"As with anything, experience and practice make your skills more proficient. I’ve worked at songwriting for many years and I hope that with each song I write I get better and better at my skill." ~ Diane Warren, Multi Hit Songwriter
What has worked before is never as good as something that has never been tried before, even if it doesn't work."~ Jimmy Webb, hit songwriter
"A songwriter's supreme challenge is being complex and simple at the same time." ~Paul Simon
"Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece" ~ Nadia Boulanger, composer and teacher to music legends such as Quincy Jones, Philip Glass, Aaron Copland, etc.
"Cher hated 'If I Could Turn Back Time.' I had to beg her, literally, on my knees, just to try it. Happens all the time." ~ Diane Warren, Multi Hit Songwriter, talking about pitching her song to Cher
“If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.” ~ Billy Joel, Songwriter
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones" ~John Cage, Composer
"Beyond a certain point, the music isn't mine anymore. It's yours." ~ Phil Collins, Songwriter
"I think people appreciate a songwriter who shows different sides. The whole angst thing is cool, but if that's all you've got, it's just boring. Everything I write, whether it's happy or sad, has a sense of humor to it" ~ Katy Perry, singer-songwriter of #1 Hit "I Kissed I A Girl"
"There's a saying, 'It's easy to write songs, but very difficult to write great songs.' I'm going through that right now." ~ Bryan Adams
"Write fearlessly" ~ Pat Pattison
For more information on the USA Songwriting Competition, go to:http://www.songwriting.net