MUST HAVE BOOKS, TOOLS AND RESOURCES
I am an Amazon Affiliate, the following links will lead you to my favorite books that are on sale at Amazon. By clicking through the link I receive a small portion of the purchase price. They don't raise the price to pay me, instead they share their profits with me. My profits from Amazon go to pay for hosting this site! Thank you!
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Look below for a regularly updated list of books on writing musicals, writing for the stage, composing musicals and composing for the theatre, software for writing music, and other resources for writing musicals!
MUSICAL THEATRE SPECIFIC
The Secret Life of the American Musical
How Broadway Shows Are Built
Jack Viertel
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By far one of the best books on writing or studying musical theatre. Mr. Viertel breaks down each element of a musical by chapter with examples from real shows and advice from himself and other professional theatre experts.
How Musicals Work
And How To Write Your Own
Julian Woolford
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Another expert level book for writing or studying musical theatre. Mr. Woolford goes in depth on dramatic structure for storytelling as it relates to musicals. A must for anyone serious about writing musicals.
Beating Broadway
How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations
Steve Cuden
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Another good one, not as organized as the above two, but still an excellent aid to construct brilliant, attention-grabbing musical storylines.
This one goes further by giving practical advice on how to interest producers to put up your work.
Writing The Broadway Musical
The Essential Reference for Musial Writers
Aaron Frankel
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This one surprised me. This book clearly explains the fundamentals of the three crafts of a musical—book, music, and lyrics with lots of examples from recent hits.
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I guess I judged this one by its cover before reading it!
PLAYWRITING
The Playwright's Process
Learning the Craft from Today's Leading Dramatists
Buzz McLaughlin
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I think the title is a little misleading, as I think it focuses more on digging deep inside yourself to discover the story that's trying to get out rather than how to actually write it, but it's chock full of author interviews which I found helpful.
The Art & Craft of Playwriting
Jeffery Hatcher
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Another misleading title, I would title it "The Art of Playwriting" more than the craft, however it was also chock full of interviews with authors.
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It's definitely one I keep within hands reach when I'm in the middle of a new musical.
The Playwright's Guidebook
An Insightful Primer on the Art of Dramatic Writing
Stuart Spencer
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I have not used this book frequently, I believe I read through it twice. There were a couple new pieces of advice in it, but overall I felt it was a technical walk-through of writing a musical.
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However, it has a great section about what happens after you write your musical.
Going Solo
Creating Your Own Dynamic One Person Show
Aaron Braxton
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This book focuses on the process of writing a one character show. I used it when I was in the middle of the Hammerstein-Sondheim Method and it really helped be grasp the differences between a full length musical and a solo performer show.
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My result was "A Kiss To The Dance Floor"
GENERAL WRITING
The Anatomy of Story
22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller
John Truby
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The BEST book for giving your story substance!
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This book remains by my side through the entire outlining and writing process, the author goes into depth about how to create believable stories, characters and is full of real world examples.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Secrets of Story
Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers
Matt Bird
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Another useful book which I tend to use more as a reference shelf book rather than read completely through it. I find myself turning to specific chapters during the writing process.
SONGWRITING
Song Maps
A New System To Write Your Best Lyrics
Simon Hawkins
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When you are struggling with getting a song on paper, this book may help. The author has plotted several popular types of songs visually which broke me from my songwriting block.
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There is an accompanying workbook too.
Song Maps
A New System To Write Your Best Lyrics
Simon Hawkins
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When you are struggling with getting a song on paper, this book may help. The author has plotted several popular types of songs visually which broke me from my songwriting block.
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There is an accompanying workbook too.
MUSIC COMPOSITION TOOLS
FORTE 8 Premium
Music Composition Software
by Forte
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I've been using this Midi software for years and it has finally landed in the portfolio of a developer that is keeping it alive. I especially love the clean easy interface that seems to have been built by a musician, for musicians. A midi keyboard is not required to use!
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My advice is to skip Version 9 - it's very buggy!
FL Studio 20 (or current version)
Music Composition Software
by Image Line
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After I compose in Forte, I transfer the files into FL Studio to create demos and backing tracks. Purchase includes lifetime updates and this product has been around for decades. It's also easily expanded with millions of VST plugins for practically any instrument you may need.
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HELPFUL YOUTUBERS & WEBSITES
I wish the internet had been around when I was growing up, I could have figured things out so much faster. But that's life I guess. I have compiled a list of online resources that have been beyond helpful to me! Check them out!
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
WEBSITES
WATCH AND LISTEN TO PLAYS & MUSICALS
Sometimes the best practice is watching other plays and musicals. The list below is a current compilation where you can do just that!