Shakespeare, imaginary heroes, and what?!
Feeling stuck? Here's a list of 50 things you can do right now that will help you get un-stuck. "Writer's block" is just an excuse; sometimes all you need to do is hit the reset button on your creativity. This list is geared towards musicians and songwriters, but will work well for all kinds of artists, writers, and creators. Which ones work the best for you? Tell me in the comments below!
- Listen to the greats. The best way to get inspired is to listen back to the people who made you want to get into music in the first place.
- Try a new instrument. It's easy to get stuck in familiar routines. Shake up your comfort zone and try a completely new instrument. Hit up your local music store and pick up a banjo, mandolin, accordion, trombone, etc.
- Go outside. One of my favorite quotes: "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." -Lao Tzu
- Play one of your favorite songs. Cleanse the palette with a little "Fire and Rain," and you might find that some new ideas begin to flow freely again.
- Google Earth. Traveling the world is one of the best ways to spark inspiration, but we don't all have the luxury of being able to get away to the coast of Tuscany at a moment's notice. Enter some random coordinates into Google Earth and look around on street view for the next best thing—all without leaving your desk.
- Imaginary hero. Your favorite writer, artist, or musician, living or dead, has just walked into the room to collaborate. What do they have to say? What input do they give you?
- Listen to something different. Listen to some music that's completely outside the style of what you usually listen to, and try to learn from it...
- Put it away for a while. Rome wasn't built in a day! Time can be your best co-writer sometimes.
- Become somebody else. Imagine yourself in someone else's shoes. Maybe it's somebody you know, maybe it's somebody from history, or maybe it's a completely fictional character. Change of perspective is a catalyst for great content.
- Think about your problems. The entire genre of blues music was built on lyrical themes of heartbreak, loss, and struggle. Dwell in your deepest life problems for a few minutes, and use it as a point of departure in your writing to tap into some heavier topics or darker content.
- Pick a letter of the alphabet. Now think of a place that starts with this letter. What's something that you find interesting about this place? Pick a new letter. Repeat.
- Open a book to a random page. Select a sentence or phrase that stands out to you. Think of some ways to rephrase this sentence in your own words.
Want to read all 50? HERE'S THE FULL LIST...