Heartbreak can be such an impossible feeling to describe, but oh, how we feel it! In this Salon, join singer, songwriter and Girls Write Now alum Anna J Witiuk to explore the history, style and technique behind some of Anna’s favorite heartbreak songs of all time!
“When we make others feel our joy through our words, when we make others cry in solidarity and empathy, when we express when our heart is in pain, that’s when we know our art is working.” – Anna J Witiuk
What to Expect
- Listen to Anna’s heart-swelling songs and influences
- Write a song that speaks to your experience
“When we express when our heart is in pain, that’s when we know our art is working.”
— ANNA J WITIUK
Prompt #1
Write a letter addressed to a person who “broke your heart,” hurt your feelings, or lied to you in some way.
Prompt #2
Circle the keywords (words that stand out and/or are important to you) in your letter. Can you find a theme? These keywords are a great way to find a hook or repeated chorus for your song.
Prompt #3
Write the chorus/refrain to your song. 2-4 rhyming lines that hold the driving objective/motivation of the song. In your song, these lines will be repeated or returned to.
Hear the rhythm of your words—are they in the same rhythmic time as each other? Think of the type of heartbreak song this—pleading? angry? resolute? etc.
(Having trouble starting your chorus or refrain? Use these examples as jumping off points)
Example 1: Refrain from “Jolene,” “Jolene!” is repeated in heightening drama, with the 2nd and 4th lines rhyming.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can
Example 2: In many old stye, 12-bar blues, a verse can be comprised of one line, repeated 3 times, with a rhyming fourth line at the end
from “Careless Love Blues”
Oh it’s love, oh, love, oh, careless love (x3)
Can’t you see what careless love has done
Anna J Witiuk
Anna J Witiuk is a singer, musician, songwriter and storyteller from NYC. Anna's sound is good-hearted honky- tonk, crooning blues, folk story and drama cabaret. She can often be found performing around her hometown of NYC with her band, Anna j & the Somethin Else. She shares: “I grew up in NYC, in the East Village, and in my teenage years I was a mentee with GWN. It was a life-changing organization for me as a budding writer, performer and creative. The bond with my mentor was deep and it remains to this day. I am so happy that I am able to give back to GWN now by being a mentor, and to help in maintaining the impact and magic of this organization for current mentees and mentees to come. Love you!”