Hey my friend! hang in there i know you will make it. you have what it takes i just know you do. and i am sure that sweet gal of yours has the same feeling as I do! have patients and things will come together. you have made it this far, just a little father and you will have crossed a miles stone of sucess!!!!!

Your friend in Michigan
Carolee

Merry Christmas to you and your family
 

farming is a job, fishing is a hobby, golfing is a sport. songwriting is science, philosophy, art and religion, all rolled into one and then strained through the cheesecloth that is your subjective worldview/personality. keep your chin up man, you've already succeeded.
 

heyhey smiles to you maybe you just havent met anyone who is on your level yet.. spiritually or otherwise..but I know you have what it takes cant wait to hear more of your music..havent been able to listen to any of the new stuff my comp. isnt what it used to be haha well take care my friend sendin smiles & sunshine your way :D Melisa
 

Songwriting can also be a very personal thing. You have to touch things that are burried deep inside, or strongly connected to you and your feelings. Even if you don't realize you are doing it. How your song turns out and how everyone else reacts to it, is going to affect you and reflect on you. That's what writing is about, its what writer's do, its about sharing yourself with other people in order to reach out and touch something inside of them...or at least that's what good writer's do.. but that can be unsettling to share before you feel its ready to be shared....and a lot of writers (story writers included) become very attached to thier creations. Prolly why it's not the same as farming or fishing. :)

I'm glad to hear that you are settlign in more though. I know exactly how you feel there. :)

take care and keep on writing!
 

Hey Murph! I'm glad I took a sec to check in on you. I'm gonna throw a couple of my own observations out there for ya. I grew up in and around this business. Indeed, most writers are highly sensitive, introspective, moody, emotional, passionate, and insecure to boot. I know first hand, I am one. In fact it's their strength and weakness. I took time, maturity, and self discipline to overcome the personal sense I once attached to the music I write. Unless you run into Simon on American Idol, most have reservations about revealing their own ideas or critiquing others because of that ever present, and highly likely, possibility that someone's feelings are going to get hurt. So it's safer to either avoid open honest discourse about the music. Those who have stuck it out and dropped off the personal sensitivities do look at songwriting as both a science and an art. To be a professional one must look OBJECTVELY, even scientifically at what makes some songs appeal to large audiences while others do not.

It's funny, when I discuss my own songs sometimes I can easily see what's wrong with them, why they aren't good enough for commercial purposes, and am willing to point it out, because I learn from it. I often hear someone say "Don't sell yourself short, It's a great song" as if it affects my self esteem or something! Well, what I write has nothing to do with my self worth. Not many aspiring writers have figured that out, hence the sensitivity and reservation to open their minds to the underlying science of songwriting. Well, I found out, good people write bad songs! I am one of those too! It's no reflection on me other than a perfect example of one point my learning curve.

Once you get in the company of real pros you'll find things a lot different. I'll talk shop with ya anytime. I love it too and like you have too few who want to participate in a no-holds-bared way. Thanks for posting your thoughts!