Cinderella Years ago, I was set up to write with a female writer that I didnt know. We started writing and things were going well. We were writing about a woman that feels trapped in her life. So, I threw out a line about Cinderella. My co-writer SCREAMED, covered her ears, and started rocking back and forth. I sat in stunned silence as she looked at me and said NEVER say that word in my presence again!!! I was speechless and really didnt know what word had caused such a violent reaction. I thought through what I had said and asked Are you talking about Cinderella? Another scream, ears covered, and rocking. This time she hissed at me That word has oppressed women for YEARS!!! By this time, Im thinking Im on candid camera or that my publisher has punked me. I wasnt quite sure how to continue, but I started trying to explain myself without saying The Word again. I told her that I thought the woman in our song probably felt like the character I had mentioned. Trapped in her life, abused, unhappy, etc. She would have nothing of it and was very ugly about it. Im usually pretty easy to get along with, but I was at the breaking point. I said, Before we continue, are there any other words I cant say? She accused me of being mean and I just said, This is one of the strangest things that ever happened to me, so I want to make sure it doesnt happen again by finding out ALL the words yo dont let people say. She went off and began yelling at me, so in my very best exorcist voice, I began saying Cinderella, Cinderella, Cinderella..... She began screaming again and trying to cover her ears as she packed her belongings and RAN out the door and out of our publishing company. My publisher poked his head out the door and asked What in the world did you do to her? She didnt like Cinderella was the only reply I could think of. All that to say, dont be like that in a co-write. Allow other people to differ with your opinions about life, religion, politics, songwriting, or whatever it might be. You cant work with people if there is a list of words they cant say or if you are going to preach, scream or any of the other bizarre things she did. For a list of my Top Ten Ways To Kill A Co-Write, check out the blog at the bottom of the web site homepage today. Marty Dodson Co-Founder Songtown
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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