If you’re a human and you’re a songwriter, you’ve been there before.
You’ve been to that place where you want to throw in the towel – where you feel your work is awful and not worth anyone’s ears. You’ve been to that place where ideas happen, but finishing seems foreign. It seems impossible to call a song “done”.
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In today’s podcast, I want to talk about how to give your songwriting the momentum it needs.
Because here’s the truth – we all need momentum. There’s no such thing as the songwriter who churns out hits without breaking a sweat. No writer can claim he can write a great song without struggle. Pouring your life and heart and time and skill into a song is agonizing, oftentimes frustrating work.
We want “fantastic”, fast. If we could have “brilliant” by the morning, life would be golden.
But allow me to simply free you up here. Nothing worth having comes without struggle. The pros are pros not because of how easy their work is but because of how committed and resilient they are in the face of setbacks. Struggle is part of the journey. Pain is part of the process. Without it, you wouldn’t have a song worth singing.
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Resources Mentioned in this Post
- eBook: The Worship Songwriter
- Blog Post: How to Use Evernote as Your Ultimate Songwriting Workstation
10 Ways to Develop Songwriting Momentum
- Pay for Your Lyrics
- Slow Down and Notice
- Mimic Other Writers
- Listen to New Music
- Write Based on Your Pastor’s Teaching
- Write Based on What Your Congregation is Going Through
- Write Out of Your Current Struggle
- Try Your Song Out with Some Friends
- Record Your Idea and Listen Back
- Get Lost in Worship
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Hey David
Thanks for this. I appreciate and resonate with the broad spectrum in approaching our worship writing that you’ve suggested. We should view it as a craft, as a skill that needs to develop, be honed and persevered through trial and error, writes and re-writes. As well, we must not neglect to “become lost” in worship, as you put it. To write out of our response to Jesus, as worshipers in awe of him. It’s easy to become unbalanced one way or the other. Thanks for sharing!
Well said, Chad. How long have you been writing songs?
Hey David
For about 5 years I would say. I have a whack of initial ideas, and a small handful of more completed songs. A couple we currently do in our congregation. Hoping to keep developing in this – it’s exciting to contribute to our people’s worship life and discipleship in this way!
Love it. Glad to hear you’re leading them in your church!
Today post realy talked much about my struggles with finishing, whenever i said i am done with a song, i do felt downcasted which always make it difficult for me to even try it anybody.any help pls? More grace sir and I’m waiting in anticipation to see our beautiful baby girl.God bless you
Stephen – I think all writers probably join you with the feeling. It’s great to finish a song, but you’re never quite sure it’s going to work. Most of the time, the song surprises me!
Loved this Podcast. I have about 8 songs that I think to be juvenile as far as writing goes. Would love for someone to have a peak at, at least 1. I have been told I should sell it but still it doesn’t sound much like anything you would normally hear. I’m in my 30s now and was a worship leader in a church in NY for close to ten years and the church still uses a couple of the songs God has blessed me with but worship at APC is at a whole different level of skill and passion then the church a left in New York. Would love some help from an educated eye. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Dan, that’s awesome. I wouldn’t worry about “selling” a song until you’ve seen it work for your local church in worship. Let it live and breathe and then potentially you could take some steps to pitch it. Are you still at the church in NY?
Hey David thanks for the reply. I have actually been attending Wednesday night services for the past couple months at Deer Lakes Campus. Not worried about selling a song, actually I would love to give my stuff to someone like you or someone who can take them and use them for God.
Ha! I know who you are 🙂 I just didn’t make the connection here on the blog. Let’s connect some Sunday after church at Deer Lakes.
That’d be great! However currently we are only on Wednesday nights do to my shift at work. Praying for normal shift next shift bid in March. If you want to meet for coffee sometime let me know. I’ll PM you my phone number on FB. Text or call.
as usual your blogs and podcast speak to exactly what I’m going through. Been fighting a bit of writers block for about a year now but finally wrote something I think might be good. anyway Thanks for your ministry it’s a huge blessing.
Hey Brad – I’ve always loved your songwriting. You have a knack for melody that really engages people. I’m curious – why do you think it was a whole year of writer’s block? Maybe having a kid had something to do with it? 🙂
I would love to get some constructive criticism on a song I’ve written. Thanks for offering the chance!
Just wondering if I was too late to get a review of a song.
Thanx & I’d appreciate a critique! Blessings!