Creative writing…lyrical writing.

Something I don’t think I’ve ever blogged is that I write song lyrics. I am published and a member of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)…one of the largest organizations of the music industry.

And, I’m sure anyone and everyone who has ever ventured or dabbled in the music industry will testify the competition is beyond fierce, and it generally takes years, if ever, to get your name/music/lyrics into the “right” circle in order to succeed. For example, one of my own songs went to number eight on a country Indie chart a few years back (Dwight Yoakham was #7), has been song of the week in the past, still receives airtime in Australia, New Zealand (I believe in Europe also) and has been for about the past five years, one a first place award in a contest, is recorded on an album, and I have yet to make a penny off the song. Hard to believe…I have made more money reading emails then off a song getting all that attention and still not in the “right” or maybe I’ll call it “lucky” circle, yet.

On the flip side, even if I never make a penny off that one song, that’s okay with me. I find writing lyrics to be a great form of expression. I have other recorded songs. I don’t sing, write or play music, so I collaborate…and I still feel the butterflies in my stomach each time I hear new lyrics of mine put to music for the first time.

All that said….Helium offers creative writing contests which includes lyrics and pays for 1^st, 2^nd , and 3^rd places $25.00, $15.00 and $10.00 respectively. But, I feel more important to the money is the exposure. The “creative writing” contests is not weekly like other contests; however, creative writers can publish, publish, publish, and get exposure, exposure, exposure free!!! I encourage even those who only “dabble” in creative writing to take full advantage of this opportunity. Articles may never get published in major publication, but then again, they could. I recently heard a story about the Jonas Bros…they were discovered in a barber shop.

I’ve been a member of Helium for about a year and only learned of the lyric section, yesterday. So, needless to say, I will be taking full advantage of the “free” exposure. Yesterday, I published the lyrics, “Cinderella Me” in the contest...I have a demo on this song…if I figure out how I can get the music onto my blog, I’ll do it. The girl that sings has an incredible voice. It’s my understanding she’s professionally associated (or was at the time of the recording) with Faith Hill while she is working on her own career and I’m telling you…her voice is killer.

Anyway, wrapping it up, if you write lyrics, creative write, write at all, or are thinking about writing as a way to make money, check out Helium. I am including two links below. The first is to my lyrics, “Cinderella Me”. The second is my EMAIL….Helium only gives credit for referrals by invitation. This is a huge way to support my blog…by giving me the referral…it costs readers nothing, zero to let me refer them. The only information I need is first name, last name, and email address to send the invite. Once I send the invite to you, I immediately “trash’ the info…no disrespect intended, but I don’t write emails (except to family), so you’ll never get an email from me saying join this, join that…that’s what my blog is for…to offer the info then leave it my visitors to decide what/which opps they like. So, if you’d like to give me the referral for Helium, please type “helium or lyrics or something big and bold on the subject line, so I don’t miss your email….thanks!!!

Click here to read, “Cinderella Me”

Email me at pros4success@aol.com