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Hey Everyone,

I’m conducting a study which will be published by Hit Songs Deconstructed on overcoming writer’s block and would love to hear your stories. I’m particularly interested in how you’ve dealt with writer’s block, what’s worked to overcome it, what didn’t, and how long you experienced it for. The goal of this study is to provide fellow songwriters with creative techniques that could help them overcome writer’s block. Your feedback is very much appreciated!

Dave

A writer's block
Sounds like a curse
Can't comprehend
What might be worse
Although I've not
Endured one yet
My heart would break
At just the threat
And so until
I'd meet that fate
I have no words
To break that state
But I do hope
That you receive
Words from the wise
To meet your needs!

Best of everything,
Lynn

13 years of it for me. Survived a bad car accident, but it took it's toll on my songwriting ability (mostly lyrics were impacted, I could still compose music). Writing melody lines on the piano and then trying to write lyrics to those lines has helped me in trying to re-build the skill. Cathy

Hi David:

The best way to overcome "writer's block" is to never relent to it in the first place... LOL! Seriously, I find that it pays to step away from music making every now and then. Physical activity such as golf or whatever gets you out of the studio is good for mind and body.

There have been numerous posts regarding this subject here at JPF so... a "search" might get you some previous responses and kick-start your project until the other JPF members begin to "chime-in."

Meanwhile, welcome to JPF and I wish you success with your project.

Dave

Stop thinking about it.

A good way is to write "real time" with improvisation. Take a subject, set a beat and start singing or talking. If it is music that's "blocked" then simply improvise.

Years ago, several of us writers got together and threw a "Writer's Block Party."

Laundry.

I find the best way to combat writers block is to do something else for a while. Songwriting and composing are things we can literally do every waking moment of the day. Several times, I've been folding laundry or some other mundane task and a melody has come to me that I'm able to develop later into a song. Just last month I came up with a song while making lunch for my children and teasing them about something.

Sooner or later, I do have to come back to composing. If I allow myself to get distracted for too long, I have a hard time coming back. For that reason, I have set time aside each day for composing. Even if I just listen to something I've already written, at least I'm at my computer with my composing program open. From there, its not hard to start up again.

I think its important to recognize that writer's block is a natural and frequent part of the creative process. Its like drawing water out of a rain barrel. At some point, the barrel will empty and you'll just have to wait for the rain to fill it. The rain will come and when it does, at least for me, it pours and pours.

I have to agree with Dave Rice and Aaron. This morning I was in the middle of wallpapering when I realized I had a great idea for a lyric, so I had to run upstairs and get the words written.

As my father once said, "It's all about contrast".

Andy

When I get all blocked and stuff....I write one line, then I rewrite it and try to rephrase it several times. I end up with some goofy lines and some decent lines.
I have also taken to writing a story of my original idea and the more I write the story out the easier it turns into a lyric.

My problem is more of a chord blockage, I think....I get stuck in the same 7 chords, in the same order, and since I can only play 7, it's kind of tough to get out of it. I'm learning a few new ones but so far haven't been able to mesh those with those I already know. But I keep trying different patterns and it might just work out.

I think we are always in the process of writing. It's just the specific time of playing or writing down ideas that seems to stress some out.

I say relax in the idea that a songwriter is always in the process, one way or another. It's ALL good! All times, including doing nothing, which may be really something! The brain is working while asleep even! So, why not when awake, with not actually playing or writing something down?

There's Time for Everything, including the recoil process, and the so-called "sudden inspiration". I think that would be just the end of the sometimes long process, even when not being aware of THE process.

Block Smock!

I have never said I have writer's block. I'll save that for when I'm dead.

Thank you everyone for the great feedback - it's most appreciated!

That "Writers Block Party" sounds particularly interesting - spur of the moment collaborating definitely seems like a great way to get the creative juices flowing.

Thanks again -
Dave

I guy I knew once had a great saying about writer's block which I saved for such occasions:

"Write your way out of a thinking block — because you'll never *think* your way out of a writing block."

It's true. Even if it's just 20 minutes of unstructured freewriting on a lunch break can get me out of a rut, even if all I write is garbage. Writing garbage is still writing, and I find that there are always some unpolished gems amid the trash.

I had block for about 5 years then someone told me in a creative writing group they were told to just write... didn't mater what just line after line of gabble... this works for me everytime.

During the five years of block I learned to draw paint and sculpt....

I also find some singers very inspiring... listening to them sing in different environments inspires me to write different themes..

The secret to writing is to read.

A girl named Misty had an avatar on Sonwriter101.com of a button that said;

"Writer's block is when your imaginary friends won't talk to you."

I don't think I've ever felt 'blocked'. I've had fallow periods where I didn't write. And then I did. It wasn't like I was trying and couldn't.

Sometimes I can't think of where a song should go. Generally, I go back to the beginning and play through it again. If I feel frustrated, I work on something else, perhaps starting a 'Sister Song'. When it bogs down I go back to the first one.

Sometimes it takes a little while to 'get' the idea of the song. You can force your way forward, but you often end up just rhyming, without really developing the story. After some incubation time, you might 'get' the idea and the right words come to you.

That keeps the creative flow going, dissipating frustration.

Hear Sister Songs "Leavin' You" and "Take It For A Ride" on my site.

ALL--

I have never had writer's block--I can't write all the ideas that float my way--living longer leads one to more and varied experiences--new things to write about--I think the problem is more, one of not having the inspiration or development of that keen idea, seemly attractive enough to be UNIVERSAL--AND BE THAT GREAT HOOK!

Certain things happen in our lives that PROD THE IMAGINATION into high gear--All of us can take an idea that's provocative, AND GIVE IT A SHOT--Only one or two of us may be successful in developing it into a song or prose with mass approval--AND BECOME A GREAT WORK!

I feel, RESEARCH, PRACTICE, And INSPIRATION are the fulcum points GREAT WRITERS develop or are born with--There is a FINE LINE BETWEEN A GOOD WRITER AND A GREAT WRITER--BUT MANY GREAT SONGS ARE NEVER HEARD, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS-RADIO PLAY AND DISTRIBUTION/ COUPLED WITH FAN BASE!

I THINK WRITERS BLOCK DISAPPEARS, IF ONE GETS LOST IN IDEAS AND STORIES OF LIFE, WE ARE WRAPPED UP IN EVERYDAY--WE JUST HAVE TO TELL THE STORIES IN A CONVERSATIONAL, AND FRESH WAY--MAYBE CATCHING THE ATTENTION OF SOMEONE IN THE BIZ--COMMERCIAL--

WE ALL WRITE FOR OURSELVES TOO--POETRY, SHORT STORIES, AND SONGS--WE MAY HAVE SOME, TOO PERSONAL, TO HAVE OTHERS SEE OR HEAR --I AM A FIRM BELIEVER, THOUGH THAT TRUTH SPRINKLED THROUGH WHATEVER LYRIC OR SONG, YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH--SHOULD BE FROM THE HEART OR SOUL OF THE WRITER--THE USE OF TRUTH AND FICTION MIXED, IS WHAT I DO--AND MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT I LIVED THE STORY, AND IF I CAN DELIVER THE SINGING WITH EMOTION, AND STIR THE MASSES TO LIKE THE SONG--IF I'VE DONE THAT, IT'S WHAT WRITING IS ALL ABOUT!

AT MY AGE, I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS, I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO HANDLE MOST OF THEM--SO I CO-WRITE SOME OF THEM!

A WRITER MUST BE DRIVEN AND NEVER GIVE UP--SOMEDAY YOU COULD HAVE A HIT!

Mackie

the only real time I had writers block was after my mother died. I was in my early twenties then, new to the craft, but after that day I could not write a dam thing.

this "block" lasted about one year and every time I tried to write nothing came out until "bam" it broke and the ideas that were held back came pouring out. (I still enjoy visiting those songs all these years later) but the way I handle any kind of blockage is to 1) keep writing, trying for a song per day and finishing off any I started. (I am not always successful at that) and 2) accept it for what it is and allow yourself the time to let the ideas come.

Number two frees me of the stress I sometimes feel when I have nothing and in doing so usually brings new and fresh ideas.

Hope this helps.

Douglas

Feed you head. you have to listen intensely before your subconscious has enough material to work with. Writer's block is when you try to write before your subconscious is fed.

Quote from "Scent of a Woman" when Slade's dance partner was afraid of making a mistake dancing the tango: Slade said: : "If you make a mistake and get all tangled up, you just tango on".

Music is the same way. If you feel a writer's block coming on, just compose on, there's no mistakes in composing. Not everything you compose will be gemstones, but writers are what we are. Composing should be done as frequently as eating and breathing - daily.

John