As a songwriter, I found this book fascinating. I love reading about other people’s creative processes.

How to Write a Song that Matters is part memoir, part notes from Williams' songwriting retreats for artists. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Hachette, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I've been a fan of the author's music for ages, and it's interesting (and a little gratifying) to know that the persona which comes through in a lot of her music really does reflect in her written work as well. This is a well written and realistic guide to facilitate readers tapping into their *own* creative processes and get the stuff that's inside to the outside in the form of a song/poetry/art.

There was a surprising (to me) amount of practical advice included from "what if I don't have facility with an instrument other than my voice" to "where can I find inspiration and know what it looks like when I find it". There's quite a lot of substantial pondering going on between the covers here.

The overarching chapters are possibly more straightforward than a lot of songs' genesis and are laid out more or less from beginning inspiration through writing and refining and finally to getting the song out into the world. It's a meandering process and Ms. Williams recognizes that in the text with humor and wit (and a stiff dose of practicality).

Four stars. I can imagine that the sonwriter retreats are a positive influence on the participants and well worth experiencing. Now a much wider audience has the same benefits.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I love listening to or reading about how artists create. Dar Williams is a phenomenal singer/songwriter. I’ve seen her live in small venues on a couple of occasions and she’s a lovely presence. In May 2020 she released “Something to Get Through” and the video includes signs from therapists. It’s a great song to breath to when panic starts to overwhelm.

How to Write a Song That Matters puts on the page Williams songwriting retreat. I’m sure that the retreat is more rewarding in person, but not everyone can take the time or spend the money. She walks through every step of the process from cultivating the mindset that allows the spark of an idea to form to performing a new song. Williams demystifies the craft. Tenacious D may have spontaneously played the best song in the world (now forgotten), but the rest of us will have to sit down and thinks about words and music.

Despite my many years of piano lessons, flute lessons, voices lessons, and all the musical theater productions I participated in, I am not a musician. Music is not where I find my joy. I’m not ever going to write a song. I still enjoyed this book and found myself thinking about how I can incorporate some of Williams’ lessons into my own writing.

I particularly appreciated that Williams emphasizes the value of creating while in community. She eschews the solo artistic genius and encourages song circles and open mike nights.

Finding a way to appreciate other people’s works did not dilute any standard of writing for me. Going in and figuring out how people communicated through diverse forms and messages helped me find compassion and respect for myself as a writer.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Hachette Books via NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book on the art of song crafting and creating art.

Many books on crafting art take alot of the fun out of being creative. You have to do A to get to B to equal C and D or you won't have a hit song, a best-selling book, a prize- winning pie even a quality quilt. Not only work hard on your art, but think hard, sit at your desk hard, write so hard that pen marks are dug into the table hard. The joy of creativity, doing something that makes a person feel better is secondary to success. Singer, songwriter, author and instructor Dar William has in How to Write a Song that Matters teaches the way to shape, meld and mold a song, sometimes even giving up, in a way that is both fun, and personal for the creator.

The book begins with the words "When I was a boy", a phrase that popped into the head of Dar Williams one day, along with a simple melody, that was also unconsciously being created. From there Williams began to ask questions on why that phrase was important, who was the song about, where was it going. Verses would be written and cast aside. Melodies developed, saved for other songs, or also filed away. Soon Williams had a song that even today people still comment on. The introduction is indicative to how the book will show how Williams creates songs. This is no boot camp for a top of the charts Hot 100 List, but a slow way working and breaking a song down, adding personal touches to reach people, maybe imagining lives of others. The book's chapters examine the process my favorite being the Words chapter, discussing the power of and subtle turn of phrase that take a song ling and make it resonate with people. Also the The Songwriter chapter is particularly strong, detailing her writing habits and changes over the years, what worked and what did not.

The book is less instruction, more a conversation about a shared interest. There are lots of examples, from Williams' own work, and others. The book is very positive, and affirming, Williams wants the reader to find that well of creativity in each person, and bring it forth. There is less dependence on hit song making, more on the hit that a person gets in their soul from creating. I wish I knew more about playing music as there was a lot about playing and chords, that I could sort of grasp, but even Williams is first to admit, maybe that's not for all readers, and take what you can, and move on.

A very enjoyable and fascinating look at creativity and where great songs and art can come from. I liked the laid back way of writing, and the way that even when detailing something like chords or performing in front of people, two things I don't know, and can't imagine doing, I was engaged and wanted to know more. Williams mentions teaching others how to write, and those students must have had a great time and learned quite a bit. Recommended for songwriters, really any writers, and anyone who has the want and the need to create, but just need a little encouragement to do so.

A good book for aspiring song writers. I think I would have liked it more if I had been familiar with the author's work before reading the book. I had expected the book to be a sort of of guide to writing music. There was something about the style of the writing that I wasn't much for.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for sending this review copy of "How to Write a Song that Matters," by Dar Williams. I appreciate it.

This book is a guide to songwriting. I appreciated the down-to-earth nature of the book, the conversational manner, as if the author was telling you this advice in person. Although at times I did find it a bit too informal. I think this would be a good recap book for those that go on her retreats but it wasn’t the best for me to try to figure out not knowing who she is as a person.