What is Song Excavator?
The Song Excavator Lyric Writing Card Deck is a pocket-sized tool designed to bring structure and clarity to your lyric-writing process. It helps you turn self-evaluation and refinement into empowering steps rather than intimidating obstacles. Each card is packed with prompts and techniques that guide you through every aspect of songwriting, from generating ideas to polishing your lyrics. The deck is designed to foster an environment where creativity thrives, collaboration becomes constructive, and the fear of imperfection is replaced with confidence in progress.
Why I Created It
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a songwriter is navigating collaboration with people who are deeply emotionally attached to their work. While that passion is invaluable, it can sometimes create resistance to constructive feedback or make the process feel like walking through one of those laser security systems in spy heist movies. I’ve seen how quickly collaboration can stall when ideas are treated as untouchable or when feedback feels like criticism instead of a path to improvement.
I created Song Excavator to address this very issue. The deck acts as an impartial third party, introducing prompts and questions that guide the creative process without stepping on anyone’s toes. Instead of one person having to “fix” another’s work, the cards encourage a shared dialogue about the song’s potential, keeping the focus on the craft rather than personal ego. By creating a system where ideas are seen as fluid and evolving, not precious or static, Song Excavator helps collaborators move past emotional roadblocks and get back to what matters: writing the best song possible.
How It Works
The cards are color-coded into categories like concept, quality control, sensory information and more. Each card offers specific prompts—“What senses are involved?” or “How were key events depicted?”—to help tackle common creative challenges. You can work through the deck in order for a structured approach or shuffle it for a spark of inspiration. By introducing neutral, guided prompts, Song Excavator turns songwriting into a manageable, collaborative, and even fun process!
For Creatives of All Levels
Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter refining your process or a beginner diving into lyrics for the first time, Song Excavator meets you where you are. It’s a flexible, portable tool that breaks down the barriers of ego, emotional attachment, and creative doubt. Great songs aren’t born perfect—they’re shaped by effort, experimentation, and an openness to change. With Song Excavator, you’ll have everything you need to push your creativity further and craft your best work yet.
