Toonsmith
New member
Where do you all find inspiration when you're writing a new song?
And what do you do to get out of a writers block?
And what do you do to get out of a writers block?
leavings
Member
I don't have a great answer to the first question...inspiration just comes when it comes. I find mine in a wide, disparate variety of things, from girls' asses to found letters written by people in prison, with a lot of personal experience thrown in.
As for the second question, I have a few tricks that I've known to be helpful:
First, keep and maintain a regular journal. It doesn't have to be long or profound, just consistent. It will keep your writing skills sharp and accessible, even if you're writing about relatively mundane topics or ideas.
Second, in times of crisis simply force yourself to write. Do it without judgement or fear of the outcome, recklessly and impulsively. Ignore punctuation, grammar, spelling, coherence. It's unimportant what you choose to write about, just do it. Put the pencil down and don't pick it up for 15 minutes.
Third, recognize that you won't always get something you like. Sometimes my staring at the page is ineffective, and it's better for me to just put it down and take a walk. Don't make it stressful, it will only add more pressure.
And lastly, every once in a while, my favorite trick is to pluck a book from the shelf and thumb to a random page.
Peter
As for the second question, I have a few tricks that I've known to be helpful:
First, keep and maintain a regular journal. It doesn't have to be long or profound, just consistent. It will keep your writing skills sharp and accessible, even if you're writing about relatively mundane topics or ideas.
Second, in times of crisis simply force yourself to write. Do it without judgement or fear of the outcome, recklessly and impulsively. Ignore punctuation, grammar, spelling, coherence. It's unimportant what you choose to write about, just do it. Put the pencil down and don't pick it up for 15 minutes.
Third, recognize that you won't always get something you like. Sometimes my staring at the page is ineffective, and it's better for me to just put it down and take a walk. Don't make it stressful, it will only add more pressure.
And lastly, every once in a while, my favorite trick is to pluck a book from the shelf and thumb to a random page.
Peter
T
TaoManna Don
man of [quite a]few words
Here is a quick answer to both questions. Spend a couple of hours listening to music similar to what you want to write, or reading lyrics to songs you like, or reading about a subject on which you want to create a song. Then do something physical that takes your conscious mind completely off music for a while. I usually take a one to two hour walk in the woods on mountain trails in a park near my home.
Your subconscious mind will take over at some point during this physical activity and the ideas will begin to flow.
Good luck and keep writing,
Don
Your subconscious mind will take over at some point during this physical activity and the ideas will begin to flow.
Good luck and keep writing,
Don
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
Where can't you find inspiration should be the question! I look for song ideas that might be hiding in every aspect of everything I do everyday. Something as mundane as a penny on the sidewalk or watching a newspaper blow down the street can spark and idea.
I don't usually think much about writer's block either. I find it to be a self-fulfilling prophecy: those who worry too much about will ineviteably suffer it. I do know this: nothing kills a writer as much as a blank page. Never, ever, allow yourself to sit and stare at one. Usually people with writer's block are struggling with one fundamental problem: they don't know the difference between writing and editing. When you are writing, the editor in you should leave the room. Don't judge you're ideas the moment they spill out onto the paper.... just let them spill! If the editor tries to sneak back in, kick him in the nuts and send him back out; it's not his turn yet.
A
www.aaroncheney.com
I don't usually think much about writer's block either. I find it to be a self-fulfilling prophecy: those who worry too much about will ineviteably suffer it. I do know this: nothing kills a writer as much as a blank page. Never, ever, allow yourself to sit and stare at one. Usually people with writer's block are struggling with one fundamental problem: they don't know the difference between writing and editing. When you are writing, the editor in you should leave the room. Don't judge you're ideas the moment they spill out onto the paper.... just let them spill! If the editor tries to sneak back in, kick him in the nuts and send him back out; it's not his turn yet.
A
www.aaroncheney.com
Jagular
Active member
Everywhere and anywhere.
Aaron is on to something. I fight my little editor guy constantly. He is important for rewrites which is a very important process, but he does need to learn to shut the heck up sometimes
.
I made this one of my goals for the year, to become more productive. I recently wrote a song in 1 and a half hours. The one before that was 10 days. Before that it was weeks or months. I'm getting there. That might not be quick for a lot of you, but it's a world's record for me
Aaron is on to something. I fight my little editor guy constantly. He is important for rewrites which is a very important process, but he does need to learn to shut the heck up sometimes
.I made this one of my goals for the year, to become more productive. I recently wrote a song in 1 and a half hours. The one before that was 10 days. Before that it was weeks or months. I'm getting there. That might not be quick for a lot of you, but it's a world's record for me
philboyd studge
New member
Aaron Cheney said:
Good advice. It's very often a short phrase that can start things off and by it's mere spacing of words, music comes easily.
Hey Aaron, nice site, I'm impressed. Here's what I'm up to:
www.johnmalcolmpenn.com
andyhix
:dank:
here's what's worked for me. Kinda helps you find inspiriation, and minimize block, because it doesn't force you to sit down with a blank page and the pressure to fill it up:
Step 1.
go to your local mart store. buy a 5 pack of the 3x5" (or so) notepads, top-spiral bound.
step 2.
stick one in each coat (in the winter. In the summer, load up your jeans pockets, but don't wash em). include a stubby pencil.
step3.
don't forget about the note pads.
step4.
Write about any idea that comes into your head. the drunk dick at the bar. they guy at work that keeps looking over your shoulder when you're obviously not doing "work" on your computer, that funky smell coming out of the heater vent in your car, whatever.
step 5.
Every day or two, transfer your ideas to a larger notebook or journal.
step 6.
review, develop, edit. I try to take things that are too literal and uninteresting (like the guy at work in step 4), break them down to the root emotions of the situation, and then recreate the story in a more exciting setting, with more exciting characters. in this example, guy at work becomes obsessive girlfriend, maybe. hmm...I might be on to something. gotta go get the notebook.
Step 1.
go to your local mart store. buy a 5 pack of the 3x5" (or so) notepads, top-spiral bound.
step 2.
stick one in each coat (in the winter. In the summer, load up your jeans pockets, but don't wash em). include a stubby pencil.
step3.
don't forget about the note pads.
step4.
Write about any idea that comes into your head. the drunk dick at the bar. they guy at work that keeps looking over your shoulder when you're obviously not doing "work" on your computer, that funky smell coming out of the heater vent in your car, whatever.
step 5.
Every day or two, transfer your ideas to a larger notebook or journal.
step 6.
review, develop, edit. I try to take things that are too literal and uninteresting (like the guy at work in step 4), break them down to the root emotions of the situation, and then recreate the story in a more exciting setting, with more exciting characters. in this example, guy at work becomes obsessive girlfriend, maybe. hmm...I might be on to something. gotta go get the notebook.
T
Tartan_Keyboard
New member
I always have a notepad or a scrap of paper and pen in my coat pocket for those sudden flashes of insperation
andyhix
:dank:
one other idea - go to the bar by yourself. I know, it sounds sorta bad, but you can have a beer or two by yourself, zone out completely, not have to talk to anyone except occasionally to ask for your bill or whatever. plus theres always a lot going on - Tv, other people talking, pool balls smashing together, maybe - stuff to get your mind jumping around a little, yet nothing so strong that it is distracting. That is about the only time I do crack out the notebook intentionally and stare it till I get something down.
I suppose a coffeehouse type of place would work too - that's just not my scene. I like the dark and dirty of the local pub.
I suppose a coffeehouse type of place would work too - that's just not my scene. I like the dark and dirty of the local pub.
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
philboyd studge said:
Cool concept John. I'm always the one in our family that wants to pull over while we're on road-trips and see those markers (over the protests of everyone else).
I dug the rootsy sound of your stuff, but especially the "liar's contest". That was a pretty cool song, w/ a cool story behind it.
And your voice sounds great, btw. I have a couple songs I should get you to sing on...
A
www.aaroncheney.com
tanlith
King of the Wicker People
I get inspired anywhere I can walk around nude!
And as for dealing with writer's block. se* works for me!
Yeah... 2-3 shots of Tequila and I'm all over myself!
hehehe
Seriously though... I find inspiration all over. Listen to people talk. You'll hear them say little catch phrases that just kinda sound cool or funny... then I jot em down and try to build an idea on it. Or maybe it's something that can fit right in with something I'm currently working on.
Writer's block: Go somewhere new and just sit and listen to people talking around you. Sure it's eavesdropping, but so what?
.... speaking of catch phrases I remember a friend of mine telling me how good a certain brand of wood glue worked... he said "Use this sh*t and it'll stick like snot to a screen door!"
- Tanlith -
And as for dealing with writer's block. se* works for me!
Yeah... 2-3 shots of Tequila and I'm all over myself!
hehehe
Seriously though... I find inspiration all over. Listen to people talk. You'll hear them say little catch phrases that just kinda sound cool or funny... then I jot em down and try to build an idea on it. Or maybe it's something that can fit right in with something I'm currently working on.
Writer's block: Go somewhere new and just sit and listen to people talking around you. Sure it's eavesdropping, but so what?
.... speaking of catch phrases I remember a friend of mine telling me how good a certain brand of wood glue worked... he said "Use this sh*t and it'll stick like snot to a screen door!"
- Tanlith -
philboyd studge
New member
Aaron Cheney said:
Thanks Aaron,
The songwriting is difficult but pales in comparison to the mission statement I just had to put together. Check this out:
This material conforms to the history-social science framework for California public schools and brings to life insightful and interesting accounts in a musical presentation of California’s history through its state historical landmarks. By definition of the office of historical preservation, California’s over 1100 state historical landmarks are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of statewide significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value.
To each setting, time and place are established and accounts of individuals are depicted in the manner in which they saw themselves. Interesting details of the period or event, and an individual’s hopes, fears, and dreams are among the tools used to make the stories within the songs engaging. The listener will be taken to that time and place from a human interest standpoint with music performed on folk and roots instruments common to period such as guitar, banjo, mandolin, mandocello, dulcimer, and autoharp.
This material also applies to the frameworks of visual and performance arts with the primary educational impact area being the historical and cultural content combined with the creative expression of original work and the aesthetic valuing of the transfer of historical data from a performance arts source.
By combining the elements of music and history, my goal is to engage the imagination of the listener in a new and exciting fashion.
Anyway, just this morning I completed a song where I got to incorporate a blues feel with the Weissenborn slide about a place called 'Mule Hill' where surrounded American soldiers in the was with Mexico were reduced to eating their mules...........I kinda felt roots blues would be a good way to go with this one.
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
philboyd studge said:
holy crap.
are you doing school assemblies or something?
A
www.aaroncheney.com
Garry Sharp
Lost Cause
I've written all my songs while riding my bicycle. Honest truth. Works for me. Luckily I have a bizarrely powerful memory and never write things down until I need to communicate them to the band. But all the roads are iced over here right now so no songwriting 'til they thaw!
lots of other good advice tho' - I especially like the one about going to the bar on your own.
lots of other good advice tho' - I especially like the one about going to the bar on your own.
philboyd studge
New member
Aaron Cheney said:
After some friends who do this work told me what it pays I'm finding it very appealing. Also libraries, historical societies, and occasional folk club and bluegrass concert.
I'm sick of country clubs, hotels, and lounges and the covers you have to do to play 'em, and I see this as a way to go back to doing what I did when I started in this business.
Now I need a look, something that says 'musical heritage' without dressing up like Johnny Appleseed like my friends do. Don't want to look like Mr. Tooth either. Maybe a seersucker suit will do it.
http://www.designersuits.com/100cotseer2b.html
Hey, what happened to Toonsmith?
bsr2002
Denny Crane
I just happened to pass by and took a read in this thread. I have never written a lyric for a song. I can write music but never lyrics.
This thread has inspired me to give it a go. Lot's of good advice here.
See ya,
BR
http://hire_on_the_fly.tripod.com
This thread has inspired me to give it a go. Lot's of good advice here.
See ya,
BR
http://hire_on_the_fly.tripod.com
Toonsmith
New member
re:Hey, what happened to toonsmith?
Sorry. I'm still here. Just got my groove back. Been kinda busy.
Great advice from everybody. I love the musical interpretations for historical landmarks. For me it's town names, places or things. Never people though.
I remember driving through Arizona once and my car broke down just outside a place called Agua Caliente. God, it just begged for a song. Very inspirational. Wrote it in about ten minutes. Then in California I drove through a place with the same name. Five minutes later I was at the side of the road with part II.
To get out my funk this time I just went through some of my old music a friend and I recorded in about 1980. Some of the music was pretty good but it sounded like shit. I still hate that old cassette recorder.
I want to thank everyone for thier replies.
Sorry. I'm still here. Just got my groove back. Been kinda busy.
Great advice from everybody. I love the musical interpretations for historical landmarks. For me it's town names, places or things. Never people though.
I remember driving through Arizona once and my car broke down just outside a place called Agua Caliente. God, it just begged for a song. Very inspirational. Wrote it in about ten minutes. Then in California I drove through a place with the same name. Five minutes later I was at the side of the road with part II.
To get out my funk this time I just went through some of my old music a friend and I recorded in about 1980. Some of the music was pretty good but it sounded like shit. I still hate that old cassette recorder.
I want to thank everyone for thier replies.
philboyd studge
New member
Re: re:Hey, what happened to toonsmith?
It's good to go back and look at your earlier material. I've learned a lot from it and that's what has got me back to songwriting. Throughout the '90's and up to this last year most everything I did that was new was instrumental only, no lyrics. But in a three year project of going back and rerecording everything that I wrote that I could find I came up with lots of new ideas and revamps. I idea was work up every song no matter how lame, and if was lame, change it. You might try that on a few of your songs, sometimes the 'older you' can be more objective than the fragmented but inspired 'younger you'.
Anyway, all that rewriting and production really helped prepare me for what I'm writing now.
Toonsmith said:
It's good to go back and look at your earlier material. I've learned a lot from it and that's what has got me back to songwriting. Throughout the '90's and up to this last year most everything I did that was new was instrumental only, no lyrics. But in a three year project of going back and rerecording everything that I wrote that I could find I came up with lots of new ideas and revamps. I idea was work up every song no matter how lame, and if was lame, change it. You might try that on a few of your songs, sometimes the 'older you' can be more objective than the fragmented but inspired 'younger you'.
Anyway, all that rewriting and production really helped prepare me for what I'm writing now.
tanlith
King of the Wicker People
bsr2002 said:
Make sure you come by and let us know how it's workin' out for you!
- Tanlith -
philboyd studge
New member
bsr2002 said: