Story-First Songwriting by LyricMastery

Melanie Naumann - Story Grid Certified Editor
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Story-First Songwriting Podcast helps you look BEYOND lyric structure and form AND focus on what's important: the CONTENT, the MESSAGE and the EXPERIENCE that your lyrics give your audience. We look at how to hook, move, and impact your audience. And we achieve that through the power of storytelling. In this podcast, you get amazing tools on how to craft, write, and revise your lyrics without hitting writer's block ever again. Hit subscribe and get ready to get to another level! We also have a free community on Skool: Story-First Songwriters.

  1. 10/07/2025

    #67 - 7 Storytelling Mistakes That Are KILLING Your Songs

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career. lyricmastery.com/skool Get the book on starting your lyrics with an attention-grabbing opening line. In this video, I breakdown the 7 biggest storytelling mistakes holding back indie artists from blowing up.Because great songs aren’t just about rhymes. They’re about stories that move people.If you want to go deeper, join my free community Story-First Songwriters. It’s for serious songwriters and indie artists who want to use storytelling to write powerful songs that connect, grow their fanbase, and build their career.👉 Join the community here. Given this is a podcast channel, and anyone can claim anything, here's the link to my Story Grid Editor Profile: https://storygrid.com/editors/melanie-naumann/ ► Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 👇, and subscribe 👆.

    24 min

  2. 11/04/2024

    #66 How to Write A PRO- or ANTI WAR song

    ✅ Join my free SKOOL community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.lyricmastery.com/hub Ready to write a song that hits hard and sticks with your listeners? In this video, we're diving into what it takes to create a pro- or anti-war song that really connects. We'll cover everything from the raw emotions war stirs up—sacrifice, hope, devastation—to the key message that makes your lyrics meaningful.I’ll share prompts for those powerful moments you can write about, like the intensity of battle or quiet moments of reflection. And we’ll go over the must-haves that will make your song abou this topic unforgettable. If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. ► Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 👇, and subscribe 👆 if you want more in-depth breakdowns like this one!

    18 min

  3. 10/29/2024

    #65 How To Write A Chorus - Lyrics For An Empowering Song

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hub . Michael Jackson knew the secret. A song can have incredible power over the audience. You’ve seen it—when the crowd sings along, especially during the chorus, something magical happens.According to Jackson, it’s more than just words. When people sing a chorus over and over, they enter the alpha state—where the subconscious mind kicks in. They start to internalize the lyrics, and in a way, become what they’re saying.But here's the exciting part: you can create that kind of power in your own songwriting! In this video, I’ll show you five powerful ways to write a chorus that doesn’t just sound good but actually empowers people. We’re talking about choruses that can impact your audience on a deep level, maybe even change how they see themselves or the world.And here’s the kicker—these five methods increase in power, depending on the level of impact you want to create. So, stick around, because we’re going to break down all five and get you writing choruses that really resonate!If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite empowering chorus?

    16 min

  4. 10/22/2024

    #64 Unpacking the Magic of "Nothing is Over" by Sunrise Avenue: A Powerful Love Story in Song

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hub -Let's look at the lyrics of Sunrise Avenue’s "Nothing is Over" and discuss why it’s such a powerful song. We’ll see how the first and last lines tell a story about a struggling relationship that still holds on with strong emotions and relatable words. We’ll break down the simple but powerful language and how it helps tell a deep love story full of hope and strength. ⚡Get the Lyric Blueprint: https://www.lyricmastery.com/lyricblueprint-014---------------------------If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019.Given this is a YT channel, and anyone can claim anything, here's the link to my Story Grid Editor Profile: https://storygrid.com/editors/melanie-naumann/ ► Don’t forget to like 👍, comment 👇, and subscribe 👆 if you want more in-depth breakdowns like this one!

    26 min

  5. 10/08/2024

    #63 Taylor Swift's Storytelling and Songwriting Explored

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hub Is storytelling truly the thing that sets Taylor Swift apart from every other music artist? In this video, I analyze Taylor Swift’s storytelling craft by examining her 11 studio albums and over 160 songs. Using 75 different storytelling criteria, I’ll break down where she excels, where she surprisingly needs to improve, and what her special sauce is that makes her who she is. As a Story Grid Certified Editor, I’ve dissected her entire discography to uncover the truth behind her storytelling techniques. If you’re a songwriter or just a fan of Taylor’s music, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of her best practices and learn how to apply them to your own craft. And if you’ve ever wondered how Taylor’s songwriting has evolved over the years, we’ll explore that, too.Stick around to find out: Is Taylor Swift as good of a storyteller as we all think she is?If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more in-depth storytelling breakdowns like this one! 👇 Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite Taylor Swift song, and do you think she’s a great storyteller?

    26 min

  6. 10/01/2024

    #62 Lyric Breakdown of a Crime Story - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hub - In this video, we dive deep into Vicki Lawrence's classic hit, breaking down its gripping story of betrayal, murder, and shocking twists.We'll cover everything from how the song begins and introduces its characters, to the hidden layers within the lyrics. Why are names important? What’s the impact of the narrator's relationship to the main character? And how does the song masterfully mislead the listener with its chorus?With key story moments dissected—from foreshadowing to a jaw-dropping climax—you'll see why this track’s storytelling is still unmatched. We’ll also explore the song’s clever use of an unreliable narrator and how it delivers a surprising yet inevitable ending.💡 What you'll learn:Using Red Herrings: Learn how to craft misleading clues in your story, like the song’s chorus, to keep your audience guessing until the very end—creating a more engaging, suspenseful experience.Telling a Gripping Story: Discover techniques for weaving character relationships and narrative tension into your storytelling—making your audience emotionally invested and eager for the resolution.Masterful Setup for a Payoff: Understand how to foreshadow and build towards an unexpected yet inevitable conclusion—leaving your audience satisfied with a clever, memorable twist.If you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019.Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

    31 min

  7. 09/25/2024

    #61 - 3 Ways to Include the Location in the Lyrics

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hub - Discover the 3 powerful ways to express the setting in your lyrics. Whether you want to hint at a place or make it central to your song’s story, I'll show you how to weave the setting into your song in a way that truly resonates. 💡 What you'll learn:- the only three ways to express the place in your song lyrics- lots of examples to see what option might be best for the song you're working on- why including the place can make your song so much strongerIf you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumann. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019.Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

    20 min

  8. 09/20/2024

    #60 How To Write A Song Based On A Story (Key Story Moments)

    ✅ Join my free community for songwriters who want to leverage the power of storytelling to write great songs that grow their fanbase & career.⁠lyricmastery.com/hubDiscover the five key story moments that allow you to hit every mark when telling a story - whether it's in your novel, your screenplay, or your song.In this video, we explore the 5 key moments for a cautionary and a prescriptive tale. Spoiler: They are the same, but there's one significant difference. And I show you in the video what that is. 💡 What you'll learn:- the powerful progression of a story that works so that you can tell a story that will keep your audience engaged- the progression of a prescriptive and a cautionary story- where to begin your story, where to end it, and what to put in the middle so that you are never lost and know exactly what to focus onIf you’re new to my channel, my name is Melanie Naumanni. I’m the creator of LyricMastery.com. It’s the place where you can master the craft of storytelling in songwriting and discover how to craft your lyric's content. I've been a story editor since 2015, and a Story Grid Certified Editor since 2019.Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below – I love hearing from you and I will read / reply to every comment. ► Subscribe to see a new video each week, and a breakdown of the 5 key story moments in a popular song each day.

    16 min
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About

The Story-First Songwriting Podcast helps you look BEYOND lyric structure and form AND focus on what's important: the CONTENT, the MESSAGE and the EXPERIENCE that your lyrics give your audience. We look at how to hook, move, and impact your audience. And we achieve that through the power of storytelling. In this podcast, you get amazing tools on how to craft, write, and revise your lyrics without hitting writer's block ever again. Hit subscribe and get ready to get to another level! We also have a free community on Skool: Story-First Songwriters.

Information

  • Creator
    Melanie Naumann - Story Grid Certified Editor
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Melanie Naumann - Story Grid Certified Editor
  • Show Website
    Story-First Songwriting by LyricMastery