Happy New Year!
Not sure if this helpful to anyone (or even if I posted this in the right spot, apologies I have
) but I thought its probably better to share experience than not, even if it just helps just one person, job well done 
I know this post is more like a blog (and in fact it is a blog I just posted) however I didn't want it to come across as click bait so I might as well just give you all the info here.
Last year I completed a 500 day composition challenge. Basically it was to compose a piece of music everyday for 500 Days to see if I could overcome my writers block.
Basically I was becoming a tad overly critical of my work and I started to find other things to do instead of write, like watch YouTube instead.
So much knowledge so little time!I know 500 days is a lot but I don't think its totally unreasonable seeing as we are all composers here!
I also documented the whole 500 day project on YouTube, if anyone is interested, but I wont lose any sleep if no one checks it out.
Mind you this is not click bait only do it if your interested
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 1w2-PU7mty
Enough of the prattle here is the useful stuff!
So, the thing that was causing my writers block was my fear of judgement. This judgement was nothing more than my own opinion. However I still found this hard to over come as I have such high standards. I usually spend months (sometimes years) on composing & recording songs. At that stage I am so sick of the tune that I am more likely to press delete when I should really press release.
So instead of letting my fears get in the way I thought I would let others get to enjoy my daily writing and see what happened. Well, I still have very high standards but I also now have an appreciation that my art is not just for my own enjoyment. I cannot control what others will think of my work and I am constantly surprised that what I think is rubbish others love and vice versa.
So in conclusion, I am glad I did this exercise, I still get fearful that others may laugh at my compositions (And wont get a forward). Yet I now know it is far worse to delete a piece of art that someone else may love just because of my own insecurities.
If you are interested in trying what I did here is my own personal exercise that I followed.
I named the exercise 'Melodic Meditations' its about being pro active while recharging the batteries.
Each new melody is written during a 30 minute meditation.
Why you ask?
While writing I find there is an excess of negative self talk such as, these ideas are no good, maybe I have lost my inspiration, do I have writers block etc... Which is stressful and does not have a positive outcome, especially when I'm tired. All of my best ideas have come from my subconscious and I have found the best time to let my subconscious come through is when I am meditating.
By combining writing and meditation I have found I am able to tap into my creative subconscious with greater ease. And even if a brilliant idea does not always come through at least I've had a chance to recharge my batteries.
In a nutshell, 'meditation is the goal and writing is the side effect'.
Here are the rules:
1. Choose a task that needs to be completed.
2. Create a short cycle movement that can be easily repeated with little effort.
3. Find a quite space, turn off mobile phone & any other distractions.
4. Meditation should last between 20-30 minutes without break.
5. Focus your mind on the task at hand & let go of all distracting thoughts such as judgement, this is most important.
6. No stimulants (Caffeine, alcohol etc…)
7. (Optional) Practice movement to a metronome set between 52 bpm & 80 bpm counting quietly.
Anyway I hope this helped or at least gave you something to read during your coffee break
