Tips To Ignite Your Creative Genius and Write a Killer Song

You’ve been humming, strumming, and furiously jotting, but nothing is seeming to jive. All musicians have been there — caught in a creative rut and frustrated to no end. There is nothing an artist wants more than to fluidly and remarkably express themselves, but getting the knack of songwriting takes certain techniques. This goes beyond knowing how to play the piano or guitar and put a pen to paper; it all comes down to the art of creating an environment in which your artistry, your soul, will flourish.

The following tips will help you get it together so you can produce your best work — maybe even a hit record or two!

Set the scene.

E.B. White hit the nail on the head with his belief that “a writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” Instead of sitting, waiting, and wishing, musicians can induce the optimal frame of mind for songwriting with the right conditions.

A great way to invigorate your mind and unlock creativity is to get out of the writing room and move around. Get out and explore something that interests you. With endorphins and an open headspace, you’re more prone to inspiration. Just an enjoyable 30 minutes can do wonders.

Another key to getting the creative juices flowing is taking time to watch a film, read, or listen to music. Keep your eyes and ears open and something is bound to move you to write a meaningful song.

Putting yourself in the right environment is crucial and has great influence on the songs you’ll muster. For instance, John Lennon wrote parts of “Strawberry Fields” on the beach. He stated, “It was really romantic — singing it too. I don’t know who was there.” The meaning of Strawberry Fields according to Lennon is: anywhere you want to go. Because he wrote in a peaceful yet invigorating setting, he was able to create that message beautifully.

Don’t force it.

The unconscious aspect of creativity is far more than rational deliberation. In other words, the muse cannot be willed, only welcomed.

Singer/songwriter Adele understands that amazing songs cannot be planned. She has said that she gets her best ideas at random, even inconvenient times, like the middle of the night. She’ll record melodies on her phone and tinker on the piano or guitar whenever something comes to her. She has also stated that when trying to have a regimented writing process, the songs that came out of it were her worst.

When inspiration strikes, be prepared! Becoming attached to your notebook will help you avoid the devastation that is forgetting your brilliant idea. When something pops into your head, go with it. Write it down.

Bob Dylan, arguably the best songwriter of all time, speaks to this point with his observation that his best songs were written very quickly. “Very, very quickly. Just about as much time as it takes to write it down is about as long as it takes to write it.”

When you’ve got it, you’ve got it.

Stop thinking so much.

It’s one thing to set the scene physically, but this needs to be done cognitively, as well. Your unconscious is where your best ideas lie, so in order to tap into that creative mecca, you need to look at your life from the outside.

Dylan said, “It’s nice to be able to put yourself in an environment where you can completely accept all the unconscious stuff that comes to you from your inner workings of your mind. And block yourself off to where you can control it all, take it down.”

Oftentimes, writing from an outside perspective means not being afraid to break the rules. You don’t have to be a perfectionist; give yourself the freedom to experiment and try something different. This will help you develop the creative side of your brain and not let the analytical side prevent you from inventing something new.

Above all, remember to keep it simple. Just play around and see what sounds good to you.

Let it out.

You are a musician for a reason: there’s something in you that wants to be brought out. The trick to doing this successfully is to not just be a songwriter, but a song singer. Once you have your words down, sing them out; let it all naturally flow from you.

Rather than just reading your lyrics, try singing them to determine how well they paint a picture and evoke emotion. If your words aren’t singable and lack that feeling the listener will connect with, rewrite and keep singing!

Again, Lennon gets it. “When you just say it, man, you know you’re saying it. It’s a continuous flow — when you’re recording or just playing and you know ‘I’ve been there.’ And it was nothing, it was just pure, and that’s what we’re looking for all the time, really.”