Recommendations
I'm a huge fan of these people, products, and causes. These aren't affiliate links and I don't make a dime.
I just really like them and I think you might, too.
Cliff Goldmacher - Songwriting Educator
In the music business for over twenty-five years, Cliff Goldmacher is a songwriter, music producer and educator. Check out Cliff's blog for tons of golden nuggets on how to go from songwriter to educated songwriter.
Tony Polecastro - Founder of Tony's Acoustic Challenge & Acoustic Life TV
www.tonypolecastro.com & www.youtube.com/TheAcousticChallenge
Tony's Acoustic Challenge is like a real life bluegrass acoustic guitar game for fingerpickers and flatpickers to gain skills, repertoire, and confidence to play for others.
Americana artist Sarah Spencer started SongFancy to help educate and inspire other songwriters. With her regular 5 in 5 Song Challenges, fresh freebies on her blog, and her engaging courses, beginners to seasoned writers will find lots to fancy from Sarah.
Causes
SOAR works closely with veterans and service members to create a welcoming community by sharing musical experiences with one another. Click the image to learn more about how you can help our veterans.
The Second Strings Project has donated over 20,000 sets of strings to musicians in need in 18 countries. Click the image to learn why you don't have to trash your old strings. They can help a musician somewhere else!
A woman shouldn’t have to choose between feeding herself and her personal health. I Support the Girls collects and distributes donations of new/used bras and new sealed packages of tampons and maxi pads to homeless women and girls across North America (and in 4 locations worldwide).
Good Songwriting Reads
101 Songwriting Wrongs and How to Right Them: How to Craft and Sell Your Songs
by Pat & Pete Luboff
This is a must-read for any aspiring songwriter. I read these completely out of order! #37 and #70 are my absolute favorites.
Writing Better Lyrics
by Pat Pattinson
Perfect for new and experienced songwriters alike, this time-tested classic covers the basics in addition to more advanced techniques.
Bird by Bird:
Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
"Readers... will be seduced by Lamott's witty take on the reality of a writer's life, which has little to do with literary parties and a lot to do with jealousy, writer's block and going for broke with each paragraph."
Do the Work
by Steven Pressfield
For me, this is the book that started the transformation from casual songwriter to workhorse. I went from writing a song every 6 months to two songs a week after applying all I learned in Steven Pressfield's books on overcoming resistance and taking your art seriously. Easy read and a much needed kick in the tail.
The War of Art
by Steven Pressfield
While "Do the Work" woke me the heck up, "The War of Art' took me even deeper into how I could get out of my own way and take songwriting (or any endeavor!) seriously. Another must-read.