As Jeff Tweedy himself puts it, there are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. But what if the goal wasn’t so mysterious, and was actually achievable, and possible, for anyone who wants to add more magic and creativity in their life? That’s something that anyone will be inspired to do after reading Jeff Tweedy’s HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG.
Why one song? Because the difference between one song and many songs isn’t a cute semantic trick—it’s an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a capital-S songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as as an isolated, self-contained event, guided by a master practitioner and teacher like Jeff, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an achievable, exciting pursuit.
HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG is literally a step-by-step guide through Jeff’s songwriting process, beginning with his inspiration (or lack of it, at times) and ending with a complete composition. Throughout it all, Jeff shares his reflections on the importance of finding lyrics in unexpected place, thinking about melody in a completely innovative way, and putting the two together to figure out when you’re done.
Overall, HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG illustrates the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this curious, yet incredibly and fulfilling, artistic act, and will be the perfect gift for Jeff Tweedy’s legions of fans.