Let’s get something out of the way...
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to write a song, you’ll be waiting forever.
The truth is, most beginner songwriters (and plenty of seasoned ones) don't suffer from a lack of talent.
They suffer from a surplus of excuses.
Here are 9 of the most common ones… and how to eliminate them like a pro with a notebook and a 15-minute timer.
1. “I don’t have time.”
You do. You’re just not using it.
You're scrolling TikTok and reorganizing your plugins while a podcast about creativity plays in the background, and you're doing zero actual creating.
Here’s what to do:
- Pick a 15-minute window each day. Literally set a timer.
- Use that time for one task only: write lyrics, hum a melody, or draft a chord progression. Just one of them.
- Make it sacred. Same time, same place.
It’s not about finding time. It’s about making time, then defending it like it owes you money.
2. “I’m not feeling inspired.”
That’s cute. Inspiration is a luxury, not a requirement.
If you only write when you feel inspired, your catalog will look like a New Year's resolution by February: barely started and already abandoned.
Instead, use creative constraints.
Pick one lyric prompt, one chord progression, or one object in your room and write something about it.
Here’s a quick template:
- Emotion: angry/hopeful/heartbroken
- Metaphor: storm/clock/broken mirror
- Form: verse/chorus/4-bar loop
Mix and match. That’s your challenge for the next 10 minutes. GO.
3. “Everything I write sucks.”
Welcome to the club.
This means you’re doing it right. You’re building the muscle. The songs will suck until they don’t.
You know what sucks more than writing a bad song?
Not writing anything at all.
Trick yourself past the suck:
- Tell yourself: “This is just a sketch.”
- Don’t aim for genius. Aim for a complete draft, start to finish.
- Give yourself permission to write a song you’ll never release.
Bad songs are compost. They feed the good ones.
4. “I get stuck editing while I’m writing.”
Of course you do. Your brain wants to avoid the risk of moving forward by polishing what you already have.
Kill that instinct. Fast.
Here’s a rule I teach my students:
Write first, judge later.
In practice:
- Use ALL CAPS or bold text when writing your first draft to remind yourself: no edits allowed.
- Save editing for the next day, not the same session.
- Repeat this mantra: “I’m not allowed to delete anything while writing.”
You don't sculpt a statue by sanding the dust. You chisel first and clean later.
5. “I’m not a real songwriter.”
Define “real.” Do you mean professional? Paid? Grammy-winning?
Cool. Start by being a consistent songwriter. That’s the only qualifier that matters.
The moment you finish your third song and your fifth chorus, you're in.
Need a confidence builder?
- Create a songwriter log. Write down every idea, draft, and finished song.
- Set a goal: Write 10 songs in 30 days.
- Print out the list. Tape it to the wall.
Real songwriters write. That’s it.
6. “I don’t know what to write about.”
Let me guess. You're scared your idea won't be good enough?
Truth bomb: it doesn't matter what you write about.
What matters is how often you write about something.
Still stuck?
Try this:
The 10x10 Song Idea Grid
Draw a grid with 10 rows and 10 columns.
Fill it with:
- Memories
- Places
- People
- Emotions
- Metaphors
- Objects in your kitchen
- Things you wish you could say out loud
- Misheard lyrics
- Headlines from the news
- Weird dreams you had last week
That’s 100 potential seeds. Pick one. Water it. Watch it grow.
7. “I’m afraid people won’t like it.”
They might not.
But they can’t like something that doesn’t exist.
Fear of judgment is the tax you pay for doing creative work. But here's the twist:
Judgment is a mirror, not a verdict.
It reflects what they feel. Not what you’re worth.
Build your exposure muscle:
- Share a 30-second clip of your demo in a private group.
- Post something rough. Something real.
- Repeat once a week until the fear starts getting bored.
Vulnerability beats perfection every time.
8. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
No, you won’t.
Tomorrow is a mirage. It disappears every time you try to touch it.
Break the cycle:
Install a trigger-action ritual.
- After I make coffee, I will write for 10 minutes.
- After I walk the dog, I will open my notebook.
- After I put the kids to bed, I’ll record one idea into Voice Memos.
Link writing to something you already do. Make it automatic.
Don’t rely on discipline. Rely on design.
9. “I need better gear first.”
Stop blaming your tools.
Your iPhone has a better recording setup than The Beatles had at Abbey Road in 1962.
You don’t need a Neumann mic. You need a habit.
Try this mini setup:
- Voice Memos to capture melody
- Notes app for lyrics
- GarageBand or Logic Pro for demos (you already have one if you’re on a Mac)
Write first. Upgrade later.
Final Thought:
Excuses are clever. They wear disguises and sound like logic, but really they're just fear in a trench coat.
If you want to kill your excuses, don't argue with them. Outwork them.
Write when you don't feel like it. Share before you're ready, and finish even when it still feels rough.
That's how you grow as a writer, and that's how you become unstoppable.
The 7-Step Method That Helps You Actually Finish a Song
Most songwriters have more ideas than finished songs. This free guide shows you the exact sequence to take an idea from start to done — without the rewriting loop or the blank-page panic.
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Wonderful as always. Thanks Graham.
“Fear in a trench coat.” Nice. Very Raymond Chandler of you. 🙂
“Writing isn’t hard, sitting down to write is”