Welcome back to another episode of great writing advice on the CRAFT OF WRITING blog. Throughout 2025, we’ve focused on genres, and we’ve been looking at approaches to writing thrillers, mysteries, romances, and more. Today’s interview is a different and spectacular way to wrap up the year because we’re talking about writing lyrics with Margo Fitzgerald.

Margo writes under the pen name of Margo Fitz, and she has created a unique brand of Christian music as well as a Youtube channel to take her message to the world. Click the image below to go to her website and enjoy one of her songs:

You’ll also want to check out Margo’s entertaining youtube videos at https://www.youtube.com/@Act3withMargoFitz

* * *

The propeller pen giveaway is back!

Many thanks to my good friend and master craftsman Dr. Steve Hooley who has provided me with another unique and fabulous “Wilbur and Orville 1903” propeller pen. Hand crafted by Steve, the pen is made from Ash, one of the woods the Wright brothers used to build their first aircraft. The market value of this beautiful creation is around $80.00.

The name of each person who enters a comment will be put into the drawing for the pen. So join the conversation and earn a chance to win.  I’ll select the winner Wednesday night around 9 PM Central Time, so you’ll have more time to enter your comments! (Previous 2025 pen winners are not eligible to win.)

 

The Craft of Writing Lyrics with Margo Fitz Share on X

* * *

Welcome to the Craft of Writing Blog, Margo!

 

For those of us who are musically challenged, please define the different parts of a musical composition.

I wish I were a musical virtuoso and could “wax eloquent” in answering this request, but I’m very new to the world of music. It wasn’t until I was in my 70s that I was told by a music industry veteran that I had a gift for writing lyrics. I never played an instrument, nor did I sing. However, I believe God revealed this gift in Act 3 of my life, and I plan to create music until He closes the door. As I understand it, the parts of a musical composition include the melody, the vocals (when they’re part of the piece), and the lyrics. The proverbial question is: What comes first—the melody or the lyrics? In my case, it’s the lyrics. When I write, I usually begin with a structure of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, and chorus. There are countless books and podcasts on songwriting, and though I haven’t had time to dive into them yet, I’m sure many would help me grow as a lyricist.

What got you involved in writing lyrics?

I was attending an annual songwriting conference in Nashville three years ago called Tin Pan South.  My husband and I spent four days visiting various venues in Nashville listening to singer/songwriters perform their hits.  I met a fellow at this conference who is the Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association.  He and I became friends and as I was leaving, I said, “well, as always” — he turned around and said—”that would make a great song!”  I laughed but when I returned home, I sat down and began scribbling lyrics on a legal pad that became the song, “As Always.”  When I finished, I thought, well, what do I do now?  I googled and found a demo studio in New York City.  I sent them my lyrics and they put them to music.  When I received the completed song, I sent it to my friend in Nashville.  He invited me on a Zoom call and told me that was the best demo he had heard from a new songwriter in twenty years!  Well, that was the hook and here I am!

How did you manage to break in to a field you weren’t trained in?

I’ve asked myself the same question.  Most of my friends have been in the music business for thirty years or more, but my younger friends are just starting this journey in the ever-evolving field of music.  After I wrote “As Always,” I began to research various communities of songwriters on the internet.  I also joined the Nashville Songwriters Association, which has an exhaustive amount of help available to songwriters.  I was advised by my friend to keep writing, and the second song I wrote won a national award in Los Angeles.  I was approached by an entertainment attorney in Nashville who represented me for a year and arranged for me to co-write with songwriters around the world.  I slowly began to realize that this gift given to me is being used as a ministry to further God’s Kingdom, which is what I prayerfully hope it will continue to be.

What made you decide to use AI for the music and vocals to accompany your lyrics?

Initially, I recorded my music in various studios around Memphis.  These studio sessions would range in cost from $600 to $1000 per song.  I knew, as a ministry, I couldn’t afford to pay for every song to be given the studio treatment since there is virtually no compensation to recover those types of expenditures.  I also had no control of the actual production of the music.  I relied on the session musicians and producer to decide how it should sound.  Since I wasn’t equipped to offer any suggestions due to lack of musicality, the end product many times was not as I had hoped it would be.

Then, I began to read about the world of AI music platforms on the internet.  I went to Suno and paid for a professional membership to use their platform.  I loaded my lyrics onto the Suno platform and then began to choose from five pages of “prompts,” ranging from genres, to emotions, orchestration, tempo, male or female vocals, duets, etc.  Once I made my choices, if I didn’t like the outcome, I would simply choose different prompts and do it again.  It usually takes around 3 minutes to produce a song.  Some of my songs have had as many as 27 different versions.  So, I have now become a producer as well as a lyricist!

What is your process for writing the lyrics and finding the right music and vocals?

I’m always listening for a word, or in the world of music, a “hook” to build my song around.  This may come from a conversation, a TV show, another song, or just something the Lord has planted in me.  Then, I begin to write.  My Christian songs are different from what you hear on KLove or other outlets for Christian music.  Because I’m an Independent Artist, I have the freedom to write whatever is laid on my heart.  My music has thankfully resonated with many listeners around the world. Once I’ve completed my lyrics, I can just sense the direction the music should go based on what I’ve written. I wish I could be more explicit and formulaic, but it’s more about how I feel the song is best communicated.

How do you decide on the subject matter of your songs?

My music is always written with a Christian theme.  Many times, it is subtle, but it’s there.  It may be in a jazz format or R&B, or a little country, but the theme is always about the Lord and the journey of faith.

How long does it take you from concept to publication?

I may sit on the lyrics for a week or I may write a song in an hour.  Once I’ve completed it, I begin the music production with Suno.  Occasionally, I will rewrite the song after I’ve heard it with music until I feel it sounds right.

How do you measure success with your music?

My music is distributed worldwide through a digital streaming platform that I use.  The largest streaming platform is Spotify.  If I’m going off numbers of streams, or how many times my music has been played, I am grateful that my streams on Spotify total over 1.3 million to date.  My music has also been played in over 165 countries.  Spotify also allows listeners to download music that they like to their own personal playlists.  My very small catalogue of 32 songs has been downloaded over 25,000 times to personal playlists.

My prayer is as my music is placed on secular playlists, there may be a listener who doesn’t know about the Lord who will hear a verse that resonates with him.  Only the Lord knows who is listening and what is happening. It’s been very gratifying to receive text messages from people in Gaza, Afghanistan, Thailand, etc., expressing their gratitude for something that they have heard in one of my songs.

Do you have a particular audience you write for?

I really don’t. I’m writing for believers, seekers, agnostics, or for anyone at any age who needs encouragement and reassurance that they are not alone in this life and that this life we’re living is not all there is.

What advice would you give a beginner who wants to write lyrics?

I think all of us have a little poet residing in us that wants out!  I would suggest, as I was told, to write, write, write.  And, if you’re so inclined, Suno has a personal membership…. very reasonably priced…that you could try and see how your words sound as they are put to music

Who are your favorite lyricists? Singers?

Many times, I derive my theme for a song from something I’ve read in the Bible, so that’s my favorite source for lyrics and we know who wrote that!  Also, I like Carole King, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Chris Tomlin.  There are so many great lyricists across so many genres. My favorite singers are Andrea Bocelli, Josh Grobin, Pavarotti, Sandi Patty — any of the big voices that convey emotion!

Are you working on a song now?

I’m always thinking about a song and have what I call a “hook book” where I write down three- or four-word phrases that might lend themselves to becoming songs one day.  Every song should have a hook, as they call it, which is basically a catchy or memorable phrase that will grab a listener’s attention and have it stick with them.  For example, I know we all recall “Sweet Caroline” and its hook: “good times never seemed so good, so good, so good, so good”!

Where can we find out more about you and your songs?

My music is available for free across all social media platforms.  I also have video podcasts that have been created about my crazy life, as well as music videos that can be found below:

Website: https://www.margofitzlyricist.com/
YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Act3withMargoFitz
YouTube Music: https://www.youtube.com/@margofitzlyricist
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6itlKk1q6u9rQ2Zk1yAzKR
Facebook Music: https://www.facebook.com/margofitzlyricist
Facebook Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/p/Act-3-with-Margo-Fitzgerald-61574027922001/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margofitzlyricist
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@act.3.with.margo
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0BBSS13WH/margofitz?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.margofitzlyricist.com%2F

 

The Craft of Writing Lyrics with Margo Fitz Share on X

***

Meet Margo Fitzgerald

 

Margo Fitz is a native of the music city of Memphis, Tennessee and attended college in Knoxville and Memphis. In her varied career, she taught school and supervised teachers in area school systems. Margo worked in travel, real estate and the private business sector selling learning systems to schools and colleges throughout North America.

Later in life, Margo discovered she had a gift for inspirational and gospel music songwriting. She became a member of the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Association and began to collaborate with singer/songwriters from around the world.

Her music has garnered significant streaming numbers in a short span of time—nearly half a million streams to date. Her songs have been featured on the Christian Life Radio network which has over 1.5 million listeners across the globe. Her song “Finally Free” was given one of six national honorable mentions from the Music Hustler Awards in Los Angeles.  The song also appeared on four Top 10 lists for almost a year on the website Broadjam.

Margo hosts the “Act 3: Laughs, Lyrics, and Life Lessons” podcast on YouTube which encourages people to embrace the joy and adventure of life’s later years.

 

***

ALL KAY’S EBOOK MYSTERIES ARE ON SALE – 99¢ EACH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR!

 

         

INCLUDING THE NEW REEN & JOANIE DETECTIVE AGENCY MIDDLE-GRADE MYSTERIES

  

Click an image to go to the Amazon book page.