Compared to a great poem, or the prose of a great novelist, most supposedly “great lyrics” aren’t so great.
With that in mind, I’ve collected a series of songwriting tips adapted from a genuine literary masterpiece: Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. This epic poem earned immediate fame in its day, and 700 years later it’s still read, translated, and studied all over the globe.
As songwriters, what can we learn from Dante’s immortal work of art? I attempted to answer this question within one article, and quickly found the topic spiraling out of control. Inferno sets an inspiring standard that all writers can learn from—songwriters and lyricists included.
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here…
Songwriting Tips from Dante’s Inferno
- Write Conversationally
- Sensory Images and Vivid Horror
- Using Structure to Control Pace
- Rhymes Should Sound Natural
- If it’s Important Later, Introduce it Early
- ‘Offensive’ is Subjective
- Using Structure to Create Momentum
- Adding Layers: Allegory and Literal Storylines
- How to Write Heart-Rending Dialogue
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