#48 - The Ultimate Dilemma for the Song’s Main Character – Waypoint #3: The Crisis

Lyric Mastery - Storytelling in Songwriting

In today’s episode, we’re gonna explore what it looks when we write about facing a crisis.

We’ve all been in a dilemma in our life, right?

It’s when no matter what we choose, there’s always something to lose, but also something to gain.

But it’s normal if we fear the loss more than having the potential to gain something.

Being in a dilemma, there’s just so much uncertainty attached it.

And we might fear making a choice at all.

So when we write lyrics about a dilemma, we can actually provide guidance to our audience … whenever they face a similar crisis.

And in this episode, you will find out how you can write lyrics about a person’s dilemma.

What it takes to truly create a hard choice for your song’s main character and I’ll also show you all the options of where you can place that crossroad moment in your lyrics’ narrative.

And as a lyric example, we’ll look at Gloria Gaynor’s song: “I Will Survive” because there’s so much to take away from the way those lyrics were written.

Sound good?

Awesome, then let’s get started!

What's the episode about?

1. [00:01:45] Overview: Waypoints Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis
2. [00:04:29] Crisis
3. [00:06:41] Real Choice
4. [00:07:42] Meaningful Stakes
5. [00:08:59] Best Bad Choice
6. [00:10:08] Irreconcilable goods

Show Notes:

• Online Course on Narrative Songwriting: lyricmastery.com/start
• “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

• If I Let You Go lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
• Warning lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
• I’m a Believer lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Visit ⁠⁠lyricmastery.com⁠⁠ for everything on storytelling in songwriting.