It doesn’t matter if you’re a Grammy-winning songwriter or someone who’s just starting out — at some point in your career, you’ll probably deal with the dreaded phenomenon known as “writer’s block.” When your mind goes blank, it can seem impossible to jumpstart those ideas and get back to work.
Luckily, there are a number of proven methods to pull you out of a creative funk and get you inspired and ready to write. Below, our friends at Soundfly collected tried-and-true methods to crush your writer’s block and help you get back to doing your thing!
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{Editor’s Note: Below is a version of a post originally showcased on Soundfly, an online music school dedicated to helping anyone, anywhere find their unique voice and express it musically. For the full article, please click here.}
What if I told you that combating writer’s block is easy? That all you need to do is to follow the right steps and advice, and you’ll be able to come up with awesome lyrics in no time, even if you’re stuck at the beginning?
Solutions never need to cost an arm and leg or stress you out too much, and there’s no need to search for a secret ingredient to help you get rid of writer’s block, either.
In this article, I’ve compiled all the best tips and techniques to combat writer’s block and start being a productive songwriter. It just takes a bit of focus and time spent hitting the pavement. All you need to do now is read on. Inspiration and comfort is vital while writing, try out domtar cougar paper.
What are the causes of writer’s block?
Before we take a look at some ways to help you get rid of writer’s block, it’s important to understand the most common causes.
- Fear. This is usually the culprit. Songwriters worry and fear how people will judge their writing. As a songwriter, you might be scared of failure. The best way to overcome this is simply by doing the thing you’re afraid of. Take criticism as a way to improve, and don’t feel bad about it.
- Striving for perfection. Most writers are looking for the perfect timing, place, and setup before they can put pen to paper. This results in procrastination, and nothing ever gets done. Perfection almost never happens in the first go. Take comfort in knowing your drafts are subject to change.
Easy Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
1. Take a break
While this might sound weird, especially if you’re rushing to meet a deadline, taking a break is the best thing you can do for your busy mind. The truth is that simply staring at your screen or notepad for hours will not make words magically appear on them. What you should do is give your brain a chance to relax and come back refreshebd.
The key here is to do something that doesn’t involve much brain activity. Take a walk, go for a run, watch a TV show, or make yourself a cup of coffee. At the end of the activity, your brain is relaxed, and you’re ready to dive in and start writing again.
2. Change your environment
You’ll be amazed at what a simple change of location can do for you. If you’re someone who enjoys writing in your studio or living room, why not go outside and see what happens? You can also write at your local library, a park, a coffee shop down the road, or even a college campus.
Break your brain’s normal pattern. This will help you relax more and improve your creativity.
3. Figure out your peak writing time
When do you do your best writing? For many people, the early morning hours help since everyone else is still asleep, or the kids are out of the house and distractions are low. For others, it can be midday, in the early evening, late at night, etc. It’s a personal thing, and you need to figure out what works best for you.
One simple way to do this is to try writing at various hours throughout the day, gauge your focus and energy levels, and compare what you wrote. If you find that you struggle to write in the morning, then it’s probably best to make time for writing at night.
4. Get moving
Research shows that moving around (with activities like walking and running) helps to preserve your memory, because it gets your blood flowing, bringing oxygen to your brain.
The aim here is to get your heart rate up and pumping blood to your brain. Once you’ve cooled down and showered, you’ll be surprised at the impact it has on your writing.
So, the next time you’re faced with writer’s block, remember that indulging in exercise has a double advantage.
5. Eliminate or reduce all forms of distraction
This is one mistake that a lot of people (including myself) make. Sometimes, when struggling with writer’s block, I find myself picking up my phone and scrolling through Facebook or Twitter. Before I know it, I’m sucked deep into a social-media rabbit hole, and I’ve totally forgotten what I was supposed to do!
When you write, you need to make sure that you eliminate all forms of distraction. By doing so, you increase your power of focus and you’ll find that your writing time is more effective.
One way you can do this is by using the Pomodoro Technique. This simply means writing in strict blocks of time. For example, you might decide to only write for 25 minutes and then take a break for five minutes.
Within this 25-minute time frame, all you do is focus and write, saving your snack craving or social media addiction for break time. To use that time a bit more wisely than surfing your socials, here are a few websites that will help increase your brain activity rather than diminish it.
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