Wish someone had told me that about 30 years ago. Would I still have done it? Of course. But I might have been able to slice some time off it and been able to handle it better. Namely:
#1. Had I not just been around the same guys all the time, I might have developed my writing in more applicable ways. Instead of trying to parrot the groups we were watching and just trying to be them, I might have learned more and gotten different input. Songs would have turned out better.
#2. Had I gotten out of my little bubble more, out of Birmingham, I might have seen and experienced more music and ways to approach it.
#3. Had I written MORE SONGS, I might not have recorded so much crap, thinking it was great.
#4. Had I done more VARIED CO-WRITING in Birmingham, made trips to Nashville, I might have had a different opinion of music, thereby being more open to co-writing in Nashville. Probably wasted three years concentrating on writing for myself as the artist.
While a couple of those songs would end up being cut, I still always wrote for me and my own vocal range and attitudes. And when the bottom dropped out of the "Country Soul boom" I wouldn't have been caught so flat footed.
#5. Letting more songs go to be recorded. Again, trying to be the ARTIST, I hung on to songs for myself that could have done more good being recorded by other artists.
#6. Realized earlier that contests were very limited in what they were going to do for a career.
#7. Probably should have signed with BMI. They tend to be a bit more intereactive with promising writers. ASCAP tends to "let the writer develop on their own." You become truer to yourself but don't rise as fast.
#8. Taken three years just writing with other people instead of trying to do an artist thing.
So could I have benefitted from ME? Absoutely. Wouldn't have put so many eggs in one basket.
MAB