Mark Elliott is the founder of Mark Elliott Creative, and he has been a very successful songwriter in Nashville for over 30 years. He has written for some of Country Music’s largest publishers and biggest artists, penning a number of big hits. Mark is a singer himself and is a part of the band, Run Away Home. His two newest solo songs can be found on Spotify! Mark is the author of The Sons of Starmount: a Memoir of a 10 Year Old Boy.

On this episode:

• Mark shares his background in the music industry and how a key mentor helped him develop his writing skills.
• Hear Mark talk about being honest with yourself first in order to truly write what would connect with others.
• Mark and Greg discuss how the country genre is known for its storytelling ability and how the best songs are the perfect combination of relatable and individual storytelling. 
• Hear how Mark explains the art of storytelling through a performance and the impact it has on the audience. 
• Mark talks about the difference between storytelling in a three minute song versus a long-form novel.

Key Takeaways:

• If you are disciplined to consistently write or create, the inspiration will come.
• When telling a story during a performance, find the balance between rehearsed flow and “in the moment” inspiration. 
• When networking in creative spaces, do not build your relationships purely with those who can help you but with those you can help. 

Tweetable Quotes:

“I believe that discipline and inspiration are connected at the hip.” - Mark Elliott

“Mistakes and how you handle them are pretty powerful performance pieces.” - Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott:

Find his music and book at www.markelliottcreative.com

Connect with Mark on Instagram: @imacre8tivesoul

Resources:

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