# Don't overcook it Lori McKenna compares writing a song to chasing a wounded bird down the road: it leads you, but not in the direction you expect, and you've got to catch it without wounding it.[^1] KT Tunstall replies to the question, "How do you write songs?" saying, "My suspicion is that it is partly by not getting in its way."[^2] To use a different analogy, [[Don't coddle your song]]. And when recording, [[Don't effect the natural character out of your record]]. [[Let yourself sound like yourself]]. [^1]: [[Saved by a Song]] pg. 2 [^2]: [Writers Room: How Do You Write Songs? by KT Tunstall - American Songwriter](https://americansongwriter.com/writers-room-how-do-you-write-songs-by-kt-tunstall/)