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Creative block

At some time or another in an artist's career, creative block will probably set in. This can be a very difficult period and can mean years of unproductivity. Luckily, that isn't always the case, and there is usually a good reason why a person is affected in this way. Sometimes a stressful time such as a death or marriage break-up can cause a break in someone's ability to sit down and work - although it's also true that this kind of experience can be the catalyst for an enormous amount of creativity and songwriting.

Brett Kahr, psychotherapist, has spent a lot of time with writers who suffer from this. He says there are two situations when a creative block can happen. Either when someone has a big success or, conversely, a huge disappointment. It's easy to understand how someone loses their confidence in their writing when they experience failure, but why should success have such a negative effect?

They come after our greatest successes... and failures
Brett Kahr, pyshotherapist and songwriter

It can be tied up with deeper issues of guilt. Success can make you different from the people around you, including your family and friends. While you're doing really well, their lives will stay relatively the same. It is this that can lead to feelings of guilt - especially in the case of your own family being more financially successful than your parents'. Then, there are those people who are successful but don't feel they deserve it. These are situations that cause inner conflict and prevent us from working.

At the other end of the spectrum is constant disappointment.

Some of these issues are best explored with professionals such as a counsellor or psychiatrist. Not only could it help you resolve them for the future, but what a rich source of songwriting material!

What if you are feeling low and unable to work? There may be no need to rush off and see the local shrink, but try these tips to lift you out of the songwriter's blues:

Seek out supportive friends, partners and/or people who listen and can give you advice, and from whom you are prepared to take advice. These kinds of discussions can help to unlock creative block by boosting your confidence and putting things in perspective.
Make a list of all the successful things you have done. Too often when we feel a failure we lose sight of all the good things that we have achieved. They don't have to be in the winning awards category either. Finding time to write songs while bringing up children or holding down a full-time job is just as noteworthy.
Treat yourself. Getting a knock-back can be disappointing, so go and do something nice - it doesn't have to cost any money. A walk in the country, a gallery visit, seeing someone special. Who knows? It could be inspire a song.
Read about other musicians and songwriters who have been successful after many difficulties or who are still trying to make it - at least you know you're not alone.
Write a song about how you feel.

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Simon Elvin, Plymouth
Do you always write in the same way, under the same circumstances? One way of getting over that block is to disturb the routine that's not working. Instead of sitting at the piano, try getting on a bus and sitting in the park or in a shopping centre and do some people watching/listening (just don't stalk anyone!) It's easy to get frustrated trying to find ideas from within yourself, so look outside at what's going on around you. Apart from being very entertaining, other people's lives all have unique perspectives. I think the main thing is that you stop trying to broadcast and start to tune in. This can release the mental block. Be prepared for a sudden deluge of ideas!!

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