Every musician—Jay-Z and Ryan Adams included—comes down with writer’s block at some point in his or her career. Just like swine flu, there’s very little you can do to prevent it. Then again, like swine flu, a full recovery can be made with a little help.
When you feel your creative juices dwindling, or when your well of ideas is as dry as the Sahara, use these simple tips as fodder for songwriting success.
• Feed your inspiration. If you’re running low on good ideas for lyrics, go take a walk around your neighborhood, read a book or watch the news. Keep a notebook on hand to jot down ideas. Sooner or later a story will present itself to you. If you’re looking for musical inspiration, turn on your iPod. What songs move you? Figure out precisely what element is resonating. Don’t try to copy it; simply use it as a starting point for your own journey.
• Stay focused. Keep whatever first inspired you to write the song (be it a lyric, melody, chord progression, etc.) as your focus. Don’t second guess that.
• Know when to take a break. It’s easy to loose perspective if you’ve been working on one song for too long. Put it down and come back to it.
• Record yourself. Even if it’s with a crappy handheld tape recorder. You will hear the song in a whole new light when you’re not distracted by the physical aspect of playing and/or singing.
• Call for backup. Sometimes two or three heads are better than one. Many great ideas come from collaborative environments. Recruit some of your musician friends and, for lack of a better term, jam. See what ideas rise to the top.
Follow these guidelines, and the symptoms of your writer’s block should improve. Truly great songs are a labor of love, so hang in there.
