Today's songwriting tips come from one of my favorite books of all time by Austin Kleon called "Steal Like an Artist"
I grew up thinking that artists were just completely original and if you borrowed anything from anyone you weren't a real artist. This book argues that there's a correct way to do it. Austin says that if you borrow from many different places then you can really stumble upon something brand new. Setting up these parameters can really lead you to some great ideas that are unique to you.

Steal Like at Artist by Austin Kleon
Austin's Blog
Tools of Songwriting

Episode 1: Steal Like a Pro

Tools of Songwriting is a website and podcast geared towards giving people the tools that they need to express themselves through writing their own music. It's for beginner to advanced musicians and will have simple, understandable, and practical tips for everyone.

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Today's episode is about simplifying your art into small choices. I talk a bit about one of my favorite movies of all time and about how terrible I was in art class as a child.
I hope it helps you in some way. 
If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: 
https://toolsofsongwriting.com/ 
All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ 
Photo by Jon Tyson

Episode 12: Art Is Just a Choice

Tristan Dougherty is a folk musician in Richmond, Virginia, whose songs combine meditative, finger-style guitar playing with warm, illuminative lyrics. He's been a huge support to the Richmond, VA songwriter community over the past few years.  On today's show, he provides some great insight into the songwriting process.
https://www.tristandougherty.com/

Episode 11: Tristan Dougherty

Today I have a very special guest on the show.  I'm here with Richmond, VA musician Mackenzie Roark. Mackenzie has a  cool country sound in the vein of songwriters that I've always admired like Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Whiskeytown, and Bob Dylan, and classic singers like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. She's part of Vocal Rest Records also based here in Richmond.
She recently released her album "Rollin' High, Feelin' Low."
To hear more of her music head over to: https://mackenzieroark.com/

Episode 10: Mackenzie Roark

In today's episode, I talk about my writing process and the idea of being creative in an analog vs digital way. They're both useful, but I've found, that when I sit down at the computer the ideas can just dry up. Very quickly. I hope you enjoy the episode. More interviews coming soon! 
If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: 
https://toolsofsongwriting.com/ 
All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ 
Photo by Gritt Zheng

Episode 9: Analog vs Digital

In today's episode, I talk about the amazing book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. I think some of the ideas in that book can be really helpful when you're writing songs. Here is the infographic that I currently have hanging on my wall: https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/Impact
If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here:
https://toolsofsongwriting.com/
All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ 
Photo by David Matos 

Episode 1: Steal Like a Pro

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