You’ve probably got at least one song idea that’s been sitting half-finished for months. Maybe years. You think about it in the shower, hum it while driving, but every time you try to “finally finish it,” you stall out.
The problem isn’t that the song’s bad. It’s that you’re trying to make it perfect before it’s even done.
The fastest way out of that loop? Write more songs. A lot more. Ten finished songs will do more for your skills, confidence, and catalog than a year of “perfecting” one track.
And that’s not just motivational talk—it’s how professional songwriters work every single day.
Why Quantity Builds Quality (and Confidence)
Two decades ago, an art professor split his pottery class into two groups. One group was graded on quantity—how many pots they made. The other was graded on quality—their single “perfect” pot.
By the end of the semester, the quantity group had made the best pots. Why? Every attempt taught them something. They learned from mistakes, got faster, experimented more, and refined their technique through action.
Songwriting works the same way.
- Quantity forces completion – You get reps in starting and finishing, which is the real skill.
- Completion breeds confidence – You stop fearing the “finished product” because you’ve done it so often.
- Repetition improves instincts – Every verse, hook, and chord change you write strengthens your sense of what works.
The 10-Song Sprint Method
Here’s a system you can start today. Commit to writing ten complete songs in a short, defined window—ideally 30 days or less. The tighter the timeline, the better the results.
Step 1 – Define Your Rules
Give yourself constraints so you don’t overthink:
- 1 session per song (no more than 90 minutes)
- 2 verses, 1 chorus, optional bridge
- Pick a key and tempo before you start—no endless tweaking
- Lyric concept locked in at the start
Step 2 – Track Your Progress
Create a simple chart with 10 boxes. Every time you finish a song draft, fill one in. The visual progress is motivating.
Step 3 – Finish Ugly
If you get stuck, write the simplest line you can to move forward. You can improve it later. A finished draft beats a half-perfect fragment every time.
Step 4 – Review at the End
Only after all 10 songs are complete should you listen back, pick the strongest one, and refine it.
Example: The “Throwaway” That Wasn’t
A student in the Speed Songwriting program wrote a silly, half-rhyming pop song just to fill her quota. She almost deleted it. A month later, she played it at an open mic. The crowd loved it. A producer in the audience offered to record it.
The point? You can’t predict which ideas will resonate. You just have to finish them.
A Simple 10-Song Template
Verse 1 – Set the scene (where, when, who)
Chorus – Emotional core or hook phrase
Verse 2 – Advance the story or deepen the emotion
Bridge (optional) – Contrast or turning point
Chorus (repeat) – Stronger the final time
Keep chords simple—three to four will do. Use one rhythmic pattern and stick to it. Remember: this is about reps, not perfection.
How to Put This Into Action This Week
- Pick your 10-day, 20-day, or 30-day window
- Block off your writing sessions in your calendar now
- Use a timer to keep yourself moving
- Print your 10-song chart and stick it where you can see it
- Share the challenge with a friend for accountability
The Confidence Shortcut
When you’ve finished 10 songs, you’ll notice something:
- Your writing speed increases
- You spend less time stuck in doubt
- Your “bad” songs aren’t actually that bad, and your best ones come faster
Finishing more is the most direct path to writing better. So quit waiting for the “perfect” idea. Write it down, sing it out, and move on to the next one.
Want a System That Makes This Effortless?
If you’ve ever sat there thinking, “I have the ideas, I just can’t seem to finish them,” the 10-Song Sprint is just the start. My Speed Songwriting Method gives you the exact framework I’ve taught to hundreds of songwriters to consistently write, finish, and feel proud of their music, without getting stuck in perfectionism or creative burnout.
Start your own sprint today. And when you’re ready to turn that momentum into a catalog you can release, pitch, or license, I’ll show you the step-by-step process that gets you there.
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