Writing as a collective
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So we’re going to look at a few aspects of collaborative songwriting or writing as a collective. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to songwriting and each of us will find our way of getting the most out of our writing. Some of us will be most productive in a quiet room, alone with an acoustic guitar and others may find the interaction of a practice room, jamming together the best way of writing. We’re all different, but let me encourage you right from the off; in whatever way you write, learn to dig. Dig the gold; mine that precious gems that God has put inside of you. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and invest time into your craft.
So, lets kick off this session by reading some scripture together.
Ephesians 4:1-16
Great passage, but what on earth has that got to do with writing as a collective? We were all probably expecting a few verses from Psalms, but I think this scripture holds a fundamental truth for us…especially as creative. We must begin to operate as a Church and as a Body of Christ from a position of Unity AND maturity. Without these two things we will be weak in our convictions and moved by our emotions. I’m going to make this statement, which is a big one;
The biggest cause of conflict & division in our churches today stem from immaturity and insecurity.
How many times do we see it?
Hurt people, hurt people. Bound people, bind others. Insecure people, control.
BUT there is a flip side; free people, free people. Secure people, love well. Mature people, breed unity.
When we begin to grasp who we are in Christ; that what He says about us is true and we begin to grow up a little, I believe we will see a Church that is stronger, more resilient and more equipped to walk out the things of God in our nations.
But beyond this foundation, I think there is a direct instruction here for how we should operate in a collective, creative setting and for writing well in collaboration:
Instructions for writing well in collaboration – v.2-3
Many parts and functions; many gifts and abilities; one heart and aim (v4 and v12).
Ok, great. So how can we do this practically? Theory is great, but lets put some legs to it. Also, we will have some time at the end for questions, so get some ready as we go. How many people here already write? How many people tend to write on your own? How many in a group? I think it’s important here to say that I don’t think solo writing and collaborative writing are mutually exclusive. I think that there is time, space and a place for each. It’s not a case of either or. It’s and and both.
So, I’ve outlined four areas or keys for healthy collaborative or collective writing:
Celebrate Community - Encourage Diversity (different to division) - Build Relationally - Win Corporately
Celebrate community
We are here to complete one another, not to compete with one another. We can’t see our brothers and sisters as competition. Hopefully our aim as fellow believers is to see and call out the gold in each other. Our motives should be to build up, not tear down. Again this is where immaturity and insecurity can reside. When we spend our time and effort comparing our gifting, our talent or our call to someone else, we will pursue the protection and consolidation of our own status to the detriment of those around us. It’s a very childish way to look at others. But, wowzers, when we begin to prefer one another, the potential is huge. It’s true that our journey of faith is a race, it is an individual thing, but it’s not a competition.
Build a culture of honour. In your teams or groups, begin to recognize and honour those around you. Appreciate the people that God has placed to serve with you. Speak well of each other publicly and privately and acknowledge the input that those around you give.
Own It. You are part of a family. It’s your family. Take responsibility for it. You’ll serve better, you will love stronger and you’ll celebrate harder.
Encourage diversity
Bring your flavour. Food is boring when it is bland; bring your ‘spice’ to the table. The key is knowing how much of what ingredient to use in each ‘dish’. You have been uniquely equipped for the place in which you have been placed…for such a time as this. We are richer for having you with us. I do not think how you think. I do not sing how you sing and I cannot write how you write. We need each other in an incredible balance of flavour, that when handled correctly provides an awesome feast for our churches.
Trial and ‘taste’ along the way. If you are really collaborating, don’t try and bring a ‘finished’ song. That’s not collaboration, that’s a focus group that you’re testing it on. True collaboration is about co-operative input and construction, however we have to strike a balance between still doing some work ourselves and not becoming lazy and expecting the group to do the leg work.
Use the expertise in your team. As a guitarist, you don’t think like a drummer and vice versa. Allow space for people to bring their skills to the table (be clear about what sound you want, but then thrash it out together).
Note: Diversity is not the same as division. Celebrate and encourage your uniqueness, but fiercely guard yourselves against division. We are different parts of the same body.
Build relationally – NB: Discipleship is intentional
Friendship over function. It’s so easy to get caught up in the practicalities of church life. The program or task can so often take over the welfare of you’re the people in your team. If the only overlap with the people you want to write with is when you call a meeting to write, there will always be a ceiling on your output. The better we know our people or our teams, the more effective we will be.
Spend time together outside of your ‘work’. There is no shortcut to building relationships. It’s time spent that builds you together. Eat together. I need to eat, my kids need to eat and so do you…so lets just do it together. Let’s be open to sharing the messy parts of us too. The ‘organic’ areas of us.
These two are so important when you want to write together as it provides a solid basis to be honest. Collaborative writing depends on honesty. Without it, we just inflate each other’s egos when we’re together and will never get anywhere. Collaboration keeps you humble. A trusted and honest voice in keeps you grounded. Nothing quite humbles you like some straight up honest criticism.
I hate to break it to you, but not every idea you have will be great. Not every line that gets written is pure gold. We have to be honest, but that honesty is built over time, through a relationship bond that says I’m for you, I want the best from you, there’s more in you, I see the gold. Criticism isn’t a bad word, when done well (v.2-3).
The relationship is always bigger than the issue. It’s difficult as a ‘sensitive’ creative to not take things personally. When we write, we lay ourselves bare. It’s a scary process at times and when someone doesn’t like it, it hurts right? We will always have differences of opinion, especially in a creative process. Sometimes that will come when we’re working on lyrics, sometimes that will come with arrangement. When you bring your song into a collective group (who hopefully want to see the best from you, see the gold in you and want you to flourish), you have to be ready to hear opinions that may differ from yours. You can still be clear about your intentions behind the song and what you hear/see it being, but listen to other too. Never let an issue create a divide between you. Again this is where relationship and honesty comes in. It is about perspective and what you choose to magnify. Let’s reflect Jesus well in our interactions; He chose people over the issue of sin….
And finally…
Win corporately
Celebrate the triumphs. You will face adversity, so let’s celebrate hard when things work out well. However small the wins may be, shout about it.
Applaud others’ success. When one wins, we all do. We’re on the same team, building the same church, serving the same God. There is enough opposition out there from the world, let’s not self-harm the Bride of Christ.
Remember whose Kingdom you’re building. It is never about you. It’s always about Him.
This is our goal as writers, whether that is in a collective or individually…or and and both; equip and build up. When we keep this at the forefront of our creativity, I think we all win.
So, come on guys. Let’s be a people, a group of creatives that love one another well, that are honouring of one another; a group of churches TOGETHER that operate from that position of unity and maturity; this is our mandate, the exhortation from Heaven.