Episode 99: 5 Ways to Beat Songwriter's Block

This podcast was based on an article I wrote for American Songwriter Magazine 

Read below or listen to the podcast episode #99 on anywhere you stream podcasts.

 

5 Ways To Break Through Songwriter’s Block
By Mike Meiers

Writer's block is a challenge that all songwriters, from beginners to seasoned professionals, will
face at some point. It's an inevitable part of the creative process. But the good news is that
there's a way out of this creative funk. So, if you've ever found yourself staring at a blank page,
wondering if you're doomed to an eternity of uninspired moments, don’t worry – there's a light at
the end of the tunnel.

It's perfectly normal to hit a wall, and many of the greatest songwriters have grappled with this
same issue. The key is to arm yourself with a toolkit of strategies to reignite your inspiration and
overcome this dreaded situation..

Let's delve into some practical tips that can help you navigate through any dry spells and get
your creative juices flowing!

Five Key Techniques

1) Listening to Different Styles and Genres: We all have our favorite styles, genres, and
go-to artists, but sometimes we end up falling into the same traps, same patterns and
our creativity can grow stale. We need to be an active listener to music outside our norm
or comfort zone. I’m not saying you have to be a raving fan, but we need to know how to
find the gold in other styles and artists. If we can find the gold there, how can we find it in
our own songs? See this past article on active listening if you’re curious to know more:
“Active Listening for the Unconvinced”.

2) Cowriting and Collaboration: The great strength we have is ourselves and our unique
perspective on things. But the problem is we often have one way of looking at
something. That’s where cowriting comes into play.You don’t have to finish every idea,
you’ll have another perspective to help shape and evolve it! For example, if you’re
someone who struggles to find hooky melodies, pairing yourself with someone who has
that strength can be a game changer and vice versa. When you find a collaborator with
complementary strengths, the inspiration is endless.

3) Visuals/Writing To Picture: Visuals can remind you of the greater (no pun intended)
picture! I love writing for a ton of tv and film, and specifically, I love writing to scenes they
send in advance. The musical vibe I create can be derived from emotional content like
body language, a car chase, lighting changes, or practically anything they chose to show
on the screen. It’s all important information and it can help you paint a moment in your
song. Songs are meant to capture that; a moment, a story, a feeling. You don’t need to
be writing for sync to do this. Put any show or music video on mute and try it as an
exercise.

4) Feedback: Nothing beats it! Sometimes we feel stuck purely because we’re not sure
what’s working for us and what’s not working. This can be frustrating for many
songwriters, that’s where one on one mentorship is key. If we can understand and

connect with a pro who’s been where we are and is where we want to be, that is
invaluable. Keep in mind, there will be some feedback we might not want to hear, but in
the grand scheme of things, it’s often exactly what we need to hear in order to get to the
next level.

5) Journaling: Did you know the average person has 6,000 thoughts... PER DAY! So
6,000 a day, 42,000 a week and 2,190,000 a year! That’s a lot to process, especially if
we’re not journaling. Journaling is a way to explore our feelings, emotions, and
experiences. This is where we feel safe to dive deeper into who we are. If we can’t
understand that, it’s hard to write songs that connect with others.

These are just a few ways to push past the dry spells in your songwriting. The more you apply
these techniques, the less likely you are to find yourself stuck in the same creative rut
repeatedly.

Achieving next-level songwriting isn't an overnight transformation; it's a journey that unfolds with
dedication and a willingness to explore new tools to tackle creative challenges. By consistently
employing these strategies and staying open to inspiration from various sources, you'll find
yourself evolving as a songwriter and creating music that truly resonates with both you and your
audience.

Embrace the process, keep honing your craft, and watch your songwriting skills reach new
levels!