Pushing through the everything I do sucks wall.

[Joe Nerve]

I've been stuck with writing. I start writing and recording, all the time. And after 2 days of working on something I decide it sucks, and have no desire to move on. I'm writing this in an attempt to push through this crap...

In the middle of a song right now. I think it sucks. But I'm going to do everything in my power to force myself to finish it. And then start another. Even if this one sucks.

I know others have experienced this. How do you deal with it?

[Cava]

I usually try to get inspiration from something really distant from what I'm stuck into. As a sax player I've found tremendous inspiration from piano players. Duane Allman become THAT guitar player () after countless hours passed on Coltrane records.
Want to write a great punk song? Try to think how Alog would do that... Death metal a la Neu!? Yes please!
Don't try to cut through a negative mood, take a rest and listen to lots of great and new (to you at least) music. Always listen without fear!

[IanIan]

Yeah just as was said above. Look for something new. Usually I get inspired by a multitude of things not just music, but by things such as good/bad food, TV-shows and stuff happening on the streets, or certain events. But then again who am I to give you an advice since I have never written a whole song, just riffs and phrases as my guitarists have always been there to support each others creative efforts.
If you aren't writing that song for a band you should try and look for some elses input on the song. That someone should preferably be a musician, and a friend of yours but not your significant other.

[MatticusMania]

Thats usually when I try and take a break from my surroundings. Its time to learn something new/different! Put some new perspective in you!

[hrodbert696]

My wife talks about writing as turning on an old tap that hasn't been run in months. At first all you get is brown water. If you turn it off then, all you'll ever get is brown water. The only way to get it to run clear is to keep the brown water flowing till it's all run out and the clean water starts to come.

So you think you're writing sucks -- who cares? It's your brown water. Just keep it running till you finally get to the clear stuff.

[Gasman]

Joe, it's strange that I read this post from you. I am in the EXACT same predicament. I've been writing songs for over 10 years, and I'm used to the "doldrums", as I call them- periods of "uncreativeness". But what I'm in now is different. I pick up a guitar or bass, and....nothing. Even old covers don't sound good. I'm at the point that I'm taking a couple of weeks of not playing to try to get something restarted.

This probably doesn't help, but just know you aren't alone.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I've been stuck with writing. I start writing and recording, all the time. And after 2 days of working on something I decide it sucks, and have no desire to move on. I'm writing this in an attempt to push through this crap...

In the middle of a song right now. I think it sucks. But I'm going to do everything in my power to force myself to finish it. And then start another. Even if this one sucks.

I know others have experienced this. How do you deal with it?

Joe, you gotta get yourself a hook. Yep. That's what you need ... a hook. Then you're gonna need a bridge. And the bridge could use a hook, too. Not the same hook ... a different one. So there you are. A hook and a bridge. That's all's you need. And maybe another hook for the bridge. Then you'll be all set.

[paganjack]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Thats usually when I try and take a break from my surroundings. Its time to learn something new/different! Put some new perspective in you!

A big +1! Take break for a few days and come back fresh later. Or play on a different instrument. Either way, try to get some fresh perspective.

[agreatheight]

I'm working currently working on an EP - I wanted to do 5 originals, but the last song isn't coming together. There is good stuff in it, but it's not working as a whole. So I am shelving it and recording a cover instead. I'm not thrilled about it, but there is no point pushing something that isn't happening.

I will leave songs for months or years before finishing them. I try to be patient with my songwriting, and one of the advantages of not being signed is that I can be.

[Savage_Dreams]

i dont really know how to tell you to break through those feelings but i will say this, the stuff i write that i think sucks tends to be the stuff others like while the ones i love tend to not go over so well.........

i'll write a lot of riffs too, not whole songs, then leave them alone for a long time. come back to them and throw them together in some new way i would never have come with if i kept beating at them day after day.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Savage_Dreams

i dont really know how to tell you to break through those feelings but i will say this, the stuff i write that i think sucks tends to be the stuff others like while the ones i love tend to not go over so well.........

i'll write a lot of riffs too, not whole songs, then leave them alone for a long time. come back to them and throw them together in some new way i would never have come with if i kept beating at them day after day.

Yeah, maybe some riffs, too. It'd be cool if the riffs were hooks.

[GizmoTheOne]

I understand what you are feeling, man. It's the story of my life. One day, you're excited about something, you think it's good, then the next day you realize you don't like it anymore and throw it away.

I once made about 3-4 months of extensive research about some stuff so I could write a novel about that stuff. I was so excited about it I couldn't hold my ground, looking forward to the actual writing process. I had all my ideas and plans written, everything in a holy big binder. I ended up writing one chapter, and my files have been resting on my USB storage device for 2 years now.

However I have learned that sometimes throwing things away when you're not happy about them is not a good idea. Some of my best songs have started out of riffs that I had left behind a long time ago.

As said before, don't try to push too hard if you just don't feel it. If you force things up, they will end up even worse, because they won't be a good reflection of what you can really do when you are really inspired. Wait and start something else, but don't throw anything away unless it's REALLY crappy.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by GizmoTheOne

I understand what you are feeling, man. It's the story of my life. One day, you're excited about something, you think it's good, then the next day you realize you don't like it anymore and throw it away.

I once made about 3-4 months of extensive research about some stuff so I could write a novel about that stuff. I was so excited about it I couldn't hold my ground, looking forward to the actual writing process. I had all my ideas and plans written, everything in a holy big binder. I ended up writing one chapter, and my files have been resting on my USB storage device for 2 years now.

However I have learned that sometimes throwing things away when you're not happy about them is not a good idea. Some of my best songs have started out of riffs that I had left behind a long time ago.

As said before, don't try to push too hard if you just don't feel it. If you force things up, they will end up even worse, because they won't be a good reflection of what you can really do when you are really inspired. Wait and start something else, but don't throw anything away unless it's REALLY crappy.

Yes. This is very much what I'm experiencing. I appreciate the all the responses here. Going to dive into a little bit of different music, and maybe just break away from the type of music I'm used to writing.

The taking a break thing is definitely however not an answer for me, as that's what I've been doing and exactly what I want NOT to do. I start working on music, go for about a half an hour, then play video games or come here and start wasting time. That's the kind of thing I want to break out of, or through. I have friends that I admire who can lock themselves in a room and write for an entire day. And they get stuff done. I feel I have this huge ugly mountain mountain standing in front of me that I have to either plow through and realize is made of paper, or climb and get over. Sitting and looking at it is what I've been doing for too long, and I have have a lot of time right now, and a great opportunity to get stuff done.

[Dirk Diggler]

If you think it sucks, then you need to make it not suck.
If other people tell you it sucks then you might have hit on your hands.

My biggest fear is writing something I don't like, and being forced to play that piece of crap for the rest of my life.

Good luck,
Dirk

[chubrocker]

First, push through and and at least get the idea down. It doesn't have to be polished. There is a high chance that most of the song can be saved/used. If anything, make notes about the recording process and use the song as a way to learn more about recording sounds, layering guitars, etc.

Next, I STRONGLY suggest a collaborator/co-writer. Share the stuff to someone you trust and respect their opinion. The person doens't have to be a musician specifically, but would be helpful IMO. In my band, everything is bascially "band written." Someone comes in with 90% of an idea, but when we all start looking at the song it ALWAYS turns out a better song---whether in hook, structure, timing, etc.

[WalterBush]

Songwriter Lindell Cooley once told me (and a room full of other people) "Does your song suck? Of course it sucks, mine suck. Write it anyway!" His point being that if you didn't write the bad songs, you weren't practicing writing good ones.

Songwriter Jeff Deyo made a 40 songs in 40 days pledge to get past the sucky songs. He wrote a song a day, good or bad, long or short, whatever. It worked, and resulted in material that appeared on more than one album.

Both these guys have sold millions, so it would seem to me that writing sub-par material is part of the writing process. I quote them because I haven't got past the "everything I write sucks" wall myself, yet.

[GreggBummer]

Thanks for the great topic Joe.

I often feel the same way. One of the things I have discovered about myself, through music, is that I am a collaborator. The best writing I have done have been with other people. I find that having the input of someone I trust is really valuable. I enjoy creating with others and it is where I do my best work.

I do write by myself. I tend to approach songs as "ideas" rather than "a product". These ideas can sit in a note book or on a hard drive for weeks... or years. They are unfinished and likely will stay that way. However, recently I came across an idea I wrote over six years ago in an old note book. It was just a chord progression and few bars of a bass line. I sat down with my iPad, recorded what I wrote, and two hours later I had a pretty workable song... although still a demo. I may use it later for my "solo act" or take it to my band. The song isn't finished... it is still evolving.

Just my two cents... glad to see others have the same feelings.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

Yes. This is very much what I'm experiencing. I appreciate the all the responses here. Going to dive into a little bit of different music, and maybe just break away from the type of music I'm used to writing.

The taking a break thing is definitely however not an answer for me, as that's what I've been doing and exactly what I want NOT to do. I start working on music, go for about a half an hour, then play video games or come here and start wasting time. That's the kind of thing I want to break out of, or through. I have friends that I admire who can lock themselves in a room and write for an entire day. And they get stuff done. I feel I have this huge ugly mountain mountain standing in front of me that I have to either plow through and realize is made of paper, or climb and get over. Sitting and looking at it is what I've been doing for too long, and I have have a lot of time right now, and a great opportunity to get stuff done.

sounds to me like you're uninspired.

how often do you go out and see new bands? are you engaging in the local "music scene" as much as you could be? do you have any goals that you've set for yourself that are achievable yet at least a little bit outside of your comfort zone?

[hover]

oft times musicians are their own worst enemies and critics. Let the ideas flow to tape. Doesn't have to be gold, just focus on getting the intent on the track. Could be a lone bassline. Could be a drum loop and a guitar noodle.

23 years in the same band and tho not as prolific as we used to be, we are always glad to have all our old ideas to inspire us. Some of the songs on our latest album came from ideas that were upwards of 8-10 years old. Reimagined a bit? Sure. Key change? or tempo change? Absolutely. But the spirit of the tune remainded.

Just keep writing man. When you actually stop trying is when you lose it.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by baalroo

sounds to me like you're uninspired.

how often do you go out and see new bands? are you engaging in the local "music scene" as much as you could be? do you have any goals that you've set for yourself that are achievable yet at least a little bit outside of your comfort zone?

Been doing that more than usual. Went to see 2 friends bands last week. Also went to an open mic night (to watch, not perform) and actually caught a little inspiration from that.

I think another part of my problem right now is that I'm not performing anything I write, so I'm getting this "it's pointless" kind of feeling. I'm in a new band I like (newest newest video below), but I also know I'm not going to be hanging around for all that long if I don't start having a lot to do with the writing. Possibly why I feel whatever I write has to kick butt... I'd really like to get stuff going with this band.

On a happier note I am pushing through slowly. Have some rhythem tracks I'm actually starting to like. A bit more work and I'll probably post here. Then you can all say "that's great stuff joe!!!!" and I'll feel even more inspired.

I appreciate the input from everyone. And writing (venting) here I believe is pushing me forward.