Gretchen Peters’ Method article in Songwriting Journal Summer time 2019
Impressed by a Winnie-the-Pooh quote, the nation singer-songwriter outlines eight methods to ask your subconscious thoughts into the writing room
“Howdy, Pooh,” mentioned Rabbit.
“Howdy, Rabbit,” mentioned Pooh dreamily.
“Did you make that music up?”
“Effectively, I type of made it up,” mentioned Pooh. “It isn’t mind,” he went on humbly, “as a result of You Know Why, Rabbit; but it surely involves me generally.”
“Ah!” mentioned Rabbit, who by no means let issues come to him, however all the time went and fetched them.
— from Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
The greatest co-writer I’ve ever had is what I’ve referred to as at varied occasions my intestine, my intuition, my truth-bone, my proper mind… my subconscious thoughts. The realizing that appears to emanate from someplace in my physique all the time results in a deeper reality, a greater grasp on no matter it’s I’m attempting to drag out of the air. Studying the craft of songwriting is crucial – construction, type, melody, rhyme – however with no story to inform, essentially the most completely constructed music lacks a centre. And generally the actual story is buried deep contained in the music you assume you’re attempting to put in writing, like a set of Russian nesting dolls.
However how you can dig down and get to it? As Winnie-the-Pooh mentioned, “it isn’t mind.” We’re conditioned from beginning to use our linear, logical thoughts to each drawback. No schoolteacher ever mentioned, “Simply sit with it, for weeks if essential, and see what your physique tells you.” Because of this, we are likely to mistrust and low cost the processes of the best mind. By means of trial and error and over years of writing, I’ve realized to again off and let the actual story come to me as a substitute of chasing it. I’ve realized to attach with my proper mind and collaborate with it.
1. KEEP GATHERING
Collect concepts and snippets of lyrics that really feel vital. You don’t should know why simply but.
2. EDIT LATER
Maintain your inside editor out of the room when you play. The primary a part of the artistic course of is delicate and filled with risk. Wait till you may have totally explored your concept earlier than you begin to edit and “kill your darlings”.
3. LET IT LIE
Let issues lie dormant for some time. Your subconscious thoughts continues to be working on them. Because of this while you stroll away from something, from a writing session to a crossword puzzle, the best phrase or phrase will pop into your head hours or days later (that is additionally why co-writing is problematic for me; many co-writers need to end a music immediately. If you happen to co-write, discover a co-writer who understands this).
4. BE DISTRACTED
Use distraction to keep away from over-handling the music. A music concept is sort of a lump of bread dough; it’ll by no means rise in case you knead it an excessive amount of. Cease making use of a lot stress and distract your self by transferring to a distinct music. I all the time have a pile of eight to 10 songs going at one time for this very purpose.
5. WALK IT OFF
Or distract your self with rhythmic bodily motion. Strolling is the easiest way I do know to interact my proper mind. Take a stroll with your music. Let your thoughts wander. Don’t consciously attempt to work out no matter writing drawback you’re caught on – simply transfer, and see what occurs.
6. TAKE A NAP
Significantly. I’ve by no means had a writing room that didn’t have a sofa or a mattress in it. Quick naps put your mind into a very receptive state – the house between sleep and wakefulness – that’s the place you need to be. Take it from Albert Einstein, Mary Shelley, Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison.
Are you preventing the music? The music will let you know what it desires to be; however generally it’s not the music you wished to put in writing. In my expertise, it’s all the time higher to observe the music’s lead. Its impressed bits are clues to the place you’re going; clinging to its origins will get you nowhere.
7. FIND THE CHARACTERS
Discover the characters and take heed to them. Invite them in, reside with them for some time. Allow them to let you know who they’re, how they really feel. Whenever you create a personality (and all songs have characters, even when they’re “you” and “me”), in some unspecified time in the future she or he will begin to reside inside you. Writer Andre Dubus mentioned, “Throughout my very early writing… I started to study characters will come alive in case you again the fuck off. It was thrilling, and even a bit of terrifying. If you happen to enable them to do what they’re going to do, assume and really feel what they’re going to assume and really feel, issues begin to occur on their very own. It’s a wonderful and thrilling alchemy.”
8. GIVE IT A DAY
When your music has taken on some type and form, and also you’re able to report a tough model, put the recording away for a minimum of 24 hours. Then pay attention again to your in-process music. See how your physique reacts. What feels good about it? What feels false, or pressured? Hear for the reality, and most vital, pay attention for the lies. Hear with your physique, and pay attention as in case you had by no means heard it earlier than.
If you happen to can have interaction the a part of you the place the mysterious and inchoate reside, the place the emotional reality belies the info, the place the realizing is in your bones reasonably than your mind, you’ll discover a wealthy and considerable vein of songwriting inspiration.
Learn extra options like this, together with artist interviews, information, ideas, opinions and kit in Songwriting Journal Summer time 2019 out now > >
