INTRODUCTION

This edition has added almost one hundred new pages and has expanded and revised some of the existing chapters. I've enlarged the opening chapter on object writing with new (and, I think, more helpful) examples. Over the years, this exercise has proved to be a mainstay for many successful songwriters, including Grammy winners John Mayer and Gillian Welch. The additional mate- rial in this chapter incorporates some new and interesting ways to approach object writing, making it an even more useful way to brain- storm, open your senses, and discover unique ideas for your songs. The chapters on verse development add examples and new mate- rial, introducing the concept of "boxes," which students over the years have found helpful. I think you will, too. I've found an interesting and, I hope, helpful way of thinking about rhymes, treating them the way you treat chords in a song. It provides a clearer view of rhyme's function and will help you choose rhyme types for a reason. The chapters on point of view also have a new look and suggest some interesting ways to approach the process of finding the right per- spective for your song.