Why One Shouldn't Fear Writer's Block

[Mad_EP]

I had a very successful writer come into my english class at university one day.
I asked her if she ever experienced writer's block, and she told me:
"I don't have the luxury of experiencing writer's block, because writing is my career."

Music is my career.

I know what the writer is saying - deadlines still have to be met, projects still go on, etc. I didn't say I was unable to write at all, I said that I was in a slump where I wasn't writing anything that excited me... and therefore wasn't putting any of it out there. It is still my career - so I am still doing live gigs, I am still doing DJ sets, (in addition to my teaching) etc. Some people still get paid, no matter what drivel they put out. I choose not to.

Yeah I know what you're saying, didn't mean to offend you if I did.
Just thought it was an important thing to be said.
I agree though, sometimes you're just not coming up with anything new or interesting. I've hit those dry patches many times playing piano and I find mixing it up in some way is the best way to change things... But I also find that in the summers I'd take a couple months off because I wasn't doing lessons, and when I came back to it I'd be way more creative than I was before, and playing better material. I think there's such a thing as over practising, which can really just fry your creativity. Breaks are definitely important.

Nah - no offense was taken.

I was just stating that just because it is one's career has no effect on whether or not those dry patches hit. If one is a professional, ya gotta just find a way to work through it if you are on deadline, etc. There have certainly been times I had a sound design gig, or remix due or whatever and I really had a hard time getting the juices flowing...and to an extent, I dialed it in. Don't get me wrong, I still did a good job and the clients were very happy, etc.. BUT in terms of writing something new that I want to put out there and then hope other people to get excited about... I don't see the point of just putting it out there for the sake of putting it out there unless I really do think it is something special.

[outbound]

Completely agree, I guess in a way production is a bit like working out.

You can go to the gym, lift the same weight each time and although it's fun (some may question this ) you aren't really going to see much gain happening.

It's only if you go in and push that weight up a bit each time, try to find new ways to test the waters and push through that you are going to see improvement.

These days when I'm writing there's not a session I go through where I don't get stuck and think sod it let's start a new track. The latest one (The ruins, 2nd one in my sig) was the same. I got part way in and got stuck with a weak sounding clap and a harsh little hihat bit and thought there was nowhere to take it but kept chipping away at it anyway. a couple of sessions later it was sorted, fair enough I may have been able to make a better track if I'd given up and started a new one but I know that this one definitely help develop my skills as a producer.

[paradigm_x]

Hey matt

ive had a comlete transformation in approach (completely hardware) and buzzing doing more than for years. I really do beleive no computers is the way forward, at least onyl as a final machine.

i hadnt done anythign exciting for years and months, you get lost with a mouse and plugins and automation. nice to do some realy live stuff.

[i appreciate im possibly preaching this a bit much, but i am genuinly buzzing about music for the first time in years...]

[topmo3]

I've made some of my best tunes by just forcing it.

[jrisreal]

Anymore, I don't give two about organizing my project file or getting all the technical stuff right...and lately my tunes have been MUCH better IMO.

[VirtualMark]

And that is where a big ol' bout with Writer's Block can really be your friend. It isn't that I haven't had ideas - but it is rather that those ideas don't excite me. They feel too safe and familiar. I'm looking for new ideas, and I don't mind waiting and searching for as long as it takes to find it.

I think that sums it up for me at the moment. I have dozens of unfinished projects, and i can't really be bothered to finish them. They're nothing special, and i'm looking to make something that's really good. So i'm just keeping practising, making synth patches, trying out techniques etc, hopefully i'll be able to make some sounds that i'm happy with soon.

I find when i'm making a tune, i make a patch, then i'm not happy with it as it sounds like something i've heard before. Its nice to be able to make sounds that other producers make, but i'd like to create something unique.

[hutyluty]

i just dont have the motivation

[Mad_EP]

Sometimes when you come off the Writer's Block, it still isn't what you hoped...

what I just posted to my personal & MadEP FB pages:



"All I ever see on Twitter & Facebook from other producers is how they are KILLING IT in the studio - BANGING OUT DOPE BEATS.

Not Me.

I fired up the boards tonight and it all was AWFUL. Worst stuff I ever wrote.

Oh well - At least I have it out of my system. I am feeling good cos everyone has bad days, but not everyone admits them.

+1 Not Afraid of Failure Crew."

[SKIN E]

I've made some of my best tunes by just forcing it.

I agree with this stuff mainly, sometimes I make something that just plain don't work... puts you off, but force yourself to start over completely fresh and usually I still come out with a happy result

Although of course there are the days where everything goes wrong.. but nobody will get rid of those

[ehbes]

writers block is your brain telling you to get off the computer

[SKIN E]

writers block is your brain telling you to get off the computer

I disagree, for me the answer on a writers block is to keep writing

[ortamusic]

Exactly. Writer's block shouldn't even exist. Fear does though. When I feel that I'm blocked and don't have any ideas I just wait a bit and the ideas will surely come. People shouldn't be so frustrated about writing tunes, it should be more of a natural process.