Platinum award-winning singer, songwriter, and lyricist Mark Winkler provides a handbook on writing great lyrics, chock full of songwriting exercises and engaging personal vignettes. This book crosses a variety of genres andteaches the craft of modern commercial songwriting as practiced by the likes of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars.
The book includes:
By using great songwriters and their songs as blueprints, Winkler reveals the tricks of the trade and shows how you can improve your songwriting skills.
Mark Winkler is a platinum award-winning singer/lyricist who has had over 250 of his songs recorded by such artists as Dianne Reeves, Steve Tyrell, Liza Minnelli, Jane Monheit, and Lea Salonga. He has written lyrics for tunes by such esteemed composers as Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, Joshua Redman, and David Benoit. His last four CDs have all charted in the top 20 on the Jazz Week charts and he has gotten excellent reviews including two "Top Vocal CDs of the year" in 2015 and 2018 in Jazziz Magazine. He has written songs for the hit musical revue Naked Boys Singing! and is also the co-writer for the musical revues Bark! and Hangin Out. As an educator, he has taught seminars in lyric writing at The Songwriters Guild, The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, and UCLA Extension.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: A Working Songwriter
Chapter 3: How to Judge if Your Lyric Is Good
Chapter 4: Come Up with a Great Title
Chapter 5: Song Forms
Chapter 6: Be Specific
Chapter 7: Top Ten Tips for Lyric Writers: Tips 1–5
Chapter 8: Rewriting the Beatles, and Other Things
Chapter 9: Rhyming
Chapter 10: Laundry List Songs
Chapter 11: Top Ten Tips for Lyric Writers: (6–10)
Chapter 12: Tropical Nights: Me ‘n’ Liza!
Chapter 13: Getting Outside Your Bubble
Chapter 14: Writing to an Existing Melody
Chapter 15: Performing Live
Chapter 16: Break Time!
Chapter 17: Writing for the Musical Theater
Chapter 18: Strategies for Creating New Songs
Chapter 19: Show Don’t Tell
Chapter 20: Write a Song Like a Movie
Chapter 21: Writing with Collaborators
Chapter 22: Dirty Little Secrets of Songwriting
Chapter 23: Am I Doing This Thing Right?
Chapter 24: You Can Write a Song
Chapter 25: A Song Is Like a House—Toolbelt
Chapter 26: Publishing and Copyrighting
Chapter 27: Final Review
Chapter 28: What Do I Do Now?
Glossary
Index
About the Author
Mark Winkler demonstrates that he is as talented on the page as on the stage. His book is an incredibly detailed primer for all kinds of songwriting, bridging the gap between the classic era and now. It’s charmingly filled with great anecdotes and useful information.
— Michael Feinstein, five-time Grammy-nominated singer and pianist; founder, Great American Songbook Foundation
This is a spot on and insightful account of the basics of songwriting—a subject many try to ‘teach,’ but this time, here’s someone whose vast experience and deep talent really entitles him to be heard. With an entertaining and a uniquely warm and humorous approach, this is a useful and fascinating book for anyone interested in learning about the art of writing songs.
— David Pomeranz, Multi Platinum Award-Winning Recording Artist and Songwriter
Wow, this book is everything you need to find your voice, hone your craft, and adapt in a rapidly changing musical world. It’s not just a great primer for beginners—more experienced, professional songwriters will find it useful and inspiring. Mark’s decades of experience across all genres sets him apart.
— Eli Brueggemann, Emmy Award-winning music director, Saturday Night Live
I had the opportunity to sit in on a Mark Winkler songwriting class many years ago and was delighted to see what a natural gift he had for teaching (as well as writing songs). I knew his book would be good, but I was blown away by how comprehensive Mark’s topic coverage and analysis are. Great job!
— Lorraine Feather, singer, lyricist, and songwriter; three-time Grammy nominee and seven-time Emmy nominee
Few creative endeavors are as challenging or as rewarding as crafting timeless lyrics. Mark Winkler’s expertise—both as a respected songwriter and an uplifting mentor—is distilled into chapters rich in practical guidance, uplifting empathy, and a profound commitment to the power of the popular song.
— Dan Kimpel, author, educator, and music journalist, Dankimpel.com
Mark Winkler’s knowledge is very informative for any genre. He is a true wordsmith and natural storyteller—his instincts coming from an organic as well as “tried and true” space. The Songwriter’s Handbook is of great benefit to anyone wanting to up their game and skill in the craft of songwriting. Highly recommended!
— Kathryn Bostic, Emmy-nominated composer and singer/songwriter; former vice president, Alliance for Women Film Composers
Mark Winkler lays out clearly and concisely the rules of the road for writing popular songs. He gives you the lay of the land and the map of the territory. Don’t wait for the angel of inspiration to land on your pen—get down to work with TheSongwriter’s Handbook and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.
— Ben Sidran, producer & keyboardist; host of NPR’s Jazz Alive
One of the most educational, insightful, and complete books on songwriting I’ve ever read. It’s not only a primer on how to craft great songs, but a meticulous map on how to navigate the often murky, and always turbulent, waters of professional songwriting.
— Phil Swann, songwriter & author
Whether you want to write a song, sing a song, or even just appreciate music in a new and fascinating way, this is an amazingly entertaining book! Mark Winkler is a masterful teacher and an even more masterful storyteller.
— Andrea Marcovicci, singer and actress, nominee, Golden Globe Awards; inductee, Cabaret Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Handbook is a witty, drole, yet informative tome rich with colorful anecdotes and important information for any aspiring songwriter. I highly recommend it.
— David Benoit, GRAMMY-nominated pianist, composer, & arranger
"Considering how personal and subjective songwriting can be, Mark Winkler skillfully and carefully distills the process into easy-to-understand (and apply!) step-by-step suggestions allowing for individuality. The tone of each chapter fosters camaraderie, encouragement, and guidance."
— Rene Marie, Grammy-nominated songwriter and jazz singer
Mark Winkler is top in his field, and his book is a reflection of his talent. It’s fun to read and totally instructive at the same time. You will learn so much, and you will be smiling when you see how good your songs get! The Songwriters Handbook will make a real difference in a lot of songwriter’s lives.
— Allan Rich, Oscar and Golden Globe nominated writer of songs for Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, and Barbra Streisand
I greatly admire Mark Winklers excellent songwriting skills—his understanding of the songwriting craft is second to none. In this book he shares invaluable insights alongside his own personal experiences which are funny and poignant. This is such a valuable handbook for all up and coming songwriters everywhere, whatever their level of experience.
— Claire Martin, OBE, jazz singer, three-time winner of the British Jazz Awards
Mark Winkler is a gifted—not to mention prolific—lyricist who really knows his stuff. If you have an interest in good lyric writing, or just insightful showbiz stories, then you need to get this book!
— Grant Geissman, GRAMMY- and Emmy Award-nominated guitarist/composer
What a brilliant work on songwriting! The information on lyric writing is wonderfully detailed and on point. This well-researched book is full of insights that will help boost every artist’s musicianship.
— John Clayton, Grammy Award-winning bassist, composer, producer, and leader of the Clayton Hamilton Big Band
The Songwriter’s Handbook: Power Strategies for Crafting Great Lyrics delivers what its title promises. An engaging, plain-English road map, it walks readers through the tools of successful lyric writing and includes entertaining anecdotes packed with lessons, as well as exercises for lyricists to hone their skills.
— Jason Blume, author of 6 Steps to Songwriting Success and This Business of Songwriting
Brilliantly distilling his songwriting and years of teaching, Mark Winkler gets down to the nitty gritty of how musical magic is made, finely detailing not only the technical tools that aspiring lyricists need to be great but also sharing his wisdom on how to navigate a meaningful career. Read it twice to catch every nuance and refer to it often as you embark on your creative journey!
— Jonathan Widran, critic and columnist, Jazziz and The JW Vibe
Mark is a prolific songwriter who shares the message of songwriting in perfect form. This book is a masterclass on allowing one’s natural ability to write and imagine all that goes into the art form. I have learned so much from this book through his joy and wisdom, and I guarantee you will be inspired as well.
— Cheryl Bentyne, 10-time Grammy winner; singer, The Manhattan Transfer
Mark Winkler not only knows how to sing a great lyric, he knows how to write one. His new handbook on songwriting elucidates the rules of the road, including some things that I might have known intuitively but never bothered to think through, leading to more than one ‘a-ha’ moment. There is so much wisdom here.
— Allen Morrison, music journalist, pianist, and songwriter
The Songwriter’s Handbook is a must-have for anyone who wants to write great lyrics. The book is easy to understand, and Mark’s techniques are tried and true. He has helped me to get the most out of my lyrics and to create great titles!
— Angie Wells, NAACP nominee “Best Jazz Album” and chart-topping jazz vocalist
