5 Easy Strategies to SMASH Writers Block in Music
Whether you’re a beginner or have experience writing lyrics and/or chord progressions, writer’s block affects us all. It’s not that writer’s block disables creativity, but that it makes us think what we write isn’t good enough and doesn’t meet a certain standard.
I’ve come up with 5 strategies that spell out the acronym S.M.A.S.H. that have helped me, as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, smash through the discouraging wall of writer’s block for players and songwriters alike!
- S - Tell a Story
- M - Explore Different Music
- A - Assign a Meaning
- S - Change Settings
- H - Make it a Habit
A mindmap drawn by pencil to help visualize the S.M.A.S.H. acronym
“S.” - Tell a STORY
Try thinking back to something that has affected you or someone you know. Did something happen in your past that helped forge who you are today? Is there a story that you could tell through song that people might be able to relate to?
If so, try applying the 5 key components of novels and films to your next song.
- You’ve got your exposition, where you introduce the setting and characters (this could be the first verse)
- The rising action, where tension and conflict are introduced (you could make this the pre-chorus)
- And your climax, where everything has been leading the listener towards (this is your chorus, where you explain the main message behind your story)
- Your falling action comes next, where we progress the story to explain a few more details and shed some new light (this could be the bridge of your song)
- Finally, we have the resolution, where the story ends (this could be an outro or a final chorus with a different spin). Whether the story is resolved or not is ultimately up to you.
“M.” - Explore Different MUSIC
It’s very easy to get stuck in your comfort zone, listening to only a couple of genres or artists. This can lead to repetition and ennui in your writing process.
I’ve caught myself discarding chord progressions and lyrics because they felt repetitive or unoriginal, but thankfully, there are ways to overcome this.
Listening to a completely different style of music can bring new ideas and inspire you to try something new. Even if it’s a piece of music you can’t stand, there might be a neat drum fill or guitar tone to inspire you.
Incorporating elements from other genres into your music can help it stand out, and listening to new music can spark creativity and inspire new ideas.
“A.” - ASSIGN a Meaning
Assigning a meaning to your song before you start writing will help keep you on track towards a consistent flow.
What do you want your listeners to think, feel, and wonder when they hear your song? If you have used a story to write your song, what overall message does the story convey?
“S.” - Move SETTINGS
Adjusting your writing environment can make writing more interesting and novel, sometimes sparking that kick of inspiration. The easiest way to do this is to move to a different room to write, maybe one with a nice view.
If you’ve ever been to a Long & McQuade, the guitars on display are usually plugged in and ready to be played. This is a great way to change your setting while still playing high-quality instruments - bonus, you get to try new instruments at the same time.
If you’re one for the outdoors, I highly recommend writing somewhere outside, whether that's in a public park or even on a hiking trail. Nature is so unique, and even taking a walk to clear your head does wonders.
“H.” - Make it a HABIT
If you’ve made it this far and still have writer’s block, it’s okay! Welcome to the struggle of being a writer. Making a habit of writing something down every day, even if it makes no sense, will make a big difference.
Waiting for inspiration to strike might keep you checking your watch for a while, so think of songwriting as a muscle; the more you work it, the stronger it gets.
Next time you’re struggling with a song, try using one of these strategies—you might smash through your writer’s block faster than you think!
