When you’re first starting out as a songwriter, it can feel like there’s a mountain of things to figure out. Things like lyrics, melody, structure, rhymes, ideas, not to mention performance, recording, and everything else.
It’s so easy to fall into traps that slow your progress or shake your confidence.
But don’t worry, mistakes are part of the process. In fact, they’re necessary. That being said, here are 10 common mistakes beginner songwriters tend to make, along with some straightforward ways to fix them.
1. Trying to Sound Like Someone Else
It’s natural to be inspired by your favourite artists. But trying too hard to sound like them can blur your own voice. You end up writing songs that sound like cheap copies instead of something honest and original.
Fix: Dig into your influences to learn from them, but don’t aim to clone them. Write about your life, your thoughts, your feelings. That’s where your real sound lives.
2. Waiting for Inspiration to Strike
New songwriters often believe they need to “feel it” before they can write. And sure, inspiration is great… when it shows up. The problem is, it doesn’t always.
Fix: Set regular songwriting sessions, even if you’re not feeling particularly inspired. Writing is a skill, not a lightning bolt. The more consistently you show up, the more likely inspiration will meet you halfway.
3. Writing Without Structure
A song without structure can feel like a long ramble. If listeners don’t know where they are or where the song is going, they’ll tune out.
Fix: Start by learning some basic song forms (like verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus). Use these as scaffolding. Once you’re comfortable, you can start bending the rules.
4. Trying to Say Too Much
It’s tempting to squeeze every thought, memory, and emotional breakthrough into a single song. But that usually ends up overwhelming both you and your listeners.
Fix: Focus on one main idea per song. Stick to it. If other ideas pop up, make a note of them, they might be seeds for your next song.
5. Forgetting the Hook
A song without a strong hook is like a story without a point. People remember the catchy part, if there isn’t one, they won’t come back.
Fix: Identify the emotional core of your song and build your hook around it. Make it short, memorable, and something people can hum after one listen.
6. Writing Generic or Cliché Lyrics
Phrases like “I miss you,” “I need you,” or “my heart is broken” might be true, but they’ve been said a million times. On their own, they don’t paint a vivid picture.
Fix: Be specific. Show, don’t tell. Instead of “I miss you,” say “Your half-drunk coffee’s still sitting on the windowsill.” Details make lyrics real.
7. Not Finishing Songs
This is a big one. Starting songs is exciting. Finishing them? That’s where things get tricky. Many beginners leave a trail of half-written songs behind them.
Fix: Make it a rule to finish what you start, even if the song isn’t perfect. You can always go back and revise later. The act of completing a song teaches you more than abandoning it ever will.
8. Ignoring Melody
Sometimes beginners get so focused on lyrics that the melody becomes an afterthought. But melody is what draws people in, it’s the emotional vehicle for your words.
Fix: Write with melody in mind from the start. Hum ideas, noodle around on an instrument, or even sing nonsense syllables to find the melodic flow before locking in the words.
9. Not Getting Feedback
If you’re the only one who ever hears your songs, it’s hard to grow. You need outside ears.
Fix: Share your work. Find a songwriting group, play your songs at open mics, or just show a few trusted friends. Feedback (especially the constructive kind) is gold.
10. Being Too Hard on Themselves
The worst mistake? Expecting perfection straight away. Comparing your early drafts to your favourite artist’s polished studio recordings is a fast way to kill your confidence.
Fix: Remember: every great songwriter started somewhere. Let yourself write average songs, rough songs, even bad songs. They’re all part of getting to the good ones.
My Final Thought
Songwriting is a journey, not a checklist. Mistakes don’t mean you’re doing it wrong, they mean you’re doing it.
Stay open, keep writing, and trust that every song (even the “bad” ones) moves you forward.
