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How To Become a Better Music Writer In One Month

The Music Writer Exercise is coming, and you would be a fool to ignore the opportunities it presents.

As the saying goes, everyone is a critic. The age of social media has given everyone a voice to talk about everything they experience. One glance at Facebook or Twitter at any time of day will reveal countless opinions about everything, from entertainment to fast food. You don’t need a degree or any amount of experience to classify yourself as a critic, just like you don’t necessarily need any measurement tools to claim you’re an influencer. Did your friend do something because you suggested it? Congratulations. You’re an influencer.

Being a music writer in 2020 is a strange thing. You believe your passion for music and your knowledge of its history are so great that people should take an interest in your perspective on an industry that millions try and fail to join annually. Everything a music writer attempts today is challenging to achieve. Successfully pitching stories is hard, securing exclusive access or content is hard, and finding an audience for your work often feels impossible. That said, there may be no more excellent feeling in this life than writing something you believe in that connects with people, even if “people” turns out to be someone you’ve known for years.

Writing about music is a passion many possess, and we want to make you better at conveying your thoughts on artists and songs with a challenge. Music Writer Exercise, otherwise known as #MWE, is a month-long writing challenge that will expand your palette and improve your wordplay. Watch the video below for more information.

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10 lessons from 10 years in music writing

Time flies when you’re chasing your dreams, and I’ve been running after mine for ten years as of this week. It was March of 2008 when I first launched a music blog of my own, and in the time since I have accomplished virtually everything I initially set out to achieve. This is both wonderful and terrifying, as I still have a lot of life and career left, but I try to look on the bright side of life whenever possible.

The last decade has provided countless learning opportunities. Some arose from natural growth, while others were caused by mistakes made on my part. Through it all, I tried my best to remain humble, calm, and open-minded to the possibility that I had no idea what I was doing (because I didn’t). That decision made all the difference, and as I look toward the future, I’m hoping I can apply the lessons learned from the last ten years in my everyday life. You can do the same if you so desire. Here is the list:

1. Don’t be a dick (aka the golden rule)

2. Grammar matters (kind of)

3. Everybody talks

4. Networking will get you everywhere

5. Always follow-up

6. Your peers are watching

7. No job lasts forever. Change is the only constant.

8. If you’re in it for the money, you won’t be around long

9. Write every day, especially when you don’t feel like it. Even the best writers fight resistance on a daily basis

10. Leaking album or tour information is not the same as breaking news.

I could go on, but if you can follow these rules, you will go far.

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