Comments on: Songwriting: Conquering Writer’s Block

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:31:15 +0000

I never know where the next song ever comes from, but I have learned a few things that seem true. Wordplay is a useful technique; it can trigger cool hook lines that can be rapidly developed. I wrote “Certain Uncertainty” with that technique.
Just wordplay.

Joni Mitchell once wrote that songwriters should never be afraid to show their emotions in their lyrics. That rang true for me, so I always go back to my gut. If your writer’s block is for an emotional reason, write from that emotion.

Lastly, speaking strictly for myself,I’ve observed that songwriting seems to emanate from a distinct part of my brain. Moments of creativity flash for mere seconds and then they are gone. I have learned to recognize when it switches on, stop whatever I am doing and listen to it.

It works for me.

chuck

By: Mark Wood

Mark Wood — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:07:47 +0000

Incredibly helpful! I found my life at one stage to be very monotonous and doing things I rarely do and approaching things in a new perspective re-kindled the fire as it were.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:51:39 +0000

Great tips! Thanks to all of you… I think I have cracked open the block… as spring gently warms this piece of earth, my heart and soul have reconnected… I actually wrote two sets of pretty decent lyrics recently! … have chords and some melody ideas as well. Hallelujah!! It was looking grim for a long while! I have my photography to fall back on as an outlet and some income, but was mourning the loss of my writing abilities… this was a really long spell of “the BLOCK”! But you know, I had never ever thought of asking other writers what THEY did. Duh! I was just feeling like a fake… like all the songs I had already written… well they didn’t count if the NEXT one wouldn’t come… I am truly grateful that I found myself here!!! Good advice guys! And by the way, Craig, you nailed it!! Good songs ARE great art! Let’s all have fun and get out in the sun! LIve this life, all aspects of it, so we can share it in our songs! It is that one person who gets it, who is touched by something we write… that is the prize! The gift is in the giving! Thanks again.

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:10:52 +0000

Lots of good info on this page.
My best songs were written when I had absolutely no aspirations to be anything in the music industry (a long time ago). That time is what I call “my creative years”. In the mid- 80’s I started wanting to be a performer/songwriter in the industry and shortly after this happened, my creativity took a nose-dive. I soon realized that it was because I no longer was writing by unique experiences (and thus “emotions”) flowing out of me. Now (late 80’s) I was trying to write for a theoretical audience via. radio, etc. Before I wasn’t even trying to please myself!
Thus, (never one to force it); I only wrote one song every 4 years after the 80’s!! (Exactly, it just worked out that way.)
I really like the tone of this page being about experimenting and heightening one’s own creativity. (Such are what classics are made of!)

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:04:38 +0000

Actually sitting down and saying ‘I’m going write a song’ seems an utterly bizarre concept to me and will probably result in a whole load of contrived crap.

I really enjoy just messing around with guitars and keyboards – occasionally something appealing will come to out and I get a recorder or some blank sheet music to grab it – if nothing does fine – I’m still having fun. I doodle a lot with Sonar on via Tone Port, Virus, etc so I can catch melodic ideas and new sounds when they come. When you have enough ideas then the thought, training and skill comes in with putting them together.

Sitting there with writers block with a plan to force something out – just seems wrong – un-pure – a travesty!!!

If it isn’t happening grab nice book of sheet music (I’m working through movie themes) and just enjoy making music – or go out and do something rock and roll.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:04:31 +0000

I find it useful to listen to the radio. Sometimes the right song lifts my spirits and gets me in a ‘groove’ to culture my own ideas. Or sometimes sets me to thinking or feeling what I need to be feeling to capture a sentiment on paper.

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:18:57 +0000

Here are two little tricks that help me at times. One, just rewrite what you have down. Computer to paper, paper to computer, longhand to cursive, pen to pencil. There is sometimes an effortless act of editing that takes place in simply transcribing the lyrics.

Two, compose on a secondary instrument. I play guitar, not keyboards, so it takes me out of familiar patterns to write on piano.

I also agree with Jess on the magic priceless guitar. My practice guitar frees me up from “making it count”, which must trick my left brain into taking it easy for a while.