The best thing about this book is that it's not a bunch of dry factoids about A&R pitches and recording demos. Sure, there's tons of useful info about all that, but it's so much more than that, too! I have heard this author speak, and she's AWESOME - she really knows her stuff, and she's absolutely inspiring. You'll totally get a kick out of her stories (check out the one about her first song - hilarious! not that mine was any better, mind you). And watch out all you poets masquerading as songwriters (you'll see what I mean if you read it!).

I don't want to ruin the book by talking about any more specifics, because it's a really fun read. I definitely recommend this book if you want to get into songwriting, and it's also helpful to established musicians who want to start writing their own songs. (One of my musician friends did just that, and her songs are fantastic now. She definitely needed the help, though.)

BUY THIS BOOK if you want to get into the music industry. Seriously.

"Love this book!"
Pamela Phillips Oland has taken the art of teaching lyric writing to a new level! As a new writer I needed not only guidelines for structure and content but also inspiration and her book gives it all. She helped me learn to define what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it! The stories are amazingly cool and funny. Her talent as a songwriter might just be surpassed by her ability to teach and inspire other writers to believe in their dream to do the same. If you can't write a song after reading this book then you just can't write a song!! Loved it!!

"An Essential Lyric-Writing Guide"
A novice songwriter, I have found this book to be extraordinarily helpful, and fun to read to boot. I've always been a huge music fan and have dreamed of being a songwriter, and this book has a wealth of information about how I can get my career underway. Pamela Phillips Oland not only provides practical information, like how to structure a song and what to do with a lyric once you've written it, she also gives great tips on how to get inspired and how to write truly creative, original songs. The book is also full of amusing and helpful anecdotes. Like I said, I'm just starting my career, and now I know exactly what NOT to do (i.e., write a poem instead of a song, or write lyrics that no one can relate to)! I plan to refer to this book for practical information about writing lyrics and selling them in the industry, and also for reassurance and inspiration while I establish my career.

"Try It--You Might Surprise Yourself"
I am a school librarian and first heard about this book when I read the rave review in Library Journal. I ordered it for the school library and was amazed at how many high school girls were putting themselves on the waiting list to borrow it, often sitting together with their rhyming dictionaries and writing tablets, seeming to be having the time of their lives with this book. About a year later, I saw the book just staring at me from the shelf in in the Borders in my neighborhood and the curiosity overtook me. I bought it for myself.

I had never really thought I had a talent for writing lyrics, so I started following the steps for writing cynically at first, then just cautiously. Before long, I was going through it with the same enthusiasm I had seen in the teenagers. Before I knew it, I was thinking differently, wondering how to use a catchy phrase as a lyric or how to turn an experience into a song. Words took on a new quality for me once I read this book-and I have read a LOT of books!

Well, I might only be a high school librarian, but there's nothing wrong with having a hobby, right? I think I am going to buy a second copy of this to give as a gift to my niece. I will feel like I have done something very special it makes her as happy as I have been in "discovering" this book.

I hear this author has a new book coming out soon. I can't wait!

""The Art of Writing Great Lyrics""
While this book is entertaining, it is useless for those
looking for insights of the how-to variety. The author is
full of sometimes interresting though mostly borring anectodes
and has written some songs you may be familiar with. However,
this book lacks any substantive information on actually writing
lyrics. The examples are old and extremely dated and do not
provide any useful information other than what not to do. ...