You can use this guide as a starting point for outlining your song. It includes all of the major song sections, as well as some guidance about what you might want to include in each. Note that all of the pre-written tracks from our Track Library use this basic structure (see the guide for Using the Track Library for more information).

The Moment Before

Write down a few notes about what might happen in the moment right before your song occurs. If you're working with a book writer, you may even want to draft the whole scene, or part of the dialogue.

• What sets your character up for what they are thinking or feeling in the song?
• What might another character say to this character that they can respond to in the song?

Song Outline

VERSE 1

Write down a few notes, in prose, describing what the character might say in this verse.

• This first verse should respond to what happens in the moment before the song starts.
• You may also include a PRE-CHORUS 1 here, which provides an opportunity to shift from the feelings and ideas of the verse to those of the chorus.

CHORUS 1

Write down a few notes, in prose, describing what the character might say in this chorus.

• This is the central section of the song, which the rest of the song will revolve around.
• The chorus expands on the ideas of the hook phrase, which will probably appear at least once in this section.