The Frustrated Songwriter's Handbook: A Radical Guide to Cutting Loose, Overcoming Blocks & Writing the Best Songs of Your Life

First off, there are a LOT of great ideas in here. A TON!!! You have to have a general knowledge of computer recording to do a lot of them, though. Now, the flaws - it seems to talk too much about the whole songwriter lodge thing... where friends gather once a week and share the ideas they've made during the week. This is a great idea in theory, but in my 15+ years of writing music, I haven't met anyone who is truly into this idea... if anyone wants to get together to share songs, they form a band. Aside from that, the "Start" and "Stuck" decks are fantastic, and I've used ideas from the book and added my own. They always, always are helpful. There are a lot of great ideas overall in this book, and it's a lot of fun to read. Sure, I'd like to form a songwriter's lodge, but there's just no one around here who would be dedicated or committed enough to give it a full try. I've searched, too. But if you are a solitary/introverted/DIY songwriter, this book is really helpful. Backbeat Books always puts out high-quality songwriting books, and this is truly no exception.

This is one of the most inspiring, fun books I have read in a while. Well, the book is definitely well-written and entertaining--very much so! But the key is the method they explain how to do! The Immersion Music Method! It is so much fun. I did it myself a few months back, and had a blast; I couldn't even wait to get my mates involved before I started. But the other day, I got some of them involved too, and we had a BLAST! For the first time in my life, I feel like I know how to tap the muse! Without struggle, and with having so much fun. The book is so good-spirited, and so full of useful advice. Absolutely, if you are a frustrated songwriter, buy this book!

The approach taken in the book reminds me of "Morning Pages" in "The Artist's Way." (Writing 3 pages of "flow of consciousness" material a day) Although I have not, (nor plan to) begin what the authors call a "lodge," I find the exercises helpful and insights into creating songs refreshing. I think the main jist of the book is to forget your perfectionism and write, write, write.

These guys have cracked the code. They have solved the mystery. They have found a way for all of us tortured genius songwriters, squashed by overactive, hypercritical superegos (often the result of a dicey childhood), to re-enter, at will, that magical state called "flow", that divine order of play, that childlike state, where time stands still, creative juices threaten the levees, the muses descend from Olympus to sing nine-part harmony in your ear, the background fades into soft focus and you write a whole bunch of songs. If you have ever felt stuck as a songwriter, you have to read this book. You will feel the cameraderie, support, encouragement, empathy and acceptance of the authors and the brother and sisterhood of the songwriting groups that have adopted the methods set forth in the book. I have been writing songs for more than 35 years. I have taken many songwriting and creative writing classes and seminars, but the authors of this book are "Hobgoblin running off with the garland of Apollo". I mean they have performed a miracle here and really want you to join in.