Useful Song Writing Tools To Get Over Writers' Block
Submitted by piggy wings on Sun, 02/29/2004 - 09:58
Tags:
- - Use a stimulus. This could be a picture, movie, book or whatever. Results can be very random, but it really helps just to get you off the mark.
- - Use chord association. If you're having trouble with melody or chord progression, either learn or find out from chord books or web sites (there are plenty of them) which chords work with each other. Once you get a good progression going, from that you can usually work out a melody in your head.
- - Don't get too attached to one riff or lyric. If you're struggling to find something to work with a new idea that you love. Just write down or record the origonal idea and leave it. Create an archive of these ideas, and you'll find that next time you get stuck, there's probably something useful in your archive.
- - Use random selection. Get a dictionary and randomly pick words. You can use words in many ways. One idea is to break down the word into syllables or phenomes, as this is useful for creating a rhythm. Another idea is to simply use the word itself as stimulus for a song concept.
- - When using sequencing software and/or working with samples, be sure to take a break every so often, as this is sometimes all you need to do to gain objectivity and new ideas. Also, ear fatigue isn't just a myth, and while you may pat yourself on the back for working a long slog, you might not be so pleased with yourself the next day when you listen to what you did.
- - Try new methods. For example, if you normally use a guitar to write a song, switch to using a computer, and vice versa. A'la Radiohead.
- - Lock up your instrument for a few days so that when you come back to it you will have a fresh mindset, instead of desperately forcing yourself to write.
- - Try to 'feel' the sound. Excersise your association with your instrument by playing in the dark and/or as basically as you can. Don't be worried about striking bad notes. Once you find yourself 'feeling' the sound it may become easy to guide yourself into a melody.
Author Comments:
These are little tricks that have helped me in the past. I know that there's more, but I can't remember right now.
I take it you're a songwriter, or a writer, perhaps. I'm a freelance writer myself. Using stimuli is easily the best way to spur on the writing process. It's also the approved method of the Amherst Writers Program, which is the basis for most (reputable) writers workshops in the US.
Hey. I'm a music tech student, some of the stuff is what I've been taught on my degree, but some of it's just what I use to get by when I need to get a tune written fast.
What kind of stuff do you write? I have a friend who's writing a screen play at the moment.
Like I said, I write freelance (non-fiction tech manuals), but I'm currently working on a series of short stories. I'm also collaborating on a screenplay with a friend who wants to direct a short film based on one of my stories.
That sounds cool! I'd love to read some of your short stories. Would you mind posting one or two around here?
Yeh! I'd love to read some of your stuff!
I'd love to, but since I'm very protective of copyright laws (especially mine), I'd rather not post them unless I had specific control or a literary online publisher had the rights to do so.
Hate to disappoint you, but, you know...
I shouldn't be so rude...I truly do appreciate your interest in reading my material though. I don't want you to take me turning down your request as a sign of arrogance or paranoia. But thanks for wanting to check it out though.
I hope to have some of my stuff published online soon. If I do, I will definitely post the link here.
No dude, don't worry. That's perfectly understandable. It's a tricky thing trying to share my recordings with people too.