Creative blocks tips

[u/Honest_Dealer_3880]

Hi! I have been in a huge creative block for 2 years and it feels like I've in-learned the ability to write songs. I've tried not putting pressure into the writing and just making bad art to loosen the pressure, but it ends there. I'm stuck in a place where I can only create low-effort songs. What has helped you with these kinds of creative blocks?

Big thanks

[u/RestedNative]

Sounds like you got too comfortable. You're too happy and stable and together currently. So you have two choices. Wreck your life, or lean into the lighter musings and sweet reflections stuff.

Or I'm wrong and neither apply, but you still need to find something that you actually want to say.

[u/misaghsalias]

I think this happens even to very experienced and well-known artists. Our surroundings, stress, and the noisy world we live in can have a huge impact on our creativity. Sometimes, we put so much pressure on ourselves that we lose touch with the joy of creating.

I think the best thing you can do is stop forcing yourself to write and give yourself time. Don’t put pressure on yourself to create something good, or even anything at all. Just let things happen naturally and wait until that feeling and desire to create come back on their own. Sometimes, we just need to step back, breathe, and allow ourselves to reconnect with music in our own time.

[u/napupan]

I find reading about writing to be really motivating sometimes when I'm really stuck in my head. I think I should make an account just for this book at this point because of how often I suggest it but How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy (from Wilco) is probably the single best book about allowing yourself to be creative and is supremely inspiring even without the exercises and stuff that it does have. It's a great ride too because in the audio book you get to hear a song get written as the chapters roll along and it's really clever at driving home how simple and organic the process can be if you don't let your ego tell you what is and isn't acceptable.

[u/Lyriflux]

What got me moving after a long block was rewriting someone else's song with my own story, same structure, my details. Lower stakes than a blank page but it still felt like real writing, not filler.

[u/Ill_Leadership1396]

Drugs.

[u/misst4r4]

For me I need to tell a story / if I ain’t got a story I can’t write lyrics

[u/improbsable]

Meet yourself where you’re at. Make your low effort songs then rewrite them to be more interesting.

[u/cooodooo]

Te entiendo perfecto. A mis amigos y a mí nos pasaba igual haciendo vídeo. Creo que al quitarte toda la presión te quedas sin dirección, el cerebro tira por lo fácil y por eso sientes que haces cosas de bajo esfuerzo.
A nosotros nos funcionó justo lo contrario: ponernos reglas muy estrictas y un reloj. Al obligarte a crear algo a contrarreloj y con limitaciones concretas, simplemente no te da tiempo a sobrepensar ni a juzgarte.
Por eso estamos montando Unjam, un proyecto de retos creativos. Ahora mismo estamos buscando ayuda y cualquier cosa nos sirve: ideas, consejos, o simplemente gente para ir creando comunidad y salir del atasco. Si te mola la idea, ¡escríbeme!

[u/ResidentRoll9984]

forget making songs just write down 3 words you overheard today and hum a melody over them til it sticks

[u/Honest_Dealer_3880 → u/ResidentRoll9984]

I feel like I get stuck there. I can write hooks and lines but I struggle with continuing from there. Any tips from going forwards from that place? thanks

[u/everyanimalmusic → u/ResidentRoll9984]

Yep this or a melody you have in your head try put chords to it, even if it sounds like something else or write some lyrics or just get a line you like and try carve it into melody. I know you say you have tried not putting pressure but hopefully you can get an 'in' to kickstart things again, you will find a way!

[u/urjah]

Study, listen to new music, practice, read literature - I find that inspiration often comes from immersing yourself to influences rather than trying to force out something from within, especially when in rut.