I Tried Song-Writing. It’s Not in My Wheelhouse

(But That’s OK)

Jeffrey Allan Boman
Nov 2 · 2 min read

Years ago, I tried to write songs. This was in the days that I tried my hand at most different styles of writing.

I can’t spin it in my favor. I wasn’t that good. I had a good phrase here and there, but they’d be surrounded by many mediocre ones. A good song that didn’t make.

Writing songs takes two components: poetry and music composition. Both are areas I don’t have skill in. A good lyric writer can pair with a good musician works. There were some great double-threats in music history, like both John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel… many more.

Like with everything, you start bad and get better with practice. If I did so, maybe I’d get passable (not great. There’s already a Burt Baccarat)- but I have no intention to.

Why?

Focus

There’s a saying

Jack of all trades, master of none

I’m good with non-fiction, improving on fiction. Writing songs as well would dilute my focus on those.

There’s another thing I know: screenwriting I’ve spoken before here about my cinema studies

With practice, I might be good at it again (I’m not the next William Goldman), but again I don’t want the focus diversion.

Poetry? I write a poetic phrase here and there, but I’m no poet, and I know it.

It’s like writing songs: I leave writing them to the folks good at them.

I’d rather be known for good writing on my books than being OK on many things.

Jeffrey Allan Boman

Written by

Determined writer. NaNoWriMo Ace (4 wins in a row) 2002–06. In it until 2011. Many RPG publications too.

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