Comments on: Songwriting: Writer's Block http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/ Make Home Recordings Pro Audio Recordings Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: alex http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-2053 alex Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:19:03 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-2053 i know this is heaps old and stuff, but good article. i misinterpreted the rap thing as well like that other dude so thanks for clearing that up i know this is heaps old and stuff, but good article. i misinterpreted the rap thing as well like that other dude so thanks for clearing that up

]]> By: D.Z. http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 D.Z. Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:15:38 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-1642 Great article, pretty helpful, yup yup Great article, pretty helpful, yup yup

]]> By: tomg http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-1415 tomg Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:52:10 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-1415 That's a great article. Ahem . . . Michael Jordan was eight in 1971 - the NBA adopted the new three-point line in 1979/80. "New," God I'm old. That's a great article.

Ahem . . . Michael Jordan was eight in 1971 - the NBA adopted the new three-point line in 1979/80.

"New," God I'm old.

]]> By: Andy Long http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-1358 Andy Long Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:38:54 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-1358 I know this is an old article, and also my first post/response, I just stumbled on this site earlier today, I haven't poasted anything on the board yet. This article reminds me of a certain technique in stimulating creativity in my students (not just music) the first step in any creative endeavor always has to start with brainstorming. Sometimes you get sudden inspiration, but I'm sure everyone here realizes this is the exception rather than the rule. I encourage my students to brainstorm on anything and everything, they HAVE to shut down the critical analysis part of their thinking process... in other words, everything goes, and all ideas are valid, no wrong ideas, "all ideas are correct" mentality. Afterward comes critical thinking processes (which of course are critical) but only after the brainstorming session, because you never know what amazing ideas may come out by throwing out as many ideas as possible. When that is done then begns the process of weeding out ideas that probably won't work for that particular project. But it is very necessary to be able to switch between these two mindsets. This article has helped me realize this connection for my own musical creativity. Thank you very much! I know this is an old article, and also my first post/response, I just stumbled on this site earlier today, I haven't poasted anything on the board yet. This article reminds me of a certain technique in stimulating creativity in my students (not just music) the first step in any creative endeavor always has to start with brainstorming. Sometimes you get sudden inspiration, but I'm sure everyone here realizes this is the exception rather than the rule. I encourage my students to brainstorm on anything and everything, they HAVE to shut down the critical analysis part of their thinking process...
in other words, everything goes, and all ideas are valid, no wrong ideas, "all ideas are correct" mentality. Afterward comes critical thinking processes (which of course are critical) but only after the brainstorming session, because you never know what amazing ideas may come out by throwing out as many ideas as possible. When that is done then begns the process of weeding out ideas that probably won't work for that particular project. But it is very necessary to be able to switch between these two mindsets. This article has helped me realize this connection for my own musical creativity. Thank you very much!

]]> By: Jerry Bradley http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-982 Jerry Bradley Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:38:17 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-982 Good article. I started writing again after decades of writer's block. I wish someone had written an article like this 30 years ago for me. I also found two good books that carry this same theme and have some fun ideas. The first is The Frustrated Writer's Handbook by Coryat and Dobson, and the other is 6 Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume. I think it was Blume who said you after kill the editor voice that you hear in your head and just write. I've been writing 3 or 4 songs a week on average now, and am having fun with it. I write a lot of songs with Christian lyric contents, but use different genres. The songwriting fits in great with learning to use my recording equipment. I post my "gems" and some of the not so great songs every week at www.soundclick.com/jerrybradley. I want to get some opinions that will help my recordings. I've picked up a lot just by reading other's comments on the recordings that others have uploaded. I used some of those ideas including the idea of "widening" to help improve my song "In Your Name". Sorry about getting off topic. On days I can't seem to write much, I'll just try writing titles, or just choruses and drop them into my files. I've gone back later and used many of the titles to get me started on a song. There are some great ideas in Chapter five of the "Frustrated" book. The rest of the book talks about how to gather a group of like minded writers an have a day when your goal is to write and record 20 songs, the get together at the end of the day to share your stuff with the other writers. I'd like to try that one some time. Good article. I started writing again after decades of writer's block. I wish someone had written an article like this 30 years ago for me.
I also found two good books that carry this same theme and have some fun ideas. The first is The Frustrated Writer's Handbook by Coryat and Dobson, and the other is 6 Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume. I think it was Blume who said you after kill the editor voice that you hear in your head and just write. I've been writing 3 or 4 songs a week on average now, and am having fun with it. I write a lot of songs with Christian lyric contents, but use different genres. The songwriting fits in great with learning to use my recording equipment. I post my "gems" and some of the not so great songs every week at http://www.soundclick.com/jerrybradley.
I want to get some opinions that will help my recordings. I've picked up a lot just by reading other's comments on the recordings that others have uploaded. I used some of those ideas including the idea of "widening" to help improve my song "In Your Name". Sorry about getting off topic. On days I can't seem to write much, I'll just try writing titles, or just choruses and drop them into my files. I've gone back later and used many of the titles to get me started on a song. There are some great ideas in Chapter five of the "Frustrated" book. The rest of the book talks about how to gather a group of like minded writers an have a day when your goal is to write and record 20 songs, the get together at the end of the day to share your stuff with the other writers. I'd like to try that one some time.

]]> By: brandondrury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-576 brandondrury Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:17:46 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-576 I find it interesting that you call my statement about trying out a possibly different genre of music interesting, but you go on to say imply that rap music requires no talent. Of course, that's a ridiculous notion because if it required zero talent, I'd be up there winning Grammies. I guess it's possible that you've taken the defensive route and missed the point of what I was trying to say. I'm saying that no person can begin to claim they have writers block until they have taken the time to try writing a song in a totally different style. I was recommending that people try writing a rap song. I find it interesting that you call my statement about trying out a possibly different genre of music interesting, but you go on to say imply that rap music requires no talent.

Of course, that's a ridiculous notion because if it required zero talent, I'd be up there winning Grammies.

I guess it's possible that you've taken the defensive route and missed the point of what I was trying to say. I'm saying that no person can begin to claim they have writers block until they have taken the time to try writing a song in a totally different style.

I was recommending that people try writing a rap song.

]]> By: Profound http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting/songwriting-writers-block/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Profound Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:06:11 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/songwriting-writers-block/#comment-522 This was a very good article. I sometimes have felt like I suffered from writer's block b/c the current song I was writting wasn't as good as previous songs. I have to say I like the basketball analogy, it definitely puts things in a different light. I believe one too many times we compare ourselves to other writers to the point we feel we aren't adequate enough or we are not putting for par. I love Dylan, Lennon, Cash, Sting and Springstein and sometimes you want to have the same impact as those you admire, yet we fail to realize they may have written, as you say, 100 songs prior to creating the song that inspired us the most. The only point you made that I disagree with is the statement that "You haven't had writer's block unless you've tried to write a rap song." The issue I have with that statement is that most musicians believe "rap" music requires zero talent, yet most of them have never taken out time to discover the talent behind the artist and music. Where most musical talents lie in the music itself or the unique vocal talents, rap music is all about delivery. You have to not only rhyme words but they have to make sense as well as be delivered on rhythm(RAP=Rhythm and Poetry). I love a lot of different types of music and I get bothered when blanket statments are made about other styles and genres. I dont like everything out but I will at least give credit where credit is due, whether I like that particular style or not. Overall I like the posted materials. This was a very good article. I sometimes have felt like I suffered from writer's block b/c the current song I was writting wasn't as good as previous songs. I have to say I like the basketball analogy, it definitely puts things in a different light.

I believe one too many times we compare ourselves to other writers to the point we feel we aren't adequate enough or we are not putting for par. I love Dylan, Lennon, Cash, Sting and Springstein and sometimes you want to have the same impact as those you admire, yet we fail to realize they may have written, as you say, 100 songs prior to creating the song that inspired us the most.

The only point you made that I disagree with is the statement that "You haven't had writer's block unless you've tried to write a rap song." The issue I have with that statement is that most musicians believe "rap" music requires zero talent, yet most of them have never taken out time to discover the talent behind the artist and music. Where most musical talents lie in the music itself or the unique vocal talents, rap music is all about delivery. You have to not only rhyme words but they have to make sense as well as be delivered on rhythm(RAP=Rhythm and Poetry). I love a lot of different types of music and I get bothered when blanket statments are made about other styles and genres. I dont like everything out but I will at least give credit where credit is due, whether I like that particular style or not. Overall I like the posted materials.

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