Facing the Fear: Why Frustrated Songwriters Struggle to Complete Songs Quickly

Here's a riddle for you...

How many unfinished songs does it take to keep a songwriter up at night? 🤔

One? Two? A hundred?

I reckon it’s a number as haunting as the melodies swirling around in your head.

Welcome, my friends, to the dirty little secret of the music world.

A place where song ideas pile up, forgotten, gathering dust.

Welcome to the song graveyard, where most songs don’t get past the tombstone that reads "work in progress…"

Intrigued? Horrified? Maybe a little of both?

Good. Today, we're gonna unmask this beast of unfinished songs and turn frustrated songwriters into fearless melody makers.

I’d sure like to say it’s gonna be an easy ride, but hey, who said life was a cakewalk?

The Frustrations

Unfinished songs... the songwriter's silent frustration, or should I say, open secret?

It's like laundry, piling up, out of sight, out of mind, until you run out of clean socks.

So, why do songwriters get stuck? Let's count the culprits, shall we?

Fear of failure, perfectionism, lack of inspiration, and, yep, plain ol' procrastination. Sounds about right?

Fear of failure is like that one guy at the party who won't leave. He’s always there, whispering, “Is this good enough? Will people laugh? Will I become a one-hit-wonder?” And, just like that, fear sets in, and your creative well dries up quicker than a puddle in the Sahara.

Next up, we have perfectionism, or as I like to call it, the double-edged sword. Striving for the best? Great. Paralyzed by the quest for the 'perfect' song? Not so great. Remember, the search for perfection can easily transform into an excuse not to finish.

Lack of inspiration? Well, that’s a sneaky one. It's a delicate dance between letting the muse find you and actively seeking it out. It's like trying to catch a butterfly - sometimes, you need to sit still, and it will land on your shoulder. Other times, you gotta get off your behind and chase it.

And then we've got procrastination, the favorite pastime of every frustrated songwriter. Suddenly, doing laundry or washing dishes seems appealing when faced with the task of finishing a song, huh?

The Psychology Behind Songwriter’s Block

Peeling back the layers, let's dive into the tormented mind of the stuck songwriter.

Are we just jaded romantics, or is there something more?

First up is societal pressure. You're expected to outdo yourself with each song, aren't you? Your last great song becomes a shadow, lurking in the background, whispering, “Can you top this?”

Yeah, no pressure there.

Then there's the fear of the unfinished song. It's a paradox, really. The unfinished song is both a symbol of potential greatness and a reminder of potential failure. It's like having a ticking time bomb in your hands - do you defuse it or let it explode?

Tough call.

Quick Completion Doesn’t Mean Sacrificing Quality

Buckle up, folks. It's time to burst some bubbles.

Quick songwriting isn't an 'instant noodle' recipe... it's about time we debunked this myth, don't you think?

Streamlining your process doesn't mean you're sacrificing the soul of your work. Think of it as a high-speed train - you're getting to your destination quickly, but you're still enjoying the ride, right?

And who said you can't write a great song in a hot minute?

Not me, certainly.

Speed doesn't equate to sloppiness, and slow doesn't mean quality. It's about finding the rhythm that works for you.

And if that rhythm is a quicker tempo, then why the hell not?

There’s a lot of gold in that there stream of consciousness, my friends.

And a speedy process can help you pan for gold nuggets before the waters of self-doubt and overthinking muddy it all up.

Practical Tips for Overcoming the Block and Speeding Up the Songwriting Process

Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's roll up our sleeves and get down to business.

Here's some no-nonsense advice for all you tortured souls out there.

Unfinished songs are NOT failed songs.

They're simply works in progress.

Don’t shelve your song because it’s not "perfect" yet. Remember, perfection is a destination that keeps moving farther away the closer you get.

Kill your darlings.

Now, I don't mean this in the literal sense... I’m not promoting musical genocide here.

But sometimes, the part you love most is what's holding your song back. Be open to change. Be ready to let go.

Use time-bound constraints.

Give yourself a deadline. Make it a game, a challenge. How much can you write in 30 minutes? An hour?

You'll be surprised how a ticking clock can scare off that pesky perfectionism.

Change your environment.

If your room has started to look like a shrine for unfinished songs, maybe it's time to shake things up. Go outside, find a new spot.

A change of scenery might just be the muse you've been waiting for.

Songwriting is a craft.

And like any craft, it requires practice. It's not all divine inspiration and lightbulb moments.

So, put in the work, and stop using "waiting for inspiration" as an excuse. Inspiration is attracted to motion.

Learn from the masters.

Yup, it's time to go back to school, my friends. There's a reason the greats are, well, great. Study their work, analyze their patterns.

You'll find nuggets of wisdom in the most unexpected places.

And finally, invest in a system.

Specifically, the Speed Songwriting System that I've been teaching to frustrated songwriters worldwide for over 10 years. It's a step-by-step method, breaking down the songwriting process into manageable chunks, helping you navigate the journey from an idea to a complete song.

Quick, efficient, and no, it's not cheating. It's just smart.

CONCLUSION

So, here we are, at the end of our journey from frustrated songwriters to fearless melody makers.

We've unmasked the beast of unfinished songs, faced our fears, and are now ready to conquer the world. Or at least the world of songwriting.

Let's turn the graveyard of unfinished songs into a museum of completed masterpieces.

Are you ready to join the revolution? Are you ready to shake off the chains of fear, perfectionism, and procrastination?

So, pick up that pen, that guitar, or that keyboard, and let's write some songs. Great songs. Finished songs.

Because in this songwriting game, the only enemy you've got to face is you, my friend.

And let's face it, you can take them, can't you?

Remember, every great song was once an idea, a rough draft, an unfinished project.

So, let's finish what we started. Let's write those songs. The world is waiting to sing along.

In the immortal words of the great Leonard Cohen:

"Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

So, let's embrace our imperfections, our fears, and turn them into songs.

That’s the way we let our light shine, don’t ya think?

Time to stop hitting the snooze button, my friends. Let's step into the light. Let's create, let's craft, let's complete.

Because you're not just a songwriter. You're a melody maker, a storyteller, a poet, an artist.

You're a fearless creator who’s got more finished songs than discarded coffee cups. And it’s time the world heard them.

So, here's to finishing what we started.

Here's to quick songwriting.

Here's to the fear, the frustration, the victories, and the great songs.

Ready to conquer your fear and start finishing your songs?

Let's do this together.

Because together, we can turn the silence into symphonies and the frustrations into triumphs.

Stay fearless. Stay creative. And as always, keep on writing.

Your Songwriting Coach,
Graham English

Are you a songwriter stuck in a rut? Tired of staring at unfinished songs? Ready to face your fear and create something amazing? Check out the Speed Songwriting System today.

Because it's not just about writing songs, it's about finishing them. And I'd sure like to help you do that.

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