How to Break a Creative Writing Block (for songwriters)

Creative blocks hit every songwriter.

Even the greats. One day the lyrics flow effortlessly, the next you’re staring at a blank page wondering if you’ve lost it.

The truth? You haven’t.

A writing block usually isn’t a lack of talent. It’s pressure, distraction, or overthinking.

Here are a few songwriter-specific ways to break through it.

1. Write badly on purpose

Give yourself permission to write a terrible song. Remove the goal of “good” and replace it with “finished.” Most blocks come from trying to write something meaningful straight away.

Messy lyrics and melodies often hide the best lines.

2. Change the starting point

If it feels like trying to pull teeth writing new lyrics , start with the melody, rhythm, or even a single phrase. Hum nonsense words. Play one chord on repeat. Sometimes the song needs sound before it needs meaning.

And vice versa too. If you often start writing melodies before lyrics - switch it up a little. Keep it fresh. Surprise yourself with a little more unpredictability. You never know what will come from it!

3. Steal structure, not ideas

We all love a bit of inspiration - but let’s not be tempted to straight up imitation. Here’s how you can keep things original whist nodding to your source of inspo when songwriting.

Listen to a song you love and borrow its structure: verse length, chorus placement, rhyme scheme. Then write something completely new inside that framework. Constraints like this can be incredibly freeing.

4. Take the pressure off yourself and write smaller

You don’t need a full song today. Aim for one honest line, one verse, or one hook. Momentum builds creativity, not the other way around.

5. Change your environment

Sometimes the best step to take when you’ve got writer’s block is to physically switch up your environment. Find places that inspire you to create.

Write somewhere different: outside, in a café, on your phone, or without your instrument. New surroundings often unlock new perspectives and lyrics.

6. Remember why you loved writing songs in the first place

It’s the painful artist’s journey that every creative experiences. We can get so caught up in the numbers, the question of people will like it, whether the song will get streams or not.

Sometimes we just need to strip it right back and get back to the basics. You’re not writing for algorithms, trends, or perfection. You’re writing to express something that can’t be said any other way. That’s still there.

A form of honest, messy, real self-expression. Always remember your roots and go back to why you first started.

Creative blocks aren’t stop signs. They’re signals to shift how you’re creating. Keep showing up, keep playing, and trust that the song will meet you halfway.