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This article was written by Arend Raby at Sweetwater. We’ve publishing an entire series of articles in the Lounge from Sweetwater. Keep your eyes peeled and check back often!
As a longtime singer/songwriter, I would have to say that one of the biggest banes to my existence has been writer’s block. Many of you surely know the feeling. There is nothing worse than enduring an extended period of time where the urge to create something doesn’t subside, but there is simply nothing there. It can be very frustrating, and the more we dwell on the fact that our creative resources seem to have “run dry,” the more the paradigm seems to perpetuate itself. Heck, an astute critic would likely notice that I’m attempting to think of something clever to finish this article with as I ramble through its introduction.
Levity aside, I’m going to share a few pointers that will help you get through those ugly periods of time. These are things I’ve found that seem to work for me. I hope the same is true for you.
1. Analyze the situation…but not too much.
We can usually, if we’re honest with ourselves, pinpoint the source of the problem pretty quickly. When I look back, periods of writer’s block have been alongside moments of my life that were…well…blissfully mundane. Others may be affected in the opposite way. Some are prone to being affected by an abrupt change to their daily routine (new job, family situation, etc.). Whatever the case may be, the logical solution is to try to counter it. I know this sounds a bit like pop psychology, but it really works. In my situation, things were too normal, with life in general. I’m not saying I immediately ran out and robbed a bank or anything, but I looked for things I could do that I hadn’t done in a while. I also made a point to make changes to my daily routine. It helped significantly.
2. Look for the moment.
I don’t think that anyone will argue that some of the most memorable tunes we’ve heard, especially in the “songwriter” genre, have been about strong emotions. The almost cliche idea of a love song comes to mind, as does the raw anger expressed in heavier music. It’s catchy because it’s emotional, and most of us can empathize or sympathize with what’s being emoted. So…what if we’re not in love or miffed about something? Remember a time when you were. Don’t necessarily grab the moment to the literal degree, but rather try to re-experience the emotion that resulted from it. Consider loss, anger, love, and bliss as abstracts, and put the pen to paper.
3. Use a Thesaurus.
I can’t tell you how many times words and phrases started magically flowing to paper as a result of my thesaurus. If there’s a random word in your head, not even an idea, explore its synonyms…you’ll be surprised at what an amazing “springboard” this can be. It also helps significantly in use of metaphor.
4. Scat.
Many times, the music comes much more easily than the melody. As a guitar/piano player, I have nearly a hundred unfinished tunes that need melodies. I’ve found that writing words comes easier if I record a vocal with no words. It sounds really funny at first (think “doobee-doo-bah-dow…”), but it gives me perspective on the notes in the scale and how many syllables I can fit in the melody line. Now, a framework’s already been set for the lyrics.
5. Break your own mold.
If something sounds odd or unconventional, roll with it. Often, that’s just the writer’s block and doubt speaking. I’ve found, especially from the music end of a song, that just trying an unconventional chord transition can re-inspire me. The other day, I was on my classical guitar arpeggiating minor chords in minor-third intervals. Em to Cm is decidedly dark, and often reserved for heavier music. How would it fit into a pop tune? I’ll let you know when it’s finished.
6. Scale down.
Many of us employ pretty elaborate home recording rigs these days. In this age of technology, the average writer can have a state-of-the-art home studio for pennies compared to what was available 10 years ago. The problem is that we are now inundated with options. When you are writing, force yourself not to worry about which mic, which preamp, which patch, which preset. Just pick one setting, one guitar, one keyboard, one mic, etc. Forget about your options. They can paralyze you. The time to consider all the choices is AFTER the song’s written. I’ve lost countless hours of my life messing around in the studio, stalling instead of working on finishing a song.
7. Stop reading articles about writer’s block.
If you’re reading this, you’re not writing anything. Go have fun! Or share your own tips on writers block.
Arend Raby has been a Senior Sales Engineer at Sweetwater Sound since 2002. He has owned the Womb Studio since 1993, has recorded over 200 rock and metal acts, and is credited on many major label releases. He is currently working on a solo guitar-oriented electronic music project. You can reach him at 1-800-222-4700 ext. 1276 or arend_raby@sweetwater.com.
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