Robin Owens
Bio
Singer/songwriter, fiction writer, writing professor. Berklee College of Music grad (songwriting, 2020) and Emerson Alum (creative writing MFA, 2023). Former librarian, marching band nerd, skiier. Current reader, cat person, Bostonian.
Stories (16/0)
Five Things to Fix In Your Lyrics
So many elements go into writing great lyrics: rhythm, rhyme, placement in the bar, theme. It can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start when you want to improve. Here are five things you can fix in the lyrics to songs you've already written to make them even better- and by doing so, you'll maybe not even have to think about them in the future! For ease, the steps start with big picture things and zoom in from there.
By Robin Owensa day ago in Beat
You've Finished a Song... Now What?
Congratulations on finishing your song! Whether this is the first one you've finished or you're a seasoned songwriter, you might wonder what your next steps should be. I've been writing since I was nine, and I have some recommendations for what you might choose to do now.
By Robin Owens2 days ago in Beat
How to Become a Better Songwriter
When I got to Berklee and it was finally time for me to start taking classes in my major, I was a little worried that the two beginning songwriting courses, Lyric Writing 1 and Songwriting 1, would be too basic for me. I'd been writing since elementary school-- surely I'd know everything in the intro courses?
By Robin Owensabout a year ago in Beat
Why You Should Write Out Lyrics to Songs You Like as a Songwriter. Top Story - April 2023.
If you're anything like me, you spend/spent a lot (I mean a lot) of time in class growing up writing the lyrics to your favorite songs on hand outs and in notebooks during class. Sure, sometimes I drew eyes or those 3-D boxes, but mostly I just wrote the lyrics to "All Too Well" by Taylor Swift and marveled at their beauty.
By Robin Owensabout a year ago in Beat
5 Things to Do As A Beginner Songwriter
Starting out as a beginner songwriter can be intimidating. When I started writing songs I wanted to be a good writer right away but I wasn't quite sure how to get there. Now, thirteen years and a songwriting degree after writing my first song, I'm writing this to give you all the advice I'd go back and give myself when I first started writing songs.
By Robin Owens2 years ago in Beat
My Summer Camp YA-Romance Moment
Almost all of my embarrassing moments related to romance happen because of texting/Facebook messenger. Maybe our parents really did have it better because at least they never accidentally exposed to their crush that they have a crush on them.
By Robin Owens3 years ago in Confessions
Tips For Getting an Echocardiogram
If you've seen even just one episode of Grey's Anatomy (or any other medical show), you've probably heard someone order or refer to an "echo." An echo, or echocardiogram, is a diagnsostic test that uses an ultrasound to look at your heart. I had to get one recently, and I thought I'd give you my recommendations for how to make it go as smoothly as possible.
By Robin Owens3 years ago in Longevity
A Day In My Life With Brain Fog
Waking Up I woke up at 12:30 PM (okay, I really woke up at 7 AM because my cat woke me up. I spent three hours playing with her then fell back asleep) and headed upstairs. I made coffee and while I put my sugar in it, I lost count of how many spoonfuls I'd done. I thought I'd done two, so I put another in. It turned out I'd already done three so I ended up with a too-sweet cup of coffee.
By Robin Owens3 years ago in Longevity
Sure, It Could Be Worse, But It Still Sucks
When the global pandemic started earlier this year, no one knew just how much the world was going to change. I think it's fair to say that, like with most bad things, we all thought "this could never happen to me." But it's happening, and it's happening to all of us.
By Robin Owens4 years ago in Motivation
7 Different Songwriting Methods, And Why You Should Try All Of Them
I'll be the first to admit that I've developed some pretty strong habits in the over ten years that I've been writing songs. I tend to use some chord progressions more than others, and I tend to focus more on lyrics than melody. But the biggest habit I've fallen into is writing songs the same way every time: by sitting down at my piano or with my guitar and my lyric book and writing the song from start to finish. I write the melody, the harmony, and lyrics at the same time, from verse one to the last chorus.
By Robin Owens4 years ago in Beat
How To Make the Most of Your Library Card (From a Former Library Employee)
Take it from someone who used to work in a library: people underestimate them. Sure, we all know they're brimming with hardcovers and paperbacks, but I bet you there's an amazing feature at your library that you're missing out on. I don't even need to go to your library to tell you there's something your library offers that you're not utilizing.
By Robin Owens6 years ago in Lifehack
How to Write a Perfect Thank You Note: A Crash Course for Beginners. Top Story - January 2018.
In this day and age, shooting off a quick "thank you" text can seem like enough after receiving a gift, but not everyone who gifts us is from our generation, and sometimes the short period of time it takes to write a real "thank you" can make someone's day.
By Robin Owens6 years ago in Lifehack
