You're sitting in a crowded restaurant waiting for your friends to arrive. Your mind begins to wander. You see an old love seated at another table, she doesn't know you're there.

As you secretly steal glances at her, you try to remember what happened, where you first met, first kissed, and what followed. Then you recall the breakup and every emotion comes back to you.

You quickly grab a napkin, borrow a pen from the waitress, and write down the thoughts that flood your mind. You've just taken the first steps to writing a song.

There is no one way to write a song. Some people begin with a melody, while others think up a catchy phrase or "hook" and build a story line around it. Whatever your writing style may be, there are some things that you can do to prepare yourself for each writing adventure.

Here are a few examples:

If possible, carry a small tape recorder with you at all times. I've often found myself driving down the road when an idea pops into my head. When this happens, I reach for the readily available tape recorder and record every thought. At this point, my only concern is saving my thoughts for later use.
You need to have something to write in, even if it is a pocket-size notebook. This can be used at those times when talking into a tape recorder is not possible.

Some people keep a journal of their daily life, as well as a dream journal. Others like to keep one by their bed for those moments when they wake up in the middle of the night with a song idea. A journal will help you get used to writing down your thoughts and emotions. It is also a great source for material. Reflect on your journal whenever you can.

Now that you have your ideas down, you need to decide what it is you want to say. Is it a love song, leaving song, worship song, etc..? Did you write a catchy phrase that stays in your mind? You need to decide what message you want to send to the listener. Once that is decided, it is time to arrange those ideas into something that makes sense!

How are you going to present it?

Most of my songs are written in a verse, chorus, verse, chorus format. That has been the easiest style for me. Study the lyrical style of your favorite songs. Try your hand at different forms and discover which ones are comfortable for you.

Who are you writing for?

Is it country, alternative, pop, christian, adult contemporary, or something else? Sometimes this will help when trying to find the right words to use. For example, if I were writing a country song it would be okay to mention the rodeo or my big pickup truck. (Forgive the clichés.) However, if I were writing something for the alternative scene, I would feel out of place if I mentioned those things. Knowing your audience is very important!

Why are you writing?

Is it for personal pleasure, commercial reasons, or a little of both? If you hope to someday market your songs, you will need to keep up with the current trends. I also try to recognize a classic style-one that seems to stay around over time. If it's too trendy it may be out of date before you have the chance to market it. Not trendy enough, and it will be passed over. Find that "just right" spot and stay with it. Again, listen to your favorite songs and try to figure out what it is that makes you want to listen to them over and over again.

Finally, when and where are you going to find the time to write?

If you are like the majority of us, you already have a busy schedule. You need to try to set aside some special time and place for your writing. The more practice you get, the better you will become.

The best thing you can do is learn all you can about songwriting and the music business. Go to the library, search the Internet, watch music shows and interviews. Join a songwriter's association or post your songs on message boards. Try to acquire as much feedback on your songs as possible. Learn from what others say about your work. Don't be afraid of rewrites! If you hit a writer's block, push that piece aside for awhile and come back to it at a later time.

Most of all, don't give up! Believe in yourself and KEEP WRITING! I look forward to hearing your songs on the radio one of these days.

Angela Walsh E-mail: cheyenne@e-tex.com