The gap of doubt, how do YOU get out?!

[linziellen]

Me again!How often/if at all do you fall down the self doubt gap in the floorboards...and how do you get back up and out again? Please no vacuum cleaner jokes Lol The more I explore my artistic/creative side the more I wonder about my song ideas, there are times - especially right after writing my lyrics down I think "Yeah this is great" and then I go read a few of the wonderful songs that "fit" as described in a previous thread and start to think twice about my own.My style of writing is not so unlike that of maybe Dido with a little bit of Regina Spektor thrown in there (just I'm probably not quite as good as they are) . I know it's not the best idea to compare and I do also feel my work is original, yet at the same time relatively simple. I don't know what I'm trying to say here lol!I don't doubt my voice or my music and my lyrics are pretty nifty (I think) but what if I'm literally running a one man band?!See, I need to go vacuum!Thanks for any thoughts.Lindsey.I suspect someone will tell me to get posting my stuff up in here! Maybe I should but I want to try and take it to the furthest point I possibly can before hand. Also I think I should add that I'm doing this because I love it, it's my passion, it's not a pain in the ass!

[squids]

Hey Lindsey!Well, I wish I had the answer foi ya. But I don't. LOL.Post your stuff! Encouragement helps a lot to ease doubts. I have them, everyone has them sometimes (I bet even matto has them and possibly johnnydean and steve gilbert although that might be less likely ). Hard work can sometimes make them go away. Exposure to feedback (not jes good feedback either), can too. Barring those things, self-doubt can have a basis in reality if you're not sure you're doing what you truly want to. If you love music, see above.I just dragged myself out of a slump recently and it turns out it wasn't even real! I had strep throat (my thanks to the Academy, my agent, my daughter who brought it home from school..... ) so it was slowly eating away at my resources and making me feel a little out of it and blue, which I took to mean that I was insane to be in school, I absolutely suck at music and my hair color is totally wrong for me. So there're all sorts of reaons for self-doubt, see what I'm sayin'? Best thing to do is to find out if you want to learn new things about it and grow and change (painful? yes! cool? yes!) (which means posting your stuff or just keep submitting) or if you want it to be something you do for fun.

[davewalton]

Quote:I know it's not the best idea to compare and I do also feel my work is original, yet at the same time relatively simple. I don't know what I'm trying to say here lol!I don't doubt my voice or my music and my lyrics are pretty nifty (I think) but what if I'm literally running a one man band?!Hi Lindsey,Nothing wrong with a one-man band... lots of them here on the boards. I know you don't want to post stuff until it's ready but I think that self-doubt comes from not really knowing where you stand musically and what issues need to be addressed. If you know for sure, for example, that your music is really good but your lyrics need work, then I don't think self-doubt can make its way in. You already know that your music is good and when someone says "lyrics need work" it's no surprise... you already know that and you can address it by working to improve your lyrics or by co-writing with someone who is good at lyrics. Kind of methodical but I think that self-doubt comes where we're operating emotionally in kind of a dark vacuum (had to get that word in ) rather than methodically with lots of feedback and information.Even if it's not totally ready for prime-time in your mind, probably posting a few of your tracks will help. Keeping in mind that these are either unfinished, roughed-out or incomplete in some way, you'll get good, constructive feedback from forum members. If you know where you stand and what you need to do to get where you're going then self-doubt won't be much of an issue. Who knows... you might just blow us all away. Wouldn't be the first time (Squid ).Even with all that, self-doubt always creeps in but at least it's kept more in check and not allow to run completely amuk with our magic magnifying minds. Your music psychologist,Dr Dave.

[Casey H]

I'm not sure we ever get out of self-doubt. We just learn to control it. I've been in a "lack of confidence" phase for months now when it comes to what I write but, with the help and encouragement of friends here I am working through it. It's "easy for me to say" while this is my own struggle too, but try to get the fun back in it. It was all fun for me until pitching on a "professional" level made me over-analyze everything to death and not finish things. So... I am trying to finish some songs, knowing that the lyrics (for example) aren't ideal. But finish, let it sit, and then come back and refine after it has slept a while.Also, step back and think of all the positive things that have been said about or have happened with your music. Anything from good comments in a critique to a forward, to a deal, to a placement. It doesn't matter how big or small. Let each positive reaffirm that you have talent.BTW, have I heard any of your music? Public or private feedback available... Warmest,Casey

[hummingbird]

Quote:How often/if at all do you fall down the self doubt gap in the floorboards...and how do you get back up and out again? Quite often. This past week, almost every day. Probably be the same next week.Quote:The more I explore my artistic/creative side the more I wonder about my song ideas, there are times - especially right after writing my lyrics down I think "Yeah this is great" and then I go read a few of the wonderful songs that "fit" as described in a previous thread and start to think twice about my own.Ah, but that's the little editor in you that likes to whisper things like 'see, you''ll never be like (insert artist)'; 'who are you kidding'; 'why don't you just give up & spend your time knitting'.Quote:My style of writing is not so unlike that of maybe Dido with a little bit of Regina Spektor thrown in there (just I'm probably not quite as good as they are) . I know it's not the best idea to compare and I do also feel my work is original, yet at the same time relatively simple. I don't know what I'm trying to say here lol!Your style of writing right now is your style of writing right now. Simple is often good. Believe me, for I am 'she who has too many ideas in one piece'.Quote:I don't doubt my voice or my music and my lyrics are pretty nifty (I think) but what if I'm literally running a one man band?!I don't understand the question.... Quote:I suspect someone will tell me to get posting my stuff up in here! Maybe I should but I want to try and take it to the furthest point I possibly can before hand. I know what you're saying - you want it to be really really really good before you post it. And I'm like that too. But I also know that if I get too attached to it that I will not be able to listen to the feedback of my peers and learn something valuable about how to make my music more accessible or better composed.Of course we don't to post something and have it represent us as being wanting in some department of songwriting. But I wonder if we could get the ego out of the way, and post anyway, and get a different perspective on our work... would we not grow from that experience.I'v been posting this & other sites for a good 4 years or so... I've had egg on my face a few times.... I submitted stuff to Taxi when I first joined that... well, the memory of what I submitted makes me squirm. But all I could do was (and all I can do is) be where I am and allow that this artform is a process like any other, and I cannot judge myself for knowing what I know and not knowing what I don't know yet. All I know is that I am better writer today than I was last month. And part of the reason I am, is the continued support and thoughtful feedback that I get on this board.Quote:Also I think I should add that I'm doing this because I love it, it's my passion, it's not a pain in the ass!Isn't it? Then why do we struggle with so many doubts? Aren't we creative & passionate & focussed on the lives of our creations while riding on a sea of doubt? I think doubts are part of the creative process. The trick is to recognize it is your active activity in spite of doubts that moves you forward. When in doubt.... write.Hummin'bird "In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our work of art." ~Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way)

[og]

Quote:johnnydean and steve gilbert ). Hard work can sometimes make them go away. Seriously, having no doubts is probably scarier than some trepidation. Makes you careful where you step...

[hookstownbrown]

Doubt is merely a cloud obscuring the horizon...You can surely finish that thought...

[paults]

Self-doubt is a human universal, making iit a really good topic for a song. The next time it hits you, write one about it. You may end up with something that speaks to everyone who hears it.At the risk of being "Master of the Obvious", letting doubt get in the way is a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, the positive choices are to either get some distance from it to recharge the muse, or to pròve it to be wrong by working on something new or revisiting unfinished ideas. The well never runs dry- the pipes just get clogged from time to time... Here's my 90s Angst Rock song about writers block and self-doubt. If there's ever a listing for "seething heavy dark mood pieces", this one is ready My Own Mistakehttp://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_id=55443&stream=true

[jchitty]

I could wallpaper a room with the 'non-fowards' I've gotten on my songs, but oddly enough, I find this great material for writing songs. Think about all the tunes you can write about struggles and how to overcome all odds....that seems to be such a good topic for songs these days. It propels me to write even more. There have been times when think I should just give up....there have been no deals, one foward, not much to say for my pitching so far. So yeah, self doubt is experienced by everyone.But despite that, I still have this unshakable belief that one day, someone's gonna want my songs.So I continue to write and build my catalog. This helps me stay focused.....I just write constantly. That way, I don't have time to get depressed. Idle hands and all that rot. Yep, go ahead and post your stuff, Linzi....you'll find that some people will love it, others will just like it, and some won't like it at all, but have you ever known everyone to love a certain song? If you get a two thirds majority, then you probably have a lot of keepers with good potential.

[hookstownbrown]

I keep writing because I'm afraid that if I quit, I'll become a karaoke junky and an air-guitar addict... God bless terrifying thoughts...