Writers block? How do I deal with this?

[Alissio]

This happens every once in a while. It's like I have lost my ability to produce and I have no urge to make music. It goes away after a month or so, but is so inconvenient. Does this happen to anyone else? Why does it happen and how can I stop it from ever happening again?

[KavemanM]

I get this a lot, not so much Producing but playing my saxophone.
Try pushing through the writers block to see how far you can go with your ideas and over all production level, but of course know the limit where you're doing more bad than good.

[tacospheros]

go outside and smoke a spliff in the woods.

listen to some jazz

listen to world music

paint with watercolors

turn off the computer and learn to play a real instrument


somestimes the worst thing you can do when you have writer's block is to try to push thru it. fuck that. go do something else for a while and then come back . and don't worry about it . just do something else and then come back to it after a while you'll feel fresh

[coleco]

Personally, I've learnt after a while, that if I get the feeling I can't write tunes... I just don't bother.

I used to pressure myself and just get frustrated and annoyed. I felt guilty that I wasn't writing any tunes. I was worried that I wasn't 'progressing' any more and that my tune making abilities would gradually die whilst everyone else jumped ahead.

Now, if I don't feel like writing a beat, I just don't write a beat. Feels alot better taking the pressure off. Feels alot better living life without worrying whether I'm being creative enough. And I find that, I don't write any less music than I did before.

You will naturally come out with as many tunes as you're gonna come out with... just let go, you can't force it.

Music comes from being inspired. Being inspired dosn't come from frustration and worry. It comes from the times when you're living life, doing other things like, listening to music, going out, seeing a friend, watching a video or reading a book.

However, there are a few things that will help you on your way...

- Listen to other peoples music. Try to also branch out and listen to some stuff that is far removed from electronic dance music, like funk, jazz, classical, world music etc
- Download more samples. eg. Find a nice vocal pack, buy a new Kontakt patch, etc
- Go to a club night or concert with some acts that inspire you.
- Listen to some of your old projects that you never finished, but you really like, and remake them into a new tune without using any of the original parts.
- Open up the sequencer and just fuck about, not really trying to write anything, just having fun experimenting with sounds.
- Meditate
- Go for a long walk and look around
- Remember your dreams

Tap into the Theta state:

"Theta (4-7.5Hz): Theta brain waves are present during deep meditation and light sleep, including the REM dream state. Theta is the realm of your subconscious mind. It is also known as the twilight state as it is normally only momentarily experienced as you drift off to sleep (from Alpha) and arise from deep sleep (from Delta). A sense of deep spiritual connection and oneness with the Universe can be experienced at Theta. Vivid visualizations, great inspiration, profound creativity, exceptional insight as well as your mind's most deep-seated programs are all at Theta."

[Dustwyrm]

Good response Coleco. I agree with you on this and suggest the OP not worry about completing any certain track from start to finish. If you can't figure anything out, just screw around with sounds and you'll probably come across something you like and can go from there. Also lurk around youtube and find a movie quote you like, that can really help get the feel for starting a track.

[+3]

I read Music Mags, and hone my engineering skills.

The upside to this is I'm learning during creative slumps.
The downside is I've slowly become more of an engineer than a musician.

Can't have it all though.