The Practice of Songwriting, with Michael Flannery

What happens when you reach what looks like the finish line at the very beginning of your career?

On this episode of YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, host Mark Stinson talks with musician, songwriter, sound designer, professor, and author Michael Flannery about what happens after the big break—and why building a sustainable creative practice may ultimately matter more than chasing a single creative breakthrough.

Michael's Website

@thepracticeofsongwriting on Instagram

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsflannery/

Michael was signed to LAVA/Atlantic Records and toured opening for Outkast on the Stankonia tour in 2001. Since then, he has followed a simple mantra: “Make a living with sound.”

And that's exactly what he's done.

Over the past 25 years, Michael has worked as a musician, songwriter, producer, film composer, sound designer, and children's music performer. Today, he teaches sound recording, audio post-production, and songwriting at Stevens Institute of Technology, helping the next generation of musicians develop both their craft and their creative practice.

His songs have been recognized by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Parents' Choice Awards, American Library Association, and International Songwriting Competition. His new book, The Practice of Songwriting, will be published by Bloomsbury this November.

In This Episode, Mark and Michael Explore:

• Creating “a playground with a fence.” Why complete creative freedom isn't always freeing—and how boundaries and constraints can actually give creators more room to experiment.
• Practice over outcome. Michael reflects on starting his career with what many musicians consider the ultimate goal—a major-label record deal—and then discovering how to build a creative life that could last for decades.
• Building creative habits that stick. Why writing regularly matters even if you're only trying to create one great song, and how consistency helps turn occasional inspiration into a genuine creative practice.
• The science and craft of a great hook. What music theory, rhythm, melody, repetition, language, psychology, and psychoacoustics can teach us about creating the elusive “earworm.”
• Making music theory less intimidating. Michael shares how musicians can begin understanding the mechanics behind music without allowing theory to overwhelm their creative instincts.
• Condensing a five-act story into a three-minute song. How songwriters can communicate character, emotion, conflict, and story when they have only a few minutes—and sometimes just seconds—to capture the listener.
• Writing for children versus adults. Michael draws on his experience to explore how simplicity, clarity, and storytelling change depending on the audience.
• Teaching as a creative practice. After years of teaching songwriting, recording, and production, Michael explains what his students have taught him about creativity and communicating ideas effectively.
• The next generation of hitmakers. Today's musicians have access to recording and production technology that would have been unimaginable at the beginning of Michael's career. What does that accessibility mean for creativity?
• Songwriting in the age of AI. Michael and Mark discuss AI-generated music platforms such as Suno, whether easier production actually leads to better songs, and which parts of the creative process still need to remain deeply human.

The Bigger Creative Question

While this conversation begins with songwriting, Michael's approach applies far beyond music.

Whether you're a writer, designer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, artist, or another kind of creative professional, the challenge is similar: How do you create enough structure to support your creativity without constraining it—and develop a practice that keeps you creating long after the initial inspiration disappears?

Michael's career offers an important reminder that a creative life isn't built around one hit, one big break, or one finished project. It's built through the practice of continuing to make the work.

Connect with Michael Flannery

Visit thepracticeofsongwriting.com to learn more about Michael and The Practice of Songwriting.

Listeners can also:

• Download the first few chapters of the book for free
• Access bonus songwriting content
• Learn about upcoming songwriting workshops
• Explore resources for developing a stronger and more consistent songwriting practice

Keep Unlocking Your World of Creativity

If this conversation sparked an idea, share the episode with another songwriter, musician, or creative person who could use some inspiration to strengthen their own creative practice.

Be sure to follow YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, rate and review the podcast on your favorite listening app, and join Mark Stinson for more conversations with creative practitioners from around the world.

Keep exploring, keep practicing, and keep unlocking YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY.