Three Great Reasons to Co-Write

I’ve co-written a lot of songs in my career. I’ve enjoyed the results of getting with very talented people to write songs, but I’ve enjoyed the journey even more.

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a co-writing retreat with over 40 Christian songwriters, an invitation-only thing, and it was a fantastic experience. We had four official co-writing sessions with names literally drawn at random to co-write. I was a little nervous, but in the end, all four songs we wrote turned out to be great and the new friendships even greater!

Here are three great reasons YOU should seek out co-writers.

#1 Two (or more) heads and hearts are better than one. The differing viewpoints and angles that other people bring to the writing process can make for a better song, if you’re open to it. When you’re in a co-write and you throw an idea out, you immediately get a sense of whether or not it took off like a jet or crashed on the runway. Being open to either possibility is a learning experience and stretching, for sure. But, if you have an open mind and aren’t too insecure, you grow and the song grows.

“Getting in a room to co-write should make you step up your game.”

#2 You’re challenged to think harder. As in #1, the challenge of co-writing can make you think and work a little harder towards a better end result. We can get lazy writing alone or with familiar co-writers. Getting in the room with someone new should challenge you to step up your game and put more effort into walking away with a great song you’ll all be proud of.

#3 Humility. As in #1 and #2, co-writing isn’t for the writer who has to own everything. The dance of co-writing is about mutual respect and allowing for both the strengths and weaknesses of the writing partner(s). When someone throws out an idea or a melody that is different from what you would want on your own, the choice is glaring–will you reject it and be critical, or, will you be loving, gentle, and stand as best you can for what you think is best but then DO what’s best for the relationship? Humility can be a tough lesson, but one that brings more lasting fruit than one song ever could.

So let me encourage you to reach out to other writers through your KSA Membership, by going to conferences, or finding someone where you live to write with. You’ll be better for it and some great songs will be born!