Songwriters in Seattle

The theme for August 2026 is DRUG. As per usual, take it in whatever sense you want.

Themed Songwriting Challenge is a monthly event. We'll announce a theme each month, 4 weeks ahead of time. During the month leading up to the challenge, you'll have a chance to write a song based (perhaps loosely) on that theme.

At the actual meetup, we'll go in a circle and perform the songs we've written. In order to make sure everyone has a chance to perform, we're going to keep a timer on discussion after each song.

If you want to just come without a song and listen in, you're welcome to do that! We're limited to 15 performers due to time, and we'd like to leave the spots in this meetup for those performers, so if you want to come without a song, please just leave a comment here.

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ABOUT THE VENUE

The August meetup will be held at the Northgate Library in the Meeting Room. I'll be bringing a keyboard, as well as speakers that can be connected to a phone or a laptop (via 1/8" jack, USB-C, or Lightning connector).

In 2026, we're fully in-person! Themed Songwriting Challenge will be in Seattle-area libraries every month (depending on availability, either in Seattle Public Library branches or King County Library System branches).

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HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

Welcome to Themed Songwriting Challenge! When your turn comes around, please:

1. Introduce yourself and your song (Name, song title, anything else you’d like to add)
2. Tell us what kind of feedback you’re looking for, if any:

• No feedback
• Encouragement
• Critique: music, performance, lyrics, or some combination

This is your time and we’re here to give you whatever will be helpful for you. There’s no pressure to ask for any particular kind of feedback, or any feedback at all.

3. Perform your song! (You can perform live or use the speakers and/or laptop to play a recording.)

When giving feedback:

• Limit your feedback to what the performer asked for
• Critique the work, not the artist
• Good critique helps make the work the best version of itself that it can be

Hello songwriters!

We are continuing our Songwriter Support Group over Zoom and hope you will join us! This is a great chance to connect with fellow songwriters and hear what others are creating. And, as we have discovered over the past year, you can log in and share from almost anywhere!

The Zoom room will open at 6:50pm and we will start promptly at 7:00pm. Plan to login at least a couple minutes early to make sure you are there for the start of the meeting. We will post the Zoom link a day or two before the meeting.

Please read the "Virtual Rules" below as there are some minor and important requirements in order for you to participate and for this to be effective. Also, if you are new, please make certain your meetup setting allows you to receive private messages as that is how I communicate initially. If you have it turned off, you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MESSAGES AND I WILL REMOVE YOU FROM THE LIST TO ALLOW A WAITLISTED MEMBER TO ATTEND.

Looking forward to hearing your beautiful songs.

The requirements for your song:

A) Have your lyrics ready to share with the group. This can be done by sharing your computer screen or pasting your lyrics into the chat. If you have any questions, please send us a note and we'll be happy to help out.

B) You need to be able to perform it live OR have a recording of it that you can play over Zoom. If you have questions about this please contact me at least 48 hours ahead of the meeting.

Also…

Tell us what you’d like critiques of and we’ll verbally discuss only what each writer would like to hear about. It's not up to anyone in the group to make value judgements on anyone's work (it's good, it's not good). We're here to consider our songs from where they're at, with respect to the artistic work we're helping to nurture and grow.

The event is limited to 11 people. You must stay for the duration of the event as you would if you came in person. After 11 have signed up, a ‘yes’ rsvp goes on a wait list, so please don't RSVP yes to hold a spot if it's only a 50-50 chance you'll make it. NO SHOWS AND LAST MINUTE CANCELS WILL NOT HAVE PRIORITY FOR FUTURE CIRCLES.

New people and all genres and levels of music are welcome!