Fuse the piles, I get stones. The stones together create a foundation, something to build on. Each song a stone, part of a catalog, a record or EP.

When I look up a mountain, I see boulders and stones protruding the earth, I wonder, will I be able to scale to the top? But do I need to scale the top? Or simply take another path with upward steps toward the horizon, where I can get a better view of the top?

My working to do list includes:

1. A rewrite of a sort-of-country song for a second evaluation
2. Tracking a song I’m rewriting as I go to present at a feedback session in a couple of weeks, one of 3-4 songs for a homegrown EP to share with fans by mid-year (another list in itself)
3. A scratch track of chords/melody for an idea to send to a new co-writer who is a lyricist

I might view each of these efforts as a mountain. If I stand at the base of any of these mountains, pondering the climb, I’ll likely see the top of neither. This week I started walking up alternate pathways, stopping but briefly enjoy a glimpse of each peak, then pressing on up the steady incline.

So instead of pushing to say I’m doing something when I’m exhausted, I go still. Let the body have what it needs, and work the odd, late hours to scratch out a verse or develop a character or refine a melody and chord progression. The key for me is to keep at it, building “widgets” that someday come together into song or story.

I’ve also made a point over the last couple of Sundays to take in a message, whether at church or TV, words and ideas that challenge me to simplify and get back to the foundational faith that helps me keep focus. And though the 3-4 messages were not the same, I’ve got a single theme resonating in my head: be ready for what’s next, which I’m tagging as “aggressively waiting.”

Not much is as I would “like” it to be right now. But in review of even the last 12 months I can honestly say I’ve been taking the right approach to use of the thin slices of time I can allocate to moving my writing and music ahead. I was overloaded, so I reduced the scope of what I was involved with. Spent some weeks reviewing 101-level courses and materials and got more material out for feedback and pitch opportunities.

Yesterday, I met with a song plugger and go some candid insight as to what a song plugger looks for and how they go about their day to day business. Got some not so favorable feedback on a song I thought was ready to pitch.

One area that in need of immediate attention is getting ideas recorded. Not sure why this is such a struggle, but it’s likely the number one issue with my writing at this point in time. Not to sound too geeky, but this baby just got top priority in the grand scheme of my little world.

Being roughly two weeks behind on outputs and commitments is a bit discouraging, but I go back to point one, don’t over extend physically, but adapt and recover. This isn’t a race. I’m not building a skyscraper, I’m trying to be an artist, writer and musician. And be the best I can be while being a husband, father and work a mentally draining day gig.

There’s no way of telling how far my efforts will take me, or if any real opportunities will come from these efforts, it’s a waiting game. Whether I’ll be prepared when/if opportunity knocks it TOTALLY up to me.

First, determine if what I’ve written as verse one should really be first two? If I’m stumped writing verse two, maybe it’s because I didn’t do a good job at setting up the who, what, when, where and why. Further, it could be the information in verse two is more supporting the hook than setting up said hook.

A simple example might be, if the title/hook is “Up”, and my first verse is about what I see from the vantage of being up, is perhaps to make this point of view verse two and write verse one the portray what it’s like to be down and how I get or got to the “up” vantage point.

Another approach to clean up in verse two is how the time sequence or scenario moves ahead. I don’t want too big a gap in time, like going from childhood to deathbed, the listener will likely get lost and tune out. Conversely, I don’t want the second verse to be stagnant and go nowhere. Just as verse one must naturally progress to the chorus, verse two needs to move the idea forward to a new place or time and either maintain or [better yet] increase emotionally intensity.

This week I attended a great couple of online workshops on commercial writing that can be applied to any type of writing. One that I feel is going to help me write verses, at least I’ve interpreted, is to not make hooks too specific, which could lead to limiting how broad the brush strokes I’ll have for the verse. The key to verses is the singer’s relationship to other characters and how emotion is woven throughout. Most listeners don’t care about clever hooks if the verses are sterile and don’t take them on an emotional journey.

Verse one and chorus have to generate the intrigue. If the listener isn’t “in” by then, I won’t have to worry about how messy verse two might be, the listener won’t be there to care.

One of these is a weekly blog post, begging the question, “what for?” Unsure anyone reads a letter of a word I write, it’s easy to dismiss the effort, except that my goal (singular) for 2012 is to become a better writer. Not just songwriter, writer, period.

Not that this hasn’t been the goal for some eight years running now, but it feels as though I just learned to walk and it’s time to venture and discover where writing will take me. Ideas, like bubbles in the wind blow away, most often never heard from again. Vivid dreams, a thousand different shaped light bulbs illuminating the path, turning dark when I wake, ideas yet for the taking.

So it’s week two of the “blog post a week” regimen, here it is. Ideas, emanate onto paper off the pencil, onto the monitor off the keyboard. Another couple of regimens feed an objective to encapsulate fragments into songs, short stories, poems and the like.

Fireflies in mason jars, captured but alive; then, released, for all the see and hear.

So, here I am, still on my first cup of coffee, and writing the first post of 2012.

I just read a cool newsletter entry by Bob Lefsetz about Keith Urban, one of my favorites. He talks about the artistry and passion in Keith’s music. While a star and staple in Nashville, Keith is anything but cookie-cutter. Arguably the finest artist/guitarist in Nashville, with skills likely competent in any genre, it’s refreshing to see a music industry expert such as Bob Lefsetz give a shout out to Keith. Bob is all about the art of music, and has some strong opinions on the state of the music industry, as well as how we got to where we are today.

Turning to a more personal POV, in late December, I started reorganizing my catalog so I can track song evaluations and co-writes more effectively and prepare for some long overdue mentoring with pro-writers. As part of this exercise, I submitted a bunch of songs for critique, mainly because I had to renew a membership that has a “use or lose” evaluation policy year to year.

To my total surprise, and I mean this sincerely, three songs were called out for further review by other pro’s. What surprised me even more is the fact these specific songs are ones I’d say are more artist, or singer/songwriter types, and not “radio friendly.”

The peaks and valleys of late look like the tape on a heartbeat. Somedays it feels like I need a defibrillator to get my motivation cranking, and I’ve yet to get a regimen established for writing/practicing/recording in 2012. But I need to remind myself the validation received over the last couple of weeks is what it’s all about. There’s no money, no glory, no big stage or lights or huge fan base. But someone listened to a song I wrote and got it. The lyric and melody said and meant something to them, and if that’s not enough to keep my heart pumping for writing and performing, then I ought give it up, plain and simple.

Chances are, barely a handful of folks will even read this post. That’s just fine with me, at least I know I wrote it and why.

There are always negatives, but this year my goal has been to ponder less on the clouds and focus on what grew out of the rain. In large part, I believe I succeeded. I’ve eliminated several anchors, from negative influences, like people, habits or commitments, keeping me from growing skills or developing new approaches.

Those who know me, know my life is quite complex. I’m easily distracted and tend to set goals too lofty to attain in full. I’m my own worst critic, to a fault, and don’t replenish my well nearly often enough. Yet, in 2011, I can’t point at several accomplishments worthy of a pat on the back.

On the practical side of things, I rebuilt my website and retooled my home studio; I also spent a weekend in Nashville at a workshop with some 50 other writers gaining knowledge, networking and sharing my songs. On the personal side, I sought to build new co-writing relationships and made a couple of very solid connections, one came from the Nashville workshop. While a couple of the writing relationships didn’t quite work out, I enjoyed the process of prospecting and coming to terms with what works and what doesn’t.

Just recently, I got back to photography, specifically iPhoneography (pics shown on this page were all taken with iPhone 4S), though I still shoot with my Nikon D40, and hope to upgrade that rig to a body capable of faster, low-light lenses. I’m also reading more, and experiencing music I might not buy via Spotify, especially helpful when free writing and reference listening.

There’s no reason to go out on some skinny limb with resolution projections I’ll scurry to attempt achieving and drop on the floor by March… no, the goal for 2012 is to slow down, focus on writing for the artist in me, and share my music more broadly with intent of getting songs placed or cut.

As a DIY’er, there is much to do to support these objectives. And, it’s critical I balance the workload with inspiration that comes from these many sources, including unplugging for the sake of respite. The wear and tear of my day job make it an uphill climb, but it’s the path I choose… the time to get busy is now.

May your 2012 be fulfilling and bring joy to your heart. For in the end, doing what makes us smile is what enables us to do the same for others.

So I hit the idea book, or a blog or other source for ideas. Finally, one pops. Coffee, pencil/paper, chicken scratch, first draft idea… not lyric.

But the core idea isn’t killing me, time to storm the payoff. There it is, been there all along. Was I ignoring it? Loving the haunt? Or being lazy and letting resistance win again?

Resistance won a couple of rounds… it won’t win the fight.

If you haven’t checked out Rick’s music, I hope you’ll take the time to check out his site and grab a listen to some of the tracks he’s got posted. If at all possible I recommend seeing him live, especially at a rare occasion where he takes the stage solo or in the round. Listen close, take the ride, get lost inside the stories and melodies.

The recognition and respect Rick’s earned in the writing community is well deserved. For me it goes much further in that Rick gave me a chance to hang out, be part of some great shows and get to know a man who’s passion for song brings out the best in me as a bassist. Not sure when, or if I’ll get to share the stage with Rick again, but the last few years contain memories that won’t soon fade, thanks buddy.

One thing I discovered right away is how good the TCS unit sounds coupled with Logic amp plugin. I am getting a much richer guitar sound without having to overdrive the sound. But the primary purpose for the outboard compressor is vocals, and the first thing I want to try is tracking a live guitar/vocal take with two mics, one on each channel of the compressor. Once I dial in and document those settings, I can move on to checking out bass through the compressor to see how the sound differs from the SansAmp. Ultimately, the sound I want won’t likely be in house till I get an Avalon or similar pre-amp to use on bass. Maybe for Christmas 2012.

Feeling like utter pooh today, so it’s going to be an early night, but this week I’m planning on spending 3-4 hours on Chapter 8 of the David Nahmani Logic 9 book. Won’t likely get any recording done on mic with a house full of folks for the holiday weekend but I’ve plenty to do otherwise. Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!

Got to thinking how this is good time of year to think about old friends. Thanksgiving week is here, and we here lots of slogans and good thoughts about “giving thanks”, but the actual tag for this holiday is Thanksgiving… am I truly thankful for the tremendous blessings in my life? Certainly not all the time, and most definitely not to the extent I should. Not a guilt trip thing, but more a realization as I split Thanksgiving into two words — Thanks + Giving. By pondering the riches in my life I should heed a call to action by giving, of myself and resources. Not that we don’t give, especially to our family members in need, but there are many opportunities to bless others that I don’t always readily act upon.

More than just writing a check or throw a Jackson in a bucket, I really sense God challenging me to get in the mix, quietly and with conviction. We visited a small church last Sunday where the main focus was on taking the quite small budget and investing it in the local community. We’re taking a turkey tomorrow for one of six families getting meals this year, and looking at how we might support efforts around making Christmas morning a joy for families with kids who otherwise won’t be opening presents.

Yeah, I hope to someday soon meet with my old guitar pickin’ buddies, hoist a couple, have some laughs and reminisce. For now, I’m glad the thought of them, gave me a little grounding in considering where I’m at today in the context of the season we’re entering and the opportunities to serve those with true needs.