How to Write 10 Song Titles in 10 Minutes (And Why You Should)

You sit down to write a song. Stare at the blank page.

Nothing.

You wait for inspiration to strike, but the muse seems busy. Maybe she’s on vacation.

The truth? She probably won’t show up until you start doing the work yourself.

Here’s how to beat the blank page and light your creativity on fire—10 song titles in 10 minutes. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. But the benefits go way deeper than just a list of ideas.

This exercise turns your brain into a hook machine. It silences your inner critic. It gets you writing faster—and with way better results.

So, let’s break it down and get you started.

Why Bother With Song Titles First?

Because your title is the hook. It’s the headline of your song. It sets the mood, tells the story, and lodges itself in the listener’s brain.

Think about it:

• “Fast Car”
• “Traitor”
• “Something in the Orange”
• “I Remember Everything”

You feel something before you even press play.

The best song titles are short, specific, and emotionally loaded. They hint at a story. They beg for answers.

And they help you write the rest of the song faster. Because now you’ve got a theme, a tone, and an anchor.

What Happens When You Do This Every Day

You stop overthinking. You stop waiting for perfect. You write more songs—better songs.

One strong title can trigger an entire verse. Ten? That’s ten seeds you can grow into full songs later.

Even if 8 out of 10 sucks (and they might), you’re still two titles closer to your next hit.

It’s not about being brilliant. It’s about momentum.

So here’s how to get it.

Write 10 Song Titles in 10 Minutes: The Method

Step 1: Set a Timer
10 minutes. No distractions. No overthinking. Use a timer on your phone or computer and commit to staying in motion the whole time.

Step 2: Pick a Source of Inspiration
Choose one of the following as your raw material. Don't combine—this is about speed and focus.

• A random playlist (Spotify’s Top 50 works great)
• A stack of poems or books near your desk
• Text messages or journal entries
• News headlines
• A photo or image that makes you feel something
• A short story or character idea
• One vivid memory from your life
• A specific emotion you want to write about
• Colors, objects, seasons, weather
• Something you overheard in a conversation

Step 3: Write Down 10 Titles Without Editing
No second-guessing. No backspacing. You're not writing good titles. You're writing ten titles.

If you get stuck, write the worst title you can think of just to keep moving. Keep your pen or fingers moving, even if it feels dumb.

What Makes a Song Title Work?

Here’s what you’re aiming for—not perfectly, just in the spirit of:

• Short – 1 to 4 words max. Long titles can work, but short ones hit faster.
• Concrete – Use things you can see, touch, smell, or name. “Lavender Haze” > “Love is Strange”
• Emotional – Titles that hint at heartbreak, hope, revenge, longing, etc. “Traitor,” “Lose Control”
• Curious – Something that raises a question: “Stick Season,” “Something in the Orange,” “U Proof”
• Rhythmic or Alliterative – Bonus if it feels good to say: “Bad Blood,” “Bejeweled,” “Permission to Dance”

Need a Jumpstart? Try These Title Templates:

You don’t have to use them forever. But they’re great training wheels.

1. [Color] + [Object or Feeling]
   Examples: Lavender Haze, Blue Ain’t Your Color, Golden Hour
2. I [Verb] You
   Examples: I Remember Everything, I Hope You’re Happy Now, I Hate U, I Love U
3. [Time/Place] + [Emotion or Action]
   Examples: 7:00 AM, Back to December, Dancing in the Dark
4. [Something] in the [Something]
   Examples: Something in the Way, Ghost in the Machine, Angel in Disguise
5. [One Unusual Word]
   Examples: Traitor, Delicate, Stick Season, Bejeweled, Exile

Let’s Walk Through a Real 10-Minute Session

Let’s say I grab a photo of a crumpled love letter and a half-empty glass of whiskey on a table.

I set my timer. 10 minutes.

Here’s what might come out (no edits, just raw):

1. I Kept the Ashes
2. I Should’ve Burned That Letter
3. One Last Lie
4. Sunday at Midnight
5. Paper-Cut Heart
6. One More Sip
7. Empty Glass, Full Heart
8. Smoke in My Throat
9. I Read It Again Anyway
10. Words I Couldn’t Say

Not all of these are winners. But I’ve got at least three, which I could build a chorus around right now.

What To Do With Your Titles Next

Pick one. Build a chorus idea around it—just a single four-line idea.

Or drop it into your lyric triad (content → senses → thoughts).

Or use it to build your opening line. (Something like: “Your words still smell like bourbon and cheap regrets.”)

Or save the whole batch for later. I keep a running list of every title I write. When I sit down to write, I never start cold.

Pro Tips to Make the Most of This

• Do it daily – This is a daily workout. Make it your morning warmup or pre-writing ritual.
• Don’t judge while writing – Separate idea generation from evaluation. Kill your darlings later.
• Use paper if you can – Writing by hand slows your brain down just enough to be intentional without overthinking.
• Build a “Title Bank”—Keep a document, spreadsheet, or notebook full of titles. Add to it. Pull from it. Always have ammo.
• Tag your titles – Group them by vibe: heartbreak, revenge, nostalgia, empowerment, summer love. When you want to write a certain kind of song, you’ve already got 20 ideas waiting.

Why This Works So Damn Well

Because it bypasses the perfectionist in your head. Because it forces momentum. Because it separates thinking from writing.

You’re training your brain to see ideas everywhere. You're building a reflex. A habit. A superpower.

You’ll stop being the writer who waits for inspiration. You’ll start being the writer who creates it.

Let’s Recap

To write 10 song titles in 10 minutes:

1. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
2. Pick one source of inspiration.
3. Write down 10 titles without stopping, editing, or judging.
4. Save them in a bank for future songs.
5. Repeat every day or before every writing session.

You want to write more hits? Start with more hooks.

Your best song might start with the next weird little title you scribble down in a 10-minute sprint.

So grab a pen. Set the timer. Start writing.

You’ve got 10 titles waiting to be born.

Download the FREE Speed Songwriting Cheat Sheet

You Can Start and Finish 365 Songs This Year, Know Exactly Where to Start and Exactly What to Say in Any Genre, All While Playing a Fun Game That Improves Your Skills Fast!

Enter your first name and email address below and click “GET ACCESS NOW!” to get the Speed Songwriting Cheat Sheet delivered to your inbox!

Enter Your First Name

Enter Your Email Address

We guarantee 100% privacy. Your information will not be shared.