Commitment
Some songwriters have the superpower to stay in the writing room until a draft is finished.
Songwriting is a deeply personal and variable process. While some talented writers seem to conjure up melodies and lyrics with ease, penning three full songs in an afternoon, others agonize over every word and chord, struggling to complete even one song over the course of weeks or months.
As a commercial songwriter in a competitive music hub like Nashville, however, consistency and efficiency are key to success. Publishing companies expect regular output to pitch to recording artists or place in film/TV. The ability to reliably craft playable demos and polished compositions under the time constraints of scheduled co-writing sessions is crucial. This piece explores the working methods, mindsets, and techniques that enable some writers to deliver hits at a rapid pace while their peers continue to perfect a single track.
Examining diverse songwriting approaches can help all composers better understand their strengths, weaknesses, and tools for overcoming common obstacles. And while commitment can seem to be a stick to make yourself more productive, in reality, those who can make it work use it like a superpower.
Why commitment works
Have you ever been writing a song when, all of a sudden, the writing just gets tough? We all get creative blocks now and then, but can be different. This is a creative brain freeze.
Have you ever had any of these:
The muddy middle - this is often when you’re just about to start writing Verse 2. see ‘Writing back to front lyrics’ here.
Fear-freezes - After working hard to get an idea or title you want to write, it suddenly doesn't feel as easy as you expected. It's almost like you were trying to run through a field of honey, you then start fearing that it might not be worth writing after all and start to think about quitting - see here - the Idea Bank - to help with this.
Mini doubt attacks – You're approaching the end of your draft song when sudden doubts arise. Certain parts now seem lacking or out of place. Though unable to pinpoint solutions, you question if the song needs some indefinable extra ingredient to go from decent to great. Overcoming this uncertainty can be key to finishing.
A juice switch off – When the well of inspiration runs dry, or we consider abandoning our half-finished songs, it’s easy to quit and try an easier project. The initial excitement that came with the chorus melody had faded. The lyrics now seem trite, the guitar riff dull.
These are all well-known issues for us songwriters. And that’s because we are all human beings, which are made for this to happen to us now and again.
The good news is that there is one tool that will always come to your rescue: a creative shot that will send you super-energized to get you to the end of the race with a great piece of work: commitment.
What is commitment for songwriters?
Whether you're writing lyrics, composing melodies, or arranging harmonies, commitment to your writing is a lifeline to us songwriters. It’s as simple as turning on the switch rather than waiting for it to happen. Some songwriters have the superpower to stay in the writing room until a draft is finished. And sometimes, a cup of coffee or a bathroom break can also help. But this superpower is when multiple songs can flow easily from a very productive afternoon with your co-writers.
Some songwriters have the superpower to stay in the writing room until a draft is finished.
Here are five ways you can use commitment as a tool in your songwriting workflow:
Commitment to the Title – The title of a song holds incredible weight, acting as the first point of connection between your work and the listener. It’s the hook that captures attention, the lens through which the rest of the lyrics are viewed. That’s why fully committing to your title is so crucial.
Take time to brainstorm titles that encapsulate your song's core message or storyline. Keep the title clear and impactful, free from clichés or overused tropes. Run potential titles by others to gauge resonance and listen to your intuition. Once you’ve landed on the one, commit wholeheartedly. Let it guide and shape the rest of the songwriting process.
Commitment to the Plot – Even songs without a clear narrative contain a central theme or explore an emotional arc. Determining the plot - whether concrete or abstract - provides direction and coherence.
Outline the key points before drafting lyrics. Know the conflict, the emotional journey, and what resolutions or transformations manifest. Focusing on the storyline first makes it far easier to write purposeful verses that stay true to the plot. Follow where the story wants to go without forcing unnatural divergences. Trust your creative instincts. Committing fully to the plot makes your lyrics infused with authenticity and flow. This is exactly what I’m writing about in Song Maps - click here for more.
Commitment to the Music – lyrics set to great music become elevated and enlarged, the partnership enhancing the offering of each. That fusion requires finding melodic and harmonic threads that feel destined for the lyrics.
Experiment with different musical arrangements, asking which best serves the storyline and intended mood. Compose a melody that underscores and accentuates the power of the words. Select chords that harmonize with and support the lyrical essence. You’ll know when the music ‘fits’ - keep following that resonance. Commit fully to the music that aligns with and lifts the lyrics to their highest potential.
Commitment to the Overall Feeling – Every song creates a visceral experience, generating emotions and atmosphere. Lyrics, music, and arrangement evoke a specific mood - joy, heartbreak, excitement, stillness. Committing to that intended feeling makes its transmission through song far more powerful.
Keep the desired response at the forefront when making writing choices. Let it guide every decision, requesting each note and turn of phrase amplify what you wish listeners to feel. Evaluate creative options through the lens of the overall feeling you want to be imparted. Align the sonic quality, instrumentation, melodic shape, and production approach as well. By wholly committing to the feeling, you create an immersive, experiential moment inside your song.
Commitment to the Vibes – Like feeling, every song also holds its own distinct energy and essence, or ‘vibe.’ The vibes encompass the cumulative mood, tone, and atmosphere created by the full arrangement of lyrics, melody, and sound.
As songwriters, we fall in love with the vibes that first captivate us with song ideas. The uniqueness lies there in the genesis. Commit to crafting lyrics, music, and production elements that lock into those original vibes. Avoid crowding the song by overstuffing sections or losing continuity by diverging drastically. Follow the vibes already coming through rather than imposing ideas that don’t belong. Trust that committing wholly to the inherent vibes produces authentic, coherent songs with that magical resonance.
Through complete commitment to the title, plot, music, feeling, and vibes, songwriters can create meaningful works that spread light. By committing on all fronts, you devote yourself to servicing the song above all else, a dedication that pays dividends to both creator and listener.
So the next time you’re worried that you might be hitting a muddy middle, a fear-freeze, a mini doubt attack or a juice switchoff, take your superpower, a commitment to see what beautiful art starts flowing again.
Click here to learn more about how to be more productive.
Questions
Here are some questions for you to use in your own workflow:
What makes you doubt your work when it nears completion, despite initially feeling enthusiastic about the concept?
What's the one element your song ideas often lack the commitment to - the title, plot, music, feeling, vibes, or something else?
Could fully developing any of these five key elements, with some extra time, help elevate your next song?
Hope this helps!
Simon.