Do you believe in writer's block?

  • Thread starter Thread starter songright
  • Start date Start date

Do you believe in writer's Block?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 63 78.8%

  • No.

    Votes: 17 21.3%
  • Total voters
    80
I cant seem to finish anything!!
I have like 8 songs with 4 lines..I just cant think and it's driving my crazy!!!:mad:
 
jarrydee said:
I cant seem to finish anything!!
I have like 8 songs with 4 lines..I just cant think and it's driving my crazy!!!:mad:
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Try co-writing with someone else with what you have started

or just finish them as quickly as you can, with whatever comes to mind, then rewrite if needed

or finish them out as conversation or narrative, like telling a story without having to worry about the rhythm or the rhyme restrictions. Figure out what you want to say first, you can always rewrite later if you need to

I am in a good streak right now, about 4 songs in the last week, it has been a long time and it feels great

bilco
 
bilco said:
Try co-writing with someone else with what you have started

or just finish them as quickly as you can, with whatever comes to mind, then rewrite if needed

or finish them out as conversation or narrative, like telling a story without having to worry about the rhythm or the rhyme restrictions. Figure out what you want to say first, you can always rewrite later if you need to

I am in a good streak right now, about 4 songs in the last week, it has been a long time and it feels great

bilco
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Thats great!!! Wish I could belt them out like I used to!!
I will try your idea
 
The thing that got this whole new batch of songs started was dedicating myself to an 8 hour day of doing nothing but writing. I used drum loops and forced myself to use rhythms outside of my normal comfort zone, like the Bernard Purdie shuffle used on Toto's "Rosanna", train beats, latin beats, Police sounding beats. I played whatever guitar rhythm things came to me and just hummed a melody without words to it. I did this for hours. About 3/4 of the ideas are unusable to me, but I went back to rework some of them and actually write the lyrics. It actually is working. I have to tell my internal editor to take a hike and just get some kind of first draft going. Usually the ideas for the rewrite come at me from a tangent, like while I am in the shower or driving. I need to remember to always keep my portable wave recorder with me. I never know when those lyrics are gonna start coming out.

My best advice to you and to me is stop analyzing it and just write,
preferably something every day,
bilco
 
bilco said:
The thing that got this whole new batch of songs started was dedicating myself to an 8 hour day of doing nothing but writing. I used drum loops and forced myself to use rhythms outside of my normal comfort zone, like the Bernard Purdie shuffle used on Toto's "Rosanna", train beats, latin beats, Police sounding beats. I played whatever guitar rhythm things came to me and just hummed a melody without words to it. I did this for hours. About 3/4 of the ideas are unusable to me, but I went back to rework some of them and actually write the lyrics. It actually is working. I have to tell my internal editor to take a hike and just get some kind of first draft going. Usually the ideas for the rewrite come at me from a tangent, like while I am in the shower or driving. I need to remember to always keep my portable wave recorder with me. I never know when those lyrics are gonna start coming out.

My best advice to you and to me is stop analyzing it and just write,
preferably something every day,
bilco
Click to expand...

I am going to try it..I spend 9 hours a day sitting here anyway..I start out with the intentions of writing..get discouraged and start reading on the web...I may play guitar for a while...I have tons of good music but cant get the lyrics!!!
 
Yes..I believe in it..!

Sometimes the emotion is so strong, words will not come...and when/if they do start to flow, they aren't necessarily befitting of the emotion stirred.
 
One technique I learned out of a book called "The Artist's Way" that I had forgotten about is to cut out all tv, radio, internet, whatever for one whole week. It really does work. It is way harder for me to give up browsing forums that it is to give up tv.

Also, I have burned up weeks of my life researching what is the best mic, preamp, DAW, etc. Better to just get a basic rig, whatever it is, and concentrate on using it as a tool for your writing.

bilco
 
I was going to say that I didn't, but then I couldn't think of a good way to put it for the life of me.
 
Layla Nahar said:
writer's block is symptom a deep and usually hidden damage to the self - there's a part of you that needs to be heard, but you've been conditioned over your life to prevent that part from coming out. If you really have it, it takes a lot of work to overcome, and those who are free of it might consider sharing some of the positive energy that they are blessed with, instead of just saying that writer's block doesn't exist.
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I think this is really insiteful. I do believe in writer's block because I've suffered from it pretty consistantly for years now... but I do think its psychological. Some part of myself is getting in the way and not letting it come out. Its all rooted in fear.

Recently, I've decided to set a specific time every week to work on my songs whether I feel like it or not. this has been pretty fruitful- ideas are beginning to come easier now. Another exercise I've found helpful is freewriting - I just sit down for 20 minutes and let my thoughts spill out onto a page without judgement. It kind of helps to empty your mind even if you don't get any ideas from what you write. I start every songwriting session with a freewrite now.

Just my 2 cents. Great discussion here!
 
Joke song

Use expletives and obscenities liberally. Find some public figure to ridicule and write songs about, just for fun.
 
bilco said:
One technique I learned out of a book called "The Artist's Way" that I had forgotten about is to cut out all tv, radio, internet, whatever for one whole week. It really does work. It is way harder for me to give up browsing forums that it is to give up tv.

Also, I have burned up weeks of my life researching what is the best mic, preamp, DAW, etc. Better to just get a basic rig, whatever it is, and concentrate on using it as a tool for your writing.

bilco
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WOW...Thats me.....Like I said ..I start to write everydday but find myself reading about pre's and mics when I already got everything I need..It's like an addiction..and I just cant write.

I get stumped on a line and just give up and start reading on here or GS...i hate it...I feel like I am wasteing my life..I should be writing but I cant!!!!urrggghh...
 
Ya

Personally I find that I never actually have a case of writers block but more a case of demotivation. Sometimes when I'm in that certain mood i can run lyrics ofrf like a printer, then theres the times when I just feel like theres nothing to write about and never get anything done.
 
snellular5 said:
Personally I find that I never actually have a case of writers block but more a case of demotivation. Sometimes when I'm in that certain mood i can run lyrics ofrf like a printer, then theres the times when I just feel like theres nothing to write about and never get anything done.
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see I feel like there's always somthing to write about..But I am also lazy..I dont know what my problem is...Depression probably!!!
 
snellular5 said:
Personally I find that I never actually have a case of writers block but more a case of demotivation. Sometimes when I'm in that certain mood i can run lyrics ofrf like a printer, then theres the times when I just feel like theres nothing to write about and never get anything done.
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co-sign.

sometimes when I'm really anxious and amped to write shit, i sit down and nothing comes. sometimes when I'm tired I will get a burst of lyrical energy and write an entire song..

If something isn't coming I usually keep trying for atleast 15-20 minutes longer, I try to just jot down some random thoughts, random words and work with them.. If it just isn't working, then move on to something else and clear your head.

If writing has become a chore, then take a break..
 
Junket said:
co-sign.

sometimes when I'm really anxious and amped to write shit, i sit down and nothing comes. sometimes when I'm tired I will get a burst of lyrical energy and write an entire song..

If something isn't coming I usually keep trying for atleast 15-20 minutes longer, I try to just jot down some random thoughts, random words and work with them.. If it just isn't working, then move on to something else and clear your head.

If writing has become a chore, then take a break..
Click to expand...

Ya know what I have found..First thing in the morning or when I get tired is when my thoughts are flowing..and of sourse the shower...i have made #1 hits in my head in the shower...but of course thats where they stay...I need to start writing shit down!!!
 
ho-hum factor

Writers block is quite real. If you write long enough eventually you will experience a time when you have literally "nothing worth saying". Often, the writer will not recognize this and continue to write, blissfully unaware of the huge "ho-hum factor" in the work. Your best friends won't tell you, but your publisher will.

Kinda like a meth-head who just can't shut his mouth. Though it can be amusing for a time, it soon becomes dreary and tedious.


Like this thread???

chazba
 
Anyone struggling creatively (like me) should try a stream of conscoiusness exercise.

Once a week set 30 minutes apart without any media around. Grab a cup of coffee, a sheet of paper and a pen, and start writing. Whatever. Without thinking about wether this stuff is usable or not, cheesy or pretentious, too emotional or to shallow etc. Just write.
 
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