make it seem so easy! God bless, bro!

[@ryansumawan1865]

Whoaa! Finally! Thanks Mr. McMillan sir! That’s what I’ve been doing all this time, especially at work. Good to know that I’m on the right track. Also, it’s funny that I got the same taste of guitar like yours. I got the same exact ES-335 and a black Jazzmaster and I was about to get that blue sparkly Danelectro after Namm... and now I see it right on your wall too haha!

[@driaan_louw]

Yeeeeeew I didn't know I wanted this video series so badly!

[@ellamaek]

This is timely for me! I've just started writing and you are a huge inspiration for me. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, JM!

[@johngreer6547]

question for a future video: do you find that the lyric, melody, harmony, or feel comes first when writing a new song? do you have a routine of always starting with one element and layering on afterwards? I am a long time musician, only really putting the work in for songwriting recently and I find that my lyric/poetry chops are way behind my musical chops. that is, the depth of vocabulary I have to express an idea musically vs lyrically. big fan of the way you approach your craft especially in the CCM landscape, thank you for your work.

[@OSEA4835]

Thanks John! I have met James Duke last month and it’s was amazing to know your history with him. since I had encounter with Jesus I hear your songs and I love “How he loves Us” it’s my favorite song! Tell us about timbre of your songs it was so good!

[@iniconium]

I feel like your songs tell stories, even though you're generally not writing "narrative songs" as such. How does story and storytelling influence your songwriting? What helps you weave those things together?

[@ETBrothers]

I'm in the process of writing a song, so this was helpful 😊

[@brandonkicknosway]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how being a good musician (knowing theory, being good on your instrument) can help you creatively with songwriting

[@hollingsrankin6209]

This is so cool ahhh!!!!! Thank you for being so amazing!!

[@taniabrauninger5492]

Thank you 🙏

[@meredithk12]

JM, you’ve been my favorite song writer for 10+ years so I’m so stoked to hear more from you!!

[@YouBetheMelody]

Voice memos have been my saving grace! Goodbye handheld recorder. 😆 Question for future video: I’ve written a huge amount in 20 years, but I’m finding my recent work isn’t as inventive. I play piano and write, and now that I’ve written in every key, I feel like I’m sounding the same. Any ideas?

[@bjalbin]

I would love to hear about your experience cowriting songs!

[@timothymartin7894]

Do you have any books you'd recommend on writing? do you have any practices you do while listening to other artists to improve your writing? How would you go about developing your choruses through your verses/bridge so that you aren't traveling out in left field but you are still moving forward in the journey of a song? Thanks for what you do!

[@Grimorri]

Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser

[@tomatofly7]

@@Grimorri The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. Those are some good ones.

[@brandick18p]

The War Of Art by Pressfield actually changed my life.

[@timothymartin7894]

@@brandick18p That's awesome, Thanks!

[@theeightbithero]

How does writing poetry and lyrics differ? Should it differ? Are there technics that you consciously use to maintain the flow of the lyrics?

[@yuriymurashko]

Do you use any phone apps/tools to keep your song ideas organized? Does technology inspire or distract you while Songwriting? I have been using “Songwriter” (for iPhone) to keep different (vocal and text) ideas together but it is so glitchy and hasn’t been updated in a long time. Thanks for taking time to do this series!

[@johnevans2301]

Can you give an example? How did you think of a specific melody with lyrics from a song of yours we may know? How did you tweak it? Also, can you show us what your notes look like? Thanks for your music!

[@juliabeka7524]

I loved

[@Matthew.Gonzales]

Love that your doing this! You are an inspiration always sir. Love the work you're doing. The question I have is: I notice that your music tends to turn didactic or theological thought into an artistic expression that is FELT and not just PREACHED. How do you accomplish this?

[@Grimorri]

SO COOL

[@samuelgarcia9694]

I wish I could like this twice

[@brandick18p]

Hey john. I’ve been really feeling a “creative spirit” lately. It’s as though an idea or an Inspiration just comes out of thin air at whatever random time. I feel like it’s moving, as if there’s a ghost going through me. If I don’t chase it down and wrestle it, I almost never feel that Idea again. This rarely happens when I’m actually sitting down and putting in the intentional time and grinding away(which I do). My frustration is that it Usually it happens while I’m in the middle of something at work or driving etc I have a pretty good and strong community of creative people who feel this and fight the same battle. We were discussing how to combat the distractions that keep us from pursuing these fleeting ideas and inspirations. Is this something you’ve dealt with? have you ever had ideas that get away from you?

[@dariopos]

Nice!

[@AnvyMusic1]

Thanks John, I've been pretty blocked lately. I start writing and don't like the way the song sounds and I just drop it and then start a new one and have the same story. Pretty frustrating.

[@michaelbryand9189]

🐐

[@AverageJoel1985]

Do you think songwriting is something that comes more “naturally” to some people and not others? I feel like I just can’t put words together, it feels so foreign. I don’t want to give up but I just don’t know how to make progress.

[@meredithk12]

Joel Henry I used to think I wasn’t an artist even though I had a lot of creative talent. Now, I think like anything, creativity can be cultivated. My biggest lesson was learning that creating a masterpiece isn’t the goal. Writing and writing, or in other cases, drawing and drawing, is what prepares you for the masterpiece. Most artists will they create thousands of pieces to achieve one. So enjoy the journey :)

[@Aldynotbaldy]

I’m stuck on one or two lines at the end of a verse in a song I’m working on, I know WHAT I want to say but not exactly HOW to say it. Thesaurus/dictionary only goes so far sometimes, do you have any other methods or outlets to help deal with that sort of thing?

[@Grimorri]

set it aside for a week, month... year? and come back to it later... helps me a ton

[@Balthazar2242]

Mr McMillan, I will gobble up every sweet word dribblet that finds its way from your videos to my parched, dry, crusted mind.

[@scrubs4everr]

This might be an obvious question - But since you write everyday, do you sing everyday also?

[@DieggoMattDelgaddo]

🎶😌🧠

[@luckyluc03]

Would you like to sell that bass hanging behind ya?