How To Journal Your Songwriting Endeavors

Documentation might seem like an unnecessary addition to songwriting, what is already a very work intensive and well thought out process. However, writing a journal about the songwriting process can be an effective way for beginners to figure out a number of things about their creative process and themselves as writers. Through writing about the process, a songwriter can figure out where they're going wrong, more easily chart stumbling blocks, and look back at their writing much more objectively.

The subject matter of the journal is entirely up to it's author, but I would still suggest some focus. That focus, which can include anything that serves as inspiration for musical and lyrical creation, can include books read, people talked to, dreams, or whatever else moves a person to write a song.

Even if you haven't written any music, it's still ok to write in the journal. In fact, talking about why you aren't songwriting at the moment can help understand the barriers between yourself and creativity. In the meantime, you can write about books you've read, your Takamine acoustic guitar, artists you've been listening to, etc. The possibilities are endless.

The material included in a songwriter's journal can also provide inspiration for lyrics or a chord progression some other time. Anything included in the journal should be related to songwriting or the writer's life, and is, as such, valid material for drawing from.

Electronic and physical writing mediums have different advantages and disadvantages. Buying a moleskine journal or something like it and scribbling down the thoughts of the day has the reward of being quicker and more accessible that it's blog counterpart. One doesn't have to sign into a notebook and pen, and so one can be more spontaneous. What this leads to is a better sense of immediate, unfiltered material about songwriting.

Through the latter option, an online songwriting journal does entail more set-up and less mobility, but it has several unique advantages. As an online tool, it allows you to share your thoughts with trusted readers or a community of musicians, who can comment on and assist with any problems that you might encounter along the way. Don't expect to make money blogging on this subject matter, though; it's mostly for your own good.

In either case, the most important part of writing a journal about creating music is a steady stream of updates, even if it's only about your treasured v, piano, banjo, or mandolin. Good luck out there!

Tags: creating music, journal, songwriting