You're trying to put
together a new album, or haven't written any music in a while, but every time
you sit down to write, the same thing happens. Either nothing comes to you, or
you feel like everything you come up with is so stale and predictable you can't
stand it.
Don't you hate when
THAT happens?
1. It's not you,
it's, well...
Listen, this is
something every songwriter and composer has struggled with, so first of all
give yourself a break. This is one of the things you are just going to have to
deal with from time to time. It actually means you are a little more advanced
than you ever have been. The fact that you are unwilling to put out ideas that
you feel like you've heard before means you are at a level where just anything
won't do. This is a good thing.
2. Try to not
be...you.
If you are like me,
you have go-to chords, instruments, or sounds you use to write with. If you are
having trouble writing, abandon those. Fight the urge to do what you always do
and pull out some other tools, instruments or sounds. If you're a guitar or
piano player and usually write at that instrument, write the words down and
write music to them without playing anything. This is actually better for melody writing
as it forces you to write a melody that is not informed or influenced by the
chords your hands are playing.
Try writing in a
different genre than you are used to. If you usually write worship, try a rock
song, If you usually write contemporary, try something more traditional in
nature.
“Breaking through writer's block is
like thinking out of the box: Both require an ability to imagine a world
outside your four walls or rearranging them to get a better view.” ― Susan J. McIntire
Break out of your box
by burning the box! Don't allow yourself to come back to your normal stuff until
you have done something different. Play in a new key. Write about different
subject matter. There are a lot of ways you can write other than the way you
usually have.
3. Do something
else.
This sounds extreme,
but maybe this is a time for you to do something else in your music ministry.
Maybe you're blocked because you haven't finished recording or
marketing the songs you have now. I currently have personal projects
backed up and think some of my reluctance to write is my brain MAKING me get
these other projects up and out before it lets me create new things.
Take this time that
you aren't writing and put your focus on the other creative and business things
you need to get out of the way. When the logjam is clear, the ideas will flow
once again.
4. Just Start Writing
“Don’t waste time waiting for
inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.
There are many times
I don’t feel like writing, but know I have to (for a client for instance).
Sometimes just making a conscious effort to sit down and write actually starts me writing. I
have to make time for it, and not just walking by the piano and throwing my
hands down (although, this is in fact another of my favorite methods ;)
Above all don’t panic, don’t fret, and don’t assume it’s all
over and you will never write anything ever again (although it feels like it!)
“Writer’s block is my
unconscious mind telling me that something I’ve just written is either
unbelievable or unimportant to me, and I solve it by going back and reinventing
some part of what I’ve already written so that when I write it again, it is
believable and interesting to me. Then I can go on.” ― Orson Scott Card
Have a great week!
EC
--
Eric Copeland is right there with you, and deals with writer’s
block all the time. There are times he thinks he’ll never write again, and then
a big bunch come. Be patient. If we can help you with your songwriting or any
music needs, check out http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com
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