Anybody go through this?

[jchitty]

Quote:Most days I don't even want to get up. Then after I am up I realize I should have stood in bed.LOL!

[squidlips]

Quote:I'm glad you mentioned that you quit for 8 years. I'm 1 year into my incredible comeback after a 15+ year absence. I find it really hard when I get an idea and spend the day developing it. I try to do this whether I "like" the way it is developing or not, to get in the habit of not destroying my potential hit because it isn't flowing out easily. I really needed to work on the discipline aspect of writing. I find that if I get up, do some housework (like vacuum), or take a shower, or mow the grass or similar brainless but meditative activity, I tend to come back to the piece more relaxed and in a better frame of mine. Hence, our yard looks great but my catalog isn't growing all that fast... I am in the habit of writing every day though. I get hung up on lyrics. I feel like everything I write is somehow too personal, but others find it good (in that other people like the story and the "unfolding" etc) but I feel like it is boring and sounds really dumb (just plain sucky and trite) after recording it. I could use some advice on getting over not liking the sound of my voice and my lyrics, when other people actually do find both good. Any tips?Anne, I get horribly hung up on lyrics too. I try to dig around for the truth but some days there're truths and then there are truths. Like layers and layers. It's so annoying!Anyway, about the singing........I've been doing it since I was trained (classically, can you believe they did that?) at age 9 (too young! Too young!). I learned a long time ago that, like songwriting, it isn't ever about our voices. It's about how others feel about them that matters. You bet, I have days when I can get pretty frustrated at mine. But then I remember that the A/C is running in the building, I was tense on the hour drive to the studio so now I have to do some relaxation techniques, there's dust in the booth, I didn't warm up or cool down like I should (I never really do).....it's a completely organic experience, very different from other instruments. The only one made by God, for better or worse. I always jes tell myself "stop thinking, you're only hurting the ball club"when I'm recording. Too much analysis and our voices respond to the stress. I know enough now that lots of people like my voice. The question becomes did I get the lyrical message across on the appropriate emotional level? It's about the work, in the end, and if our voices served that work as well as they could. Everything else is just mental chatter.If people like what you're doing, then you're doing it right. Hope

[squidlips]

I hope the above didn't sound too arrogant. What I meant to say was that after singing so long, I know enough about it that enough people like my voice.Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their input on this, especially over a holiday (and one specifically tied to not working! ). It was very helpful to read your experiences and thoughts and I'm grateful for the wonderful advice.I agree also about physical exercise. I'm out for the moment pending an MRI of my knee (the other one was sorta patched together about 10 years ago and I guess this one's giving up the ghost). Not being able to go running whenever I want does increase my mental restlessness and ups my chances of blue times like I had yesterday. Sometimes I forget how far I've come, which is bad enough.. I don't celebrate it either, and for a cancer survivor, that's pretty bad. So shame on me and today's another day!Thanks everyone. I appreciate the time and the giving.Hope

[Casey H]

Hi SquidYou are an inspiration to many of us. You've been through more than most of us, thankfully, ever will. You're ability to survive through all adversity makes you a better and stronger person every day. And one of the beauties of songwriting (as well as other arts) is it's ability to be therapy to itself- a way to get all that emotion out... The majority of the songs I've written were inspired by some strong emotional pain in my life. There was a time when there was almost a one-to-one correspondence between the bad times I went through and the songs generated. Each bad time had a song come from it.Keep at it! Keep addressing those challenges as the come!! Keep writing great songs!! And... never measure your musical success in dollars... Just enjoy those green sheets of paper if they happen to blow your way... Casey

[jchitty]

Quote:Hi SquidYou are an inspiration to many of us. You've been through more than most of us, thankfully, ever will. You're ability to survive through all adversity makes you a better and stronger person every day. And one of the beauties of songwriting (as well as other arts) is it's ability to be therapy to itself- a way to get all that emotion out... The majority of the songs I've written were inspired by some strong emotional pain in my life. There was a time when there was almost a one-to-one correspondence between the bad times I went through and the songs generated. Each bad time had a song come from it.Keep at it! Keep addressing those challenges as the come!! Keep writing great songs!! And... never measure your musical success in dollars... Just enjoy those green sheets of paper if they happen to blow your way... CaseyMost excellent post.

[jchitty]

Quote:I hope the above didn't sound too arrogant. What I meant to say was that after singing so long, I know enough about it that enough people like my voice.Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their input on this, especially over a holiday (and one specifically tied to not working! ). It was very helpful to read your experiences and thoughts and I'm grateful for the wonderful advice.I agree also about physical exercise. I'm out for the moment pending an MRI of my knee (the other one was sorta patched together about 10 years ago and I guess this one's giving up the ghost). Not being able to go running whenever I want does increase my mental restlessness and ups my chances of blue times like I had yesterday. Sometimes I forget how far I've come, which is bad enough.. I don't celebrate it either, and for a cancer survivor, that's pretty bad. So shame on me and today's another day!Thanks everyone. I appreciate the time and the giving.HopeNo way, do you sound arrogant. I always enjoy reading your posts.

[squidlips]

Thanks, Casey and Chits. And you're right......music is a wonderful outlet for our pain. How lucky are we? I don't think my husband, who totally loves his job, thinks of it that way.

[Casey H]

Quote:Thanks, Casey and Chits. And you're right......music is a wonderful outlet for our pain. How lucky are we? I don't think my husband, who totally loves his job, thinks of it that way.It's one of those things... Some people "get it" and some don't... My wife doesn't get it at all. Not being a creative type, she can't feel that catharsis we go through when we express ourselves through art... Casey

[squidlips]

Same here with my hubby......I don't know if I dare to say I feel sorry for him because that implies some degree of disrespect that he doesn't deserve but honestly, to not ever feel that emotion that comes from writing a song you think is satisfying? Ouch. On the other hand, I notice he blithely goes through life ignoring lots of things that are painful so maybe he's the smart one.

[rcase]

Quote:Even writing one word or note or chord a day helps keep the flow going and the effect is cumulative. An acquaintance of mine who is a writer (books, not music) recently said something similar to what Mazz wrote. We were talking about putting off the writing for whatever reason, and then feeling guilty about it for the rest of the day. I told her that in the past, I'd think I was 'getting away' with something (avoiding the scary writing stuff), but the guilt I carried around mucked up the rest of my day anyway. She told me she made an agreement with herself that during each writing session, she would write two pages, regardless of the quality. When she completed those pages, if she still felt she 'wasn't up to it that day', she granted herself permission to drop it and move on to other things, with no guilt whatsoever, because she'd honored her agreement. But many times, things would begin to flow, and- time permitting- she would continue to write until she felt like stopping.I've recently started music stuff again after 'dropping out' to do something more responsible, unfulfilling, and quite boring. I've adapted my friend's approach somewhat: I tell myself I have to finish 8 bars- music or lyrics, depending on what I'm doing that day- no matter what. Same rules apply- I can continue or not once I've completed that, my choice. So far it's working! Instead of getting fired up once in a blue moon, working hot and heavy for 2-3 days straight (that's back when I had the TIME to do that!), and then not doing anything at all for six months.. Now I'm making slower, but much steadier progress. I prefer it this way. squidlips, I hope you don't quit, and I hope you find a rhythm that will work for you and your life. I look forward to getting to know you better, and hearing your music!Rob