Using Free-writing To Go From Theme To Topic

Sometimes you want to write a song and you have a Theme in mind but not an exact topic. Here's a way to get moving.

Open a new document or get a sheet of paper. Put theme at the to of the page. Then just write a couple pages of everything you're thinking and feeling about your Theme.

Take a break - 5 mintues or even days later.

Re-read what you wrote. Is there one or more topic you think is interesting or gets you involved. If yes, then you have your Topic. Write it down in one short sentence.

If no topic emerged, write down a sentence that sums up what you were writing about and then do another free-writing exercise on that for a couple pages.

Take a break.

Re-read all the free-writing. If there one or more topics emerging. If so write down any Topics that sound promising.

If more than one Topic emerges, write each one down. Could you write a song on each topic? Could you write a song with a different Topic for different parts of the song (verses, chorus, bridge).

Repeat as necessary. You'll discover your Topic (or Topics) just by free-writing or brain-dumping your way along. You may find that along the way you come up with some great lines for your song!

Go easy but help yourself with this technique.

For more about free-writing and other writing processes, check out Writing With Power by Peter Elbow.