Is It Specific Enough?
Self-assessment checklist before submitting
Before you submit your song brief, run it through this checklist. If you can't check off most items, dig deeper. Specificity is the difference between a song that lands and one that floats away.
The Checklist
✓ Could a stranger identify this specific person from your description?
✓ Have you included at least one specific moment (not just general traits)?
✓ Have you shown, not told? (Scenes, not statements)
✓ Have you included at least one unexpected detail?
✓ Could this description apply to someone else? (If yes, add more specifics)
✓ Have you included sensory details? (What you saw, heard, smelled, felt)
✓ Does your description create a scene the listener can picture?
Notey's Pro Tip
If you can't check off most items, don't panic. Go back to your material and dig deeper. The specifics are there — you just need to find them.
The Red Flags
Watch out for these — they're signs you need more specifics:
- Words like "always," "never," "amazing," "wonderful" without examples
- Statements that could apply to anyone ("You're kind," "You're supportive")
- No specific moments, just general traits
- No sensory details — all abstract, no concrete
- Nothing that would surprise them or make them think "How did they remember that?"
How to Fix It
For every generic statement, ask: "What's the specific example?" For every trait, ask: "When did I see this?" For every feeling, ask: "What moment created it?" Keep asking until you have scenes, not statements.
Notey's Pro Tip
Run through this checklist before you submit. It's better to catch generic statements now than after the song is written.
Key Takeaway
Run your song brief through this checklist before submitting. If you can't check off most items, dig deeper. Specificity is the difference between a song that lands and one that floats away.