Brad,

All of this is encouraging to here.  You don't sound conceited at all, just
aware of the gifts God has given you.  You have to have this awareness in
order to use them, and I'm glad you have found a group of other songwriters
to critique and encourage you.




JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
Keep smiling!





>From: MV <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Echurch-USA The Electronic Church
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Directional Update
>Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 10:06:52 -0600
>
>In case anyone cares for a follow up on the songwriting direction I had
>asked for prayer a while back. I  asked God for several things, firstly was
>his will regarding the entire direction, and I guess evidence of his will
>to be revealed as I stepped out  in faith. In other words I  felt inside
>that because the songwriting kept coming up, and it is a desirous
>aspiration or dream of mine which he has somewhat  gifted me with some
>abilities, sounds conceited I do not mean it so, I feel like a plankton in
>a sea of more talented folks, that it would be irresponsible to nix
>that   inspiration and dream by tossing it off the side. With that I moved
>forward, had some books scanned, bought one or two and having them scanned,
>joined NSAI, Nashville Songwriters Association International, a group meant
>to help and network anyone from just starting, to professional writers.
>Having just sat in on my first regional meeting here in the Twin Cities
>Minneapolis/ St. Paul, I found it to be very encouraging and friendly
>folks. I was pretty apprehensive of what it might be like. I jumped in with
>both feet and submitted a song for critique   of just me and my guitar not
>knowing what kind of critiquing they do. I was very encouraged by the
>response. I did get some helpful ideas, however I was told the song is a
>pitchable song. Which means is worthy of sending to a publisher for
>consideration to see if there is any artist looking for such a song. Kind
>of the bottom of the food chain but very encouraging nonetheless. I was
>fortunate to just happen to sit next to a Nashville writer who was the
>guest speaker and got to talk to her during break as well. Although this
>week I'm behind in my actual writing and in the midst  of a dry spot as
>Julie mentioned she is as well, I was blessed with a few songs recently
>which good, bad, or indifferent, they are part of the growth and learning.
>The Nashville writer I sat next two is having a workshop up here in March
>which I'll be attending. The workshop is actually based off a  Berkely
>School of Music course she is in the midst of being accredited into their
>system. This is a great opportunity for only $45 as she is from this area
>and wants to contribute to her home area. I'm also making plans to attend a
>Song Camp through NSAI in February which I just found a potential roommate
>at the NSAI meeting last night, to share hotel expense. This is a very
>exciting time, although, humbling time. I was wiped out when I got home
>last night, I didn't realize the adrenalin I was shooting out having jumped
>in and submitted a song to be chewed up by peers who have been writing a
>lot longer than I. The best compliment I got was from a guy who said ...
>"I'll be singing that chorus all the way home..*I laughed in humility*...
>no really I will" he said. I pray for continued direction with this dream
>knowing full well god can remove the grace and ability anytime. I am
>setting one foot in front of the other and if the toes aren't stepped on,
>I  assume God is with me, if he seems down on my toes, I'll look for
>another direction he has for me. One last thought and something to pray
>about if you so choose. I have a desire   for a certain focus on song
>content, and praying whether that is God's will for my focus. Being a
>Christian , and aspirations to be an affective songwriter, one might
>automatically assume you'd write praise and worship, or quote, Christian
>market songs.  I believe there is definitely a need, however, where I seem
>to be drawn to is the Christian values and principles, wrapped in a less
>Christianese view by those who do not yet share those same values. That is
>to say a secular market that is being infiltrated by  the Word in a manner
>it can be affective outside of the Christian arena, if that is making sense
>to you. Anyway, that is where things sit, and in the end I hope and pray I
>am on God's trek for my life and not running off with my own agenda, I pray
>for stuff and he supplies it so I assume I'm where I need to be right now
>and continue to seek his direction. This all seems to me so selfish in my
>mind in a way, yet peace of it as a whole is overwhelming.
>
>Brad