It can last for hours, days, weeks, months, or even years. But staring at a blank page, unable to come up with a tune or lyrics is bad news for a musician.
It’s true that many artists create when under pressure. Yet for most commercial musicians, writing to order on an ongoing basis is the way it goes. Learning how to overcome songwriters’ block is therefore important to have a consistent and sustainable career.
In this article, we’ll explore the techniques, tips and mindsets that’ll help you move forward, no matter how much of a blockage you’re experiencing.
How to overcome songwriters block
This happens to all songwriters at some point in their careers, and it may be a common occurrence. If you get paid for writing songs, any kind of block is especially bad news. Your livelihood may be depending on the flow of new ideas. While there is no magic pill to fix writer’s block, there are plenty of methods that you can use to overcome it. And many of these make for good regular practice, to stave of writers’ block. Creating is like anything else, the more you do it, the more natural and easier it becomes.
Make a point of sitting down to write every day. Set yourself goals, like writing one to two songs daily. This may seem like a lot, but it will focus your mind and simply get you into the habit of writing. In this case, quantity beats quality.
Worrying about the quality of content, at a stage where you haven’t gathered much songwriting experience, causes unnecessary stress that will hinder your progress.
What causes artists’ block?
If you keep trying and trying, you may be flooding your brain and overwhelming it.
So take a breath, remind yourself that this is a completely normal part of the songwriting process, and don’t let it get the better of you.
First of all, go and do something else for a bit. Often we find out inspiration while doing activities (watching TV does not count as a break, it’ll only crowd your mind further). To make way for insights, your brain needs space and physical exercise is perfect for this.
This is what Taylor Swift had to say about writing with Ed Sheeran:
“We wrote a song while sitting on a trampoline and we loved it so much that we ended up recording it as a duet.”
It could also be that your brain just isn’t used to being creative. Perfectionism is also a frequent cause of blockages. We self-edit too early and struggle to get anything down. Expect it to be terrible at first and get into the habit of allowing yourself to flow, without any expectations. A great way to do this is to practice freewriting exercises and journaling.
Have you ever written down an idea, only to look at it moments later and lose interest entirely? This is a completely normal response. As humans, we are attracted to novelty. So, once the idea is written down on paper, it can quickly lose its magic and we forget how inspired we originally were.
The key is to resist this initial instinct and push yourself to unpack the idea and, instead, understand the journey that led you there in the first place.
How to cure songwriter blocks
Like Taylor and Ed, working with another artist is a great way to shortcut through writers’ block. Two heads are better than one and it’s unlikely you’ll both struggle at the same time. This is something the nog names know only too well. James Morrison said:
“I can write by myself, but it takes a lot longer to come together, and it is less surprising.”
Going someplace else can really help. This is why many songwriters travel or go to a set location to write. George Ezra was famously funded by his record label to travel around Europe, which resulted in his hot Budapest. Where your place is, will be very personal to you of course. If you’re able to go far, great. If not, try a trip to a part of town you rarely visit, out to the countryside, or into the city. Neneh Cherry said: “I always found very strong images for my songwriting in New York.”
How do you release a creative block?
Luckily, we have so many resources at our fingertips these days. Do take advantage of them, as there’s much to help you release that creative block. We’ve found some superb podcasts on the topic of songwriting, many of which cover sources of inspiration and how to keep going when you draw a blank.
Your routine and what you consume externally will impact your artistic output. So, if you’re listening to the same music, watching the same TV shows, or even eating the same foods, it isn’t a surprise that you’re not generating new creative ideas. Stimulate your brain with new experiences.
How do you beat writer’s block with music?
Yes, that’s right. Beat your musical block with… music.
By soaking in someone else’s creativity, you’re likely to stir your own. Listen to a new genre of music and write down any insights that you have.
Perhaps you will find aspects about the music that you appreciate, and if not, doing this will simply remind you what parts you miss. It’s easy to become intimidated by the countless songs that are out there and feel pressured to bring something fresh to the table. But no songs are entirely original – inspiration always comes from somewhere. Your personal experiences and perspective on the world are what is going to make the song unique.
Try to reimagine your favourite song through your own perspective. Select snippets of the lyrics and rewrite them in your own words.
While you do so, ask yourself what story the artist is telling? Can you identify with it?
Capture any personal experiences that come to mind and try to build these into your new lyrics.
How to develop musical ideas
Another option is to lean right into the feeling. A handful of bands and solo artists have written specifically about the experience of their creative blockages. It’s a literal way of dealing with the problem, but if nothing else, exploring it might get the creative juices going. Here’s an example of Lower Than Atlantis talking about the challenge, in War With Words.
The ideas are right there inside you. Every human being is teeming with them. But daily life as an adult often pushes these creative impulses into the subconscious. As such, meditation can be a great way to reach into your mind and access what’s going on in there. There are plenty of YouTube videos, apps and books that can help you develop a practice of meditation and mindfulness.
Where do musical ideas come from?
Anywhere and everywhere. There really is no rule on this. In terms of lyrics, it could be a lost love, a political ideal or a cause you believe in. Musical ideas might come from playing around with some chords, from hearing something on the radio, or from riffing. Often a topline or hook will just pop into your brain, seemingly out of nowhere. But this usually only happens when you’re immersed in music.
Above all, don’t give yourself a hard time. Beating yourself up, being a perfectionist and stressing will take you in the opposite direction of where you want to be. Take a walk, have a hot bath, laugh with friends. The more relaxed and at ease you are, the more likely you’ll be in the frame of mind to avid writers’ block and create on a regular basis.
Related Questions
How do you know if you have writer block?
While there isn’t a set diagnosis, it’s generally considered to be writers’ block if you’ve gone for a period of at least an hour, without being able to get anything down. You may feel distracted, be struggling to concentrate, fidgeting and/or just can’t seem to pull a single workable idea out of your head.
How can I make songwriting easier?
Collaborate with someone else. This is the easiest way to take the heat off you as an individual and double your pool of ideas, as well as your musical technique. You can find someone suitable by networking with musicians at open mic nights and gigs. Or you could work with a professional producer via your local recording studio.
How do I get back into songwriting?
If you’ve had a fallow period musically speaking, your career may have taken a hit. Releasing original music is a big part of building a platform as a unique artist. But don’t despair. Follow our tips, then once you have a finished song, plug away on social media to connect with your fan base and get noticed.