Jim Peterik, a Grammy-winning songwriter, has written 18 Billboard Top 10 hits, including the perennial favorite "Eye of the Tiger" featured in Rocky III. Dave Austin is a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences "Presidential Award" recipient. Cathy Lynn is a screenwriter and nonfiction writer.

Foreword. Introduction. Part I: So You Want to Be a Songwriter. Chapter 1: Capturing That Solid-Gold Nugget. Chapter 2: Looking at the Genres. Chapter 3: Working It Out: Getting Your Song into Shape. Part II: Unleashing the Lyricist in You. Chapter 4: Snagging Your Listeners with a Hook. Chapter 5: Making an Impact with Lyrics. Chapter 6: Finding Your Voice in the Lyrics. Chapter 7: Using Rhymes in Your Songs. Part III: Creating Memorable Music. Chapter 8: Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Ride. Chapter 9: Making Melody Magic. Chapter 10: Using Chords in Songwriting. Chapter 11: The Cheating Side of Town: Shortcuts and Cool Technologies. Part IV: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Community. Chapter 12: Bringing Talent Together: Collaboration and Networking. Chapter 13: Online Marketing and Social Networking for Songwriters. Chapter 14: Writing for the Stage, Screen, Television, and More. Chapter 15: Getting Your Songs Heard: Making the Demo. Part V: Getting Down to Business. Chapter 16: Creating Goals and Meeting Deadlines. Chapter 17: Ka-Ching: How Your Song Makes Money. Chapter 18: Introducing the Business Players. Chapter 19: Looking at the Legal End: Dealing with Paperwork. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 20: Ten Songs You Should Know. Chapter 21: Ten Common Song-Related Contracts You Should Know. Index.