Getting stuck

[Mistermac]

I am a songwriter and love to write when I have a fresh idea, but lately, the more I try to come up with something the more I seem to be stuck. "Writer Block" just drives me crazy. Do any of you ever have this problem and what do you do about it?

[richiebee]

I don't write lyrics, but I do write music, and I do have blocks... when it happens, I do one of two things - cram as many ideas down as possible regardless of how stupid they seem - they can be the start of something good by chipping away the crap... and the other is to go away and do something totally unrelated to music for a while, come back with a fresh perspective.

Whether or not its effective would depend on your perception of my finished compositions... it certainly has the desired effect of freeing the mind of a blockage though.

[Mistermac]

Thank You so much for that encouragment. I have put together several song tracks, but the music just hasn't spoken to me yet. I have been having trouble coming up with a good melody and lyrics. I suppose your right. I need to just get away from it a few days and then wam! it will come to me. Thank You again,

[DT Chris]

Just do as I do. Lay everything down. Not all my songs are written sequentially.... I usually have 20 or so on the fly at differing stages of development.

Somes songs take 6 months to develop, others only 10 mins. Don't expect to be inspired all the time.

The great thing about my system is I can always go back to past songs, samples, and demos and hear it with new ears - which usually sparks my creativity.

If you're not inspired by your current tune, move on to another. Just keep the ideas flowing - I rarely have writer's block if ever.. I usually have so many ideas on the go, and all the possibilities, my head explodes.

[Mistermac]

Wow! that sounds like a good system of doing things. I suppose I do somewhat the same thing, only I get frustrated when I can't seem to finish the song within a short period of time. You are right about some songs take longer to develop. That's true. I suppose I think that I have to write 3 songs a month or I'm a failure. Fraud etc. I'm afraid of being found out. Ha

[DT Chris]

well I guess I'm a fraud because I've been in the music business (original bands, no record contract, no CDs) for several years and still don't have a CD out.

Who cares? It will come. First write for yourself.... there will be others that are bound to like your stuff. This isn't a contest, it's a means of expression.

Loosen up, improvise, create, write songs - bad or good, remove any shackles of censorship or expectations from others, and just do your thing.

We'll all be here to cheer you on.

[Mistermac]

I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I just finished reading a book that is a lot of help. The name of the book (and I do recommed it) is "How To Write a Hit Song' by Molly-Ann Leikin. chapter 8 of the book entitled "Overcoming Writers Block" says," Writer's block is caused by fear or anger or both." Wow! That's heavy. She goes on to say that "writer's block" is something that happens to the best of songwriters. Now I feel better about the whole thing. It will happen when it happens. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

[DT Chris]

Hmm, I disagree with the author.

The times we will most likely be writing at our peak is when we do have an extreme emotion. When you're angry, it's easy to come up with lyrics and expression. Or if you just got dumped by your girlfriend, or any other life-changing event that snaps us out of our comfort zone.

I always take "How To" books with a grain of salt. I've attended Songwriting Workshops many times and have been thoroughly disgusted by their suggestion that there is some magic formula for writing a hit song.

Really, musicians have to take the pressure off themselves, and just express themselves. Too many times I come across guys who I think are brilliant, yet for some reason they don't think so themselves. They think I'm awesome or something and they're shit, and I'm like "No dude, I love your stuff! I can't do what you do!"

I guess the best cure to writer's block is to write a song about writer's block... how can you ever then be at a loss of material? Music for me is like getting a ball rolling. The more I do it, the more it rolls. If I stop for awhile, the ball rests and I have to spend extra energy to get the ball rolling again.

Really, just turn on your DAW, start fiddling around. Like Brandon says in other posts "I try to make my own little bit of noise each day".

Like my MyCrapSpace bio says "Experimentz. Some genius, some garbage, some stuff just plain WTF." I just throw shit up there randomly, no matter what crap it is - the gold will come...

[Mistermac]

Thank you for your comments. I had a record producer say one time, "If you throw enough S..T against the Wall, sooner or later something is going to stick." I also forgot to mention that he was a crook. Ha.....You may have a valid point about listening or reading what other people have to say. I know what kind of thing that I enjoy, but I'm not too sure what the publisher would like. They are looking for something that they can turn into money. I'm afraid that art has kind of taken a back seat these days. As far as the things that I have already put together, I haven't had anyone tell me that "MY baby is ugly!" (at least yet.) You have another vaild point in that our emotions and circumstances do have a bearing on what we write. They say to write what you want to say to everybody, but I have a problem here. I really don't have anything dramatic to say right now. I'm sure something will have evenually.

[DT Chris]

I bet you do.

I'd bet you want to say 'fuck you' to somebody and everybody. You just don't want to open up and express you're true feelings for some reason.

Get rid of the shackles and say "fuck you" if that's what you need to do. Or "I want to kill myself " or "I'll burn down this motherfucking world" or w/e.

I think people always have something to say, they're just worried about expressing it in a song.