What to Do First as a New Songwriter

So you’ve decided to explore the art of songwriting.

First of all — congratulations.

You’re stepping into something powerful. Frustrating. Magical. Humbling. Exhilarating.

Here’s the truth: anyone can call themselves a songwriter. Write one song and — technically — you qualify. There’s no degree required. No minimum output. No official gatekeeper handing out licenses.

But if you want to do the craft justice — if you want to be good, or great, or the greatest songwriter you’re capable of becoming — then this becomes more than a hobby. It becomes a commitment.

You have to own your desire to create something that exists outside of you.

Because songwriting will test you.

It can feel ethereal one day and impossibly frustrating the next. Writing good songs requires curiosity, sensitivity, discipline — and a careful balance of ego and humility. You need enough ego to believe your voice matters… and enough humility to keep learning.

So let’s take it back to the very beginning.

You want to write your first songs.

Let’s make that happen.

1. Set Your Intention: Why Are You Writing?

Start here.

Are you writing as self-therapy? As emotional release? As a way to process your life through sound and words?

That’s beautiful. Truly. Art can absolutely make your life richer and more meaningful.

But if your goal is to be heard by others — to build a body of work, to share your songs publicly, or to pursue a career — then you need clarity.

Your intention determines your effort.

If you want your songs to reach other people, you’ll need to invest time in craft. You’ll need to revise. Study. Improve. That decision starts now.

So ask yourself honestly:

Why am I writing?

Answer that — and you’ve set your direction.

2. Choose a Genre (For Now)

You don’t have to lock yourself into one musical identity forever. But when you’re starting out, focus helps.

Pick one or two genres that genuinely excite you. Then immerse yourself.

Listen deeply.
Study the great songwriters in that space.
Ask questions:

• How are their songs structured?
• How long are their verses?
• What makes their choruses land?
• How do they build tension and release?

Reverse-engineer what you love.

You can branch out later. In fact, you should. But in the beginning, clarity creates momentum.

3. Find (and Feed) Your Inspiration

Inspiration isn’t rare — it’s overlooked.

Read widely.
Listen actively.
Pay attention to conversations.
Notice how music makes you feel.

Jot down ideas constantly. Titles. Phrases. Emotional snapshots. Melodic fragments. Rhythmic patterns tapped out on your steering wheel.

Also — notice what you don’t like. That’s just as valuable.

Music is subjective. What moves me might leave you cold. But one thing is universal:

A good song makes us feel something.
A great song transports us.

Your job is to start paying attention to what creates that feeling for you.

4. Create a Space and Time to Write

There is no “perfect” setup.

Some of the greatest songs in history were written:

• In bedrooms
• On napkins
• At kitchen tables
• In million-dollar studios

Environment matters — but only in that it works for you.

Maybe you need total silence. Maybe you thrive in coffee shops. Maybe you book weekly sessions and shut off your phone. Maybe you write in bursts at midnight.

Figure out where, when, and how you do your best work.

Then protect that time.

Because here’s the truth: in most cases, the more songs you write, the better they become.

Quantity builds quality.

5. Learn Why Songs Work

If you want to grow quickly, study structure.

What is a verse actually doing?
Why does a chorus feel bigger?
What makes a hook stick?
How does a bridge shift emotional perspective?

Understanding why songs work — not just that they work — will accelerate your development dramatically.

Craft is learnable.

And once you internalize it, you can bend it to your own style.

6. Start Writing. Keep Writing.

This is where many new songwriters stall.

They research.
They read.
They watch interviews.
They analyze.

But they don’t write.

You don’t become a songwriter by thinking about songwriting.

You become one by writing songs.

Bad ones.
Mediocre ones.
Almost-good ones.
And eventually… very good ones.

If you’re serious, look for:

• Songwriting associations
• Workshops
• Conferences
• Co-writing opportunities
• Online communities

Surround yourself with people who are doing the work.

Then do the work.

To Recap

1. Set your intention.
2. Choose your initial genre focus.
3. Gather and feed your inspiration.
4. Create a songwriting space and schedule.
5. Study song structure and craft.
6. Start writing — and don’t stop.

No one is coming to grant you permission.

You begin by beginning.

Elana Harte is a member of the Sling Sisters and is a Canadian songwriter and recording artist whose musical career is rooted in storytelling, collaboration, and a deep sense of place

Website - elanaharte.com