Writing Companion

This writing prompt is simple. Pick a song title and use it as the title for a short story.

You don’t need to refer to the lyrics, the singer who made the song famous, or the history of the song. Concentrate only on the song title as a title for your story. What story can you write to fit this title?

For example, what about I Can’t Get No Satisfaction, made famous by the Rolling Stones. Perhaps the title immediately makes you think of a story? If not, use the title as a start to ask yourself questions. WHO can’t get no satisfaction? WHAT’s the issue or conflict about? What’s the TONE going to be–humorous, scary, irritating? What’s the SETTING–trendy city bar, the mean streets, farm, yoga retreat on a tropical island?

To give you a start, I’ve listed the top 10 pop songs, by decade, from 1958-1998 (USA list I think). Of course, not every title will work for you. Pick the ones that fire your imagination.

Variant: Write a very short story, 200-500 words.

Variant: If you don’t have time to write a short story, sketch out a plot. List your characters, tell what do they do and think, and work out a climax.

Variant: Use your chosen song title as a prompt to write a draft opinion piece or reminiscence.

Variant: Use the title to freewrite in your journal. If you run dry, copy the title again and again until you come up with more to write. Alternatively, move to a second title and freewrite from this new starter.

Variant: Use this exercise in a writing group. Perhaps choose a few titles for members to consider. Share the different interpretations and approaches members take. Or select one title and carry out a group brainstorm of possibilities. Members can then go off and write what they want on this topic for the next meeting.

Variant: Use a chosen song title as a title or a first line of a poem.

The idea of using a song title comes from Hello Spacegirl.

TOP TEN POPULAR SONGS (probably USA)

1998

1. Too Close, Next
2. The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica
3. You’re Still The One, Shania Twain
4. Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden
5. How Do I Live, LeAnn Rimes
6. Together Again, Janet
7. All My Life, K-Ci and JoJo
8. Candle In The Wind 1997, Elton John
9. Nice and Slow, Usher
10. I Don’t Want To Wait, Paula Cole

1988

1. Faith, George Michael
2. Need You Tonight, INXS
3. Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison
4. Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
5. Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns N’ Roses
6. So Emotional, Whitney Houston
7. Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Belinda Carlisle
8. Could’ve Been, Tiffany
9. Hands To Heaven, Breathe
10. Roll With It, Steve Winwood

1978

1. Shadow Dancing, Andy Gibb
2. Night Fever, Bee Gees
3. You Light Up My Life, Debby Boone
4. Stayin’ Alive, Bee Gees
5. Kiss You All Over, Exile
6. How Deep Is Your Love, Bee Gees
7. Baby Come Back, Player
8. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, Andy Gibb
9. Boogie Oogie Oogie, A Taste Of Honey
10. Three Times A Lady, Commodores

1968

1. Hey Jude, The Beatles
2. Honey, Bobby Goldsboro
3. Love Is Blue, Paul Mauriat
4. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding
5. People Got To Be Free, Rascals
6. Sunshine Of Your Love, Cream
7. This Guy’s In Love With You, Herb Alpert
8. Stoned Soul Picnic, Fifth Dimension
9. Mrs. Robinson, Simon and Garfunkel
10. Tighten Up, Archie Bell and The Drells

1958

1. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry

2. Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis

3. Little Star, The Elegants

4. Oh Boy/Not Fade Away, The Crickets

5. Good Golly, Miss Molly, Little Richard

6. Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran

7. All I Have to Do is Dream, The Everly Bros

8. Yakety Yak, The Coasters

9. Book of Love, The Monotones

10. For Your Precious Love, Jerry Butler & the Impressions