7 Habits of Highly Effective Songwriters
Stephen Covey’s principles applied to our lovely craft.
As a songwriter, I often envision my ideal creative environment to be one with a cozy chair, a warm cup of my favorite coffee, and a collection of inspiring instruments within reach.
While writing my second book, 'The Organized Songwriter,' I discussed this in more detail. I emphasized the power of combining left and right brain activities to enhance productivity and create more impactful songs. Upon revisiting Stephen Covey's influential book, 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,' I've discovered several valuable principles that can possibly further elevate your craft.
Stephen Covey’s principles applied to our lovely craft
Here are my seven habits of highly effective songwriters, which can help us reach new heights in our creative journey.
Habit 1: Show Up Consistently
Habit 2: Song Maps: A Powerful Tool
Habit 3: The Power of Purpose
Habit 4: Embracing the Messy First Draft
Habit 5: Get Organised
Habit 6: Collaboration and Feedback
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Nurturing Your Creativity
Let’s run through them.
Habit 1: Show Up Consistently
The foundation of any successful endeavor is consistency. Effective songwriters understand this and make it a habit to show up for their craft regularly. Just as an athlete trains consistently to improve their performance, a songwriter must dedicate regular time to writing, even when inspiration isn't striking.
Schedule dedicated time in your week for songwriting, and honor those appointments.
Treat your songwriting practice with the same level of commitment as any other important work meeting or obligation.
By showing up consistently, you create momentum, build discipline, and train your creative muscles to be ready when inspiration strikes. See more here.
Habit 2: Song Maps: A Powerful Tool
Building trust and excitement is essential to successful songwriting. Song Maps, as outlined in my book of the same name, provides a framework for structuring your songs and creating a clear roadmap for your creative journey.
A song map helps you establish a strong foundation, ensuring that each section of your song contributes to the overall message and emotional arc.
Utilizing a song map can avoid getting lost in the creative process and ensure that your song has a clear direction and purpose.
There are seven universal Song Maps in the book and another bonus one here!
Habit 3: The Power of Purpose
Highly effective people begin each day, task, or project with a clear idea of their desired outcome. This principle applies powerfully to songwriting as well. Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on the purpose of your song.
What message do you want to convey?
What emotions do you want to evoke in your listeners?
Having one clear sense of purpose will give your songwriting direction and depth. See more here.
Habit 4: Embracing the Messy First Draft
Don't let the pursuit of perfection paralyze you. Effective songwriters understand that the first draft is just that – a draft. Embrace the messy, imperfect stage of creation.
Allow your ideas to flow freely without judgment or self-censorship.
Focus on getting your thoughts and emotions down on paper (or screen) without worrying about polishing them just yet.
The magic of songwriting often happens in the unexpected turns and raw expressions that emerge during this initial phase.
Habit 5: Get Organised
A cluttered workspace can lead to a cluttered mind. Effective songwriters understand the importance of organization in maximizing their creative output. As discussed in my book, The Organized Songwriter, developing systems for managing your ideas, lyrics, melodies, and recordings can streamline your workflow and boost your productivity.
Create a system for capturing song ideas as they come to you, whether it's a notebook, a voice memo app, or a dedicated folder on your computer.
Organize your lyrics, melodies, and song files in a way that makes them easily searchable and accessible.
Implement project management principles to track the progress of your songs, from the initial idea to the finished product.
You can read more about organizing your workflow using the Idea Bank here.
Habit 6: Collaboration and Feedback
Highly effective songwriters value the power of collaboration and actively seek out opportunities to work with other songwriters, musicians, producers, and industry professionals. They understand that different perspectives and skill sets can enrich their work and bring fresh ideas.
Join songwriting groups or workshops to connect with other songwriters and exchange feedback.
Seek out mentorships with more experienced songwriters or industry professionals.
Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth.
Co-writing can help you refine your songs, expand your musical horizons, and build valuable relationships within the music community. If you haven’t ever co-written before, see more here.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Nurturing Your Creativity
You will already know about this, but just as a lumberjack must sharpen their saw to keep it cutting effectively, highly effective songwriters recognize the importance of self-renewal in maintaining their creative edge. They understand that neglecting their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being can lead to burnout and diminish their creative output.
Make time for activities that bring you joy and rejuvenation, such as spending time in nature, listening to music, reading, or pursuing hobbies.
Prioritize self-care practices that support your mental and emotional health, such as meditation, mindfulness, or therapy.
Continuously seek out new experiences and learning opportunities that can inspire your songwriting.
If you want to learn more about this, see more about filling the well here.
In Summary
Adopting these seven habits can really help your songwriting experience and unleash your inner creative genius. Remember, success isn't achieved overnight; it's the result of consistent effort, devotion, and a readiness to grow. The key is to begin somewhere, so start today. Integrate one habit at a time into your routine, and observe the profound impact they have on your songwriting.
Explore my book Song Maps to delve deeper into these transformative practices and elevate your songwriting skills. You can find it here.
Questions
Here are a few questions:
Which of these seven habits resonates most strongly with you, and why?
What is one action step you can take today to implement one of these habits into your songwriting routine?
How can you create a more supportive and inspiring environment for your songwriting workflow?
Hope this helps!
Simon.