Writer's Block

We all have had writer's block at some point or another. We sit down to write and just can't seem to get a hold on anything good. It's so discouraging! Writer's block feels like there are external forces working against you and your productivity. However, I think that writer's block is way more internal than external. Ultimately, it comes from a place of fear and perfectionism. We are afraid of other people and what they will think of us. We are afraid of failure. We are afraid of our art reflecting our imperfections. This fear stops us from trying, because if we don't try, we can't fail. We think that what we create always has to be "good". But this just isn't true! The point of art is not to be good, but to make people feel something. Your music doesn't have to be objectively good for it to have value. We think that our value comes from the art that we create, but this also isn't true. We have inherent value as humans that cannot be added to or taken away by the quality of work that we make. Because we are imperfect people, there is no such thing as perfect art. So don't be afraid to suck! Write that song even if you know it's gonna be bad. Finish it, even if you don't like where it's going. The only way to get past writer's block is to write. I know that this sounds silly, but it's true. Set up a writing schedule! Join a writing group! Share your songs on social media! Surround yourself with other writers who will hold you accountable for the work that you create and will help you get better. Fear takes the fun out of creating. Allow yourself the freedom to write whatever is inside of you without judgment, then you can go back and edit later. If you never try, you'll never learn.

"Once you've gotten comfortable with sucking in public, writer's block can happen when something isn't brewed yet. Some bit of wisdom has not been fully delivered into your hands yet, including your own identity. Wait it out. Trust the process." ~Jill Riley Owner/CEO on writer's block.