Someone once asked me if I ever had writer's block? I told him no sir, I'm just lazy, impatient, stressed, and arrogant. When people talk about the myth of "writers block", it just irks me. Because a true writer will never have writers block. A true writer will be able to construct a great assembally of lyrics, and ideas. A true writer is writing every day, learning new methods and tools in order to best suit his skill.
Now I have no doubt, that when under pressure, and optimal performance is important. You or I would have some difficulty trying to prioritize, think clearly, and focus on the task at hand. So let's start simple by establishing a list of ideas, or brainstorming some concepts for your song.
Listen To Your Listener
Think about your listener. What would your listener want to hear? Would they want to hear a stressed out, heartless song about pancakes? No, or maybe they would, who knows? Chances are they are going to want to hear you express yourself in an intimate way. Your particular individuality on the current landscape of personalities and lifestyles is exactly what they want out of your music. They want to incorporate it into their landscape of personalities and lifestyles. Bottom line, listen to your listener, but don't forget about yourself. There should be a balance.
Listen to Yourself
What do you want to accomplish with your song? What picture do you want to paint with your lyrics, and melody? What kinds of setting or situation do you think your music will be most appropriate? Is your music party music? Is it calm music? These are all relevant questions when trying to understand what you yourself want out of your music. Personally, I would always want to portray my true self, and the heart and soul that can be tapped into when giving thanks, and meditating upon the original concept or story I am trying to tell. I think people are attracted to a song that has a good storyline, or a lesson to be learned. Identify with your everyday personality, and chances are you will be identifying with a lot of other people too. Just be yourself.
Keeping The Balance
It's important to just not think, and to live in the moment. I shouldn't worry about keeping the balance too much because I know within my conscious mind, it's almost as if it's a muscle memory built into my minds eye. The new technology of consciousness as a collective memory will continue to elude the common musicians communication of intangible experience. So don't worry to much about keeping the balance. Just have fun, and be true to who you are deep down inside of your soul.
So next time you're stressed out, and you're trying to get a song written. Go for a walk, do some breathing exercise, if you believe in God, say a prayer. Or better yet, turn it all around and use your bad experience to write a satisfying song to help you remember rainy days. Just remember...
"Clear your mind and something will come to it."
