Colin,

Your last concern "... or is that trying to force something to happen?", suggests that you are nothing but a passive media for inspiration. I think, this is far from any truth.

Inspiration does not have a life of it's own, if you think so, that attitude is key if you have any concerns about inspiration. Sure you can feel more and less inspired, and certain places can trigger it, but you really shuldn't rely on such luck.

Songwriting is a craft, it's neither rocket science or miracles as anyone committed can learn how to do it, so I belive great songs comes from writing regularly. Getting songs recorded by artists is more about business politics, than it is about inspired songs. Great songs are crafted by you, not given to you.

If you sit around waiting on inspiration, you are not paying your dues, as you need to open a 'channel' for inspiration, to get a habit of creativity. That ain't gonna happen if you treat inspiration as if it comes from anywhere outside yourself. That's an old myth, and has little to do with getting in the luv. How can you know what the good ones are before you've written them? You can't, so the waiting for inspiration thing is a writers block, coming from your own judgements.

Like any other craft, songwriting is much more about inner determination and action, than about devine inspiration coming from the outside, Colin. A handyman just goes to work and do it. He's paid for his consistancy, and so are songwriters. Sure we benefit from ouside stimuli, but there's no such thing as 'forcing creativity' - there are only actions.

So will it work to take a songwriting day away - absolutely not! - in terms of opening yourself to regular creativity and the 'good ones'. In terms of writing an occational song, the answer is.. perhaps.

Well, you asked..