Forums - Music techology
Subject: Dealing with writer's block
Original Message 1/25 16-Mar-00 @ 10:35 AM - Dealing with writer's block
How do you guys deal with this? Since I'm relatively a newbie it's frustrating. Half the time I can't come up with something I feel "worthy" of even saving, and the other half of the time I come back like a day later, listen to it and go "Shit! this is crap!" It's the most frustrating thing. Am I being too critical? Should I just lay down a track i'm not overly happy with just to get the experience? help me out here plz.
Thanks,
Rob
(I keep my drum machine, IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!)
Message 2/25 16-Mar-00 @ 10:45 AM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Message 3/25 16-Mar-00 @ 10:49 AM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Message 4/25 16-Mar-00 @ 11:02 AM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
I Msuffer from writers block all the time, ideas just don`t flow when u try and force yerself 2 have an idea, whereas great ideas always pop into my head while I`m at work or on the train.. My way round this was 2 buy a cheap dictaphone 4 like 30 squids and hum any idea I get into it......only problem is, I`ve got too many ideas now (with more coming all the time) and not enuff time 2 translate them into music. Still, its a nice situation 2 b in - u go into the studio knowing exactly what yer gonna do and u don`t get all frustrated.
Message 5/25 16-Mar-00 @ 11:43 AM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Message 6/25 16-Mar-00 @ 12:35 PM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Admittedly, sometimes I sit there for hours deleting everything I do, but in the end I get so pissed off with it or have so little time left that I just put down the next thing that comes into my head, and don't touch it at all. I just keep on adding stuff in the usual way and eventually it all turns out okay.
Recently, I had to do a platform game type thing. Everything I did was complete arse. I was trying to do nice tunes with real instrumentation (which I've done before), but it all came out like General MIDI rubbish. So I deleted everything and used 100% synth sounds (apart from the snare drum and hihats). Everything worked out fine (apart from the mix which was a complete nightmare because the lead sound was really quiet but peaking like a madman).
So there's another tip - change your instrumentation. If you are always using a 303 sound then try an acoustic bass sound or something.
MikeC
Message 7/25 16-Mar-00 @ 12:41 PM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Message 8/25 16-Mar-00 @ 01:22 PM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
BTW - I have about a 60-80% throwaway rate... So if you've written 10 things and you think 8 of them suck, then you're not doing any worse than me, or a lot of other people either!
I personally save all those things that suck (on casette, seqences, whatever). Sometimes you can listen to them a month later and think, hmmm that lead would make a great bridge in this other tune I'm working on...
Just don't give up. If nothing is really coming, then take a break.
-Craig
Message 9/25 16-Mar-00 @ 01:59 PM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
Craig the throwaway rate seems about where i'm at. hearing that makes me feel a tad better. thanks for all the advice from everyone so far.
rob
Message 10/25 16-Mar-00 @ 04:04 PM - RE: Dealing with writer's block
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