For the country writers:

[adrienne]

Nov 14, 2008, 8:03pm, cameron wrote:Taxi has definitely helped me improve the quality of my songs, but it's also stifling my creativity. The problem I'm having right now is I find myself screening all my songs a bit too critically. /I hear what you're saying Cam. I find I'm doing that too. Sometimes it works out for me but other times it frustrates me. In the end it all works out though. Some great advice on this thread. Hang in there!

[mojobone]

Nov 16, 2008, 7:39pm, jchitty wrote:Ever heard of the saying, "A great writer is only as good as his editor is?" Well, that's true in songwriting too, a great songwriter is only as good as his rewrites are. Sometimes your internal editor is just too strong; maybe he's better "educated" than that 'beginner mind' of the author. This is why co-writers were invented. If two writers disagree with the editor, he's toast.

[jchitty]

Nov 16, 2008, 10:00pm, mojobone wrote:Nov 16, 2008, 7:39pm, jchitty wrote:Ever heard of the saying, "A great writer is only as good as his editor is?" Well, that's true in songwriting too, a great songwriter is only as good as his rewrites are. Sometimes your internal editor is just too strong; maybe he's better "educated" than that 'beginner mind' of the author. This is why co-writers were invented. If two writers disagree with the editor, he's toast.Unless that editor owns a publishing company.

[cameron]

Yep, I have a little digital recorder I carry with me everywhere. Has all kinds of little ideas on it, most of them junk, but the good ones stand out when you listen to the playback... days, weeks or months later. Kinda like your scraps of paper on the table, Chits.Doubting my own abilities seems to be part of my song writing process, so just ignore my whining. Once I get to that point I usually shame myself into getting productive. I had a good day writing over the weekend so I'm feeling better already.Cam

[jchitty]

Nov 17, 2008, 7:20am, cameron wrote:Yep, I have a little digital recorder I carry with me everywhere. Has all kinds of little ideas on it, most of them junk, but the good ones stand out when you listen to the playback... days, weeks or months later. Kind like your scraps of paper on the table, Chits.Doubting my own abilities seems to be part of my song writing process, so just ignore my whining. Once I get to that point I usually shame myself into getting productive. I had a good day writing over the weekend so I'm feeling better already.Cam I don't think you're whining...I have those down days too...you're right, it's all part of the process. In fact, I get depressed as hell sometimes. I got a really good bit of news via e-mail this morning though...a much needed shot in the arm...can't say what it is right now, but it made my day! Now I might be able to write quite a few songs, hehe.

[devin]

Nov 17, 2008, 7:20am, cameron wrote:Yep, I have a little digital recorder I carry with me everywhere. Has all kinds of little ideas on it, most of them junk, but the good ones stand out when you listen to the playback... days, weeks or months later. Kind like your scraps of paper on the table, Chits.Doubting my own abilities seems to be part of my song writing process, so just ignore my whining. Once I get to that point I usually shame myself into getting productive. I had a good day writing over the weekend so I'm feeling better already.Cam I really believe that all things move in cycles...so some "valleys" are necessary to make the "mountains" seem taller.For me, I'll struggle for a while (can be months), but then one session it turns around and it all comes together (stronger than it ever did). Happens to me for creative stuff, and technical stuff too (like production). No matter which way it's going (great or crap), at least it's going...kinda like walking? Sometimes the path is sunny...sometimes it's muddy...but if I keep walking I'll get somewhere?(or catch a cold). Hang in there!!!

[byllsong]

Just as we have high and low tides, new and full moons, good and bad days, etc...I'm sure we all have times that we are more creative, more responsive to the muse.We have to learn to recognize it. We know that the tides will change twice a day, that the moon will be full every month.Why don't we know when our peak times are?We recognize and understand more things about nature and our surroundingsthan we do about the part of us that makes us...us.Being human is a simple yet complicated thing.We have some much to learn about being us.The other day I was building a bird feeder and I felt like I was in some creative bliss. Everything came together smooth and effortlessly. It was a good day. If I had written a song that day in that state of being, I would soon be a Wealthy Songwriter.So I save my little snippets and lyrics and chord changes and keep an eye out for that moment to arrive again.But I'd rather not have to wait for it. I would like to draw upon it at will...but I don't know how. Billy

[squids]

Aw, Billy......interestin' thought, isn't it? That we can't know our peaks so we gotta keep our chops ripped alla time in prep for it. I suppose it'd take alla surprise outta life if we knew. Conversely, if we knew our peaks, we'd also know our valleys and bein' Irish, I'd avoid that like death. That's the thrill of livin', I guess, now knowin'.

[byllsong]

As in all things, I guess the Boy Scout's motto applys...Be Prepared

[matthoggard]

Yeah thats a good motto, but ironically the Boy Scouts was the first place I smoked weed and got drunk.Just prepared me in a different way i guess. M~