As songwriters, we all hit that wall. You know the one—I’m talking about staring at the page (or screen), guitar in hand, brain swirling with half-baked melodies and lyrics that don’t quite land. We want to write something meaningful, something real… but instead, we feel stuck. Paralyzed. Like we’re getting in our own way.
Sound familiar? Trust me, I’ve been there too.
“Getting out of your own way” is a phrase I’ve heard countless times, and over the years I’ve come to understand that it’s not about finding more inspiration or mastering some secret songwriting technique. It’s about learning to sidestep the mental blocks we put in front of ourselves.
So, how do you actually do that?
Let’s dig in.
1. Let Go of Perfectionism
One of the biggest creativity killers is the need to make everything “perfect” right out of the gate. That mindset? It’s like trying to paint a masterpiece with your hand tied behind your back.
Give yourself permission to write something messy, something raw—hell, even something “bad.” Why? Because often, the gold is hidden in the dirt. You have to write through the noise to get to the signal.
Think of it like panning for gold. Sometimes you’ve got to sift through a whole lot of mud to find that one shimmering nugget.
2. Ditch the Rulebook (Just for a Bit)
Yes, structure matters. Rhyme schemes matter. Hooks, choruses, verses—it all plays a part. But if you’re constantly micromanaging your writing process, you’re not really writing… you’re editing while writing. That’s a creativity buzzkill.
Trust your instincts. Write like nobody’s watching. You can always put your editor hat on later—just don’t wear it during the first draft.
3. Write First, Judge Later
Your inner critic? Yeah, it’s got a role to play—but not until the second draft.
When you’re writing something new, that inner voice saying, “This line sucks” or “That melody’s been done before” is not helping. It’s interrupting your flow.
Try this: Set a timer for 10 minutes and just write. No filters. No rewrites. No second-guessing. You’d be amazed at what comes out when you stop trying to “get it right” and just get it out.
4. Change the Scenery
Sometimes the easiest way to get out of your own way is to get out of your usual space.
Try writing in a new environment—a café, a park, your car, the shower (seriously). Use a notebook instead of your laptop. Sing ideas into your phone instead of laying them down in your DAW right away. Shake up the routine and give your brain something fresh to latch onto.
Or better yet—collaborate. New energy equals new ideas.
5. Stop Comparing
Comparison is creativity’s kryptonite.
Don’t compare your new song to your old hits. Don’t compare your work-in-progress to your favorite artist’s latest single. Every song is its own moment. Its own journey. Its own emotional fingerprint.
Write the song that wants to come through you right now—not the one you think you should write.
6. Reconnect with Your “Why”
When you feel stuck, step back and ask yourself: Why did I start writing songs in the first place?
Was it to be famous? Probably not.
More likely, it was to connect. To express something you couldn’t say any other way. To make sense of the chaos. To share joy, heartbreak, truth, or even a good laugh.
Whatever your “why” is—anchor yourself to it. That’s your compass.
7. Use Creative Constraints
Here’s a paradox for you: sometimes limitations = freedom.
Give yourself quirky challenges:
- Write a song using only three chords.
- Don’t rhyme in the chorus.
- Write from someone else’s point of view.
It narrows the field, quiets the noise, and forces your creativity to work in new ways. That’s when the magic often happens.
8. Trust the Process, Not the Outcome
Not every song needs to be an album track. Not every lyric needs to be profound. Some songs are meant to stretch your creative muscles. Some are just emotional exorcisms. And others… well, they’re just plain fun.
And that’s okay.
Trust that every song you write, good or bad, serves a purpose. You don’t need to know what that purpose is right away. Just keep writing.
Final Thought
Getting out of your own way isn’t about working harder. It’s about surrendering a little. Trusting more. Letting the process unfold without judgment or expectation.
So, next time you’re stuck, try loosening your grip. Breathe. Play. Scribble. Sing nonsense. Be okay with the mess. Because in that mess is where the truth lives.
And isn’t that what songwriting’s really about?
