I’m in Songwriting Hibernation, And I’m Not Okay With That

songwriting
Written By Robin Owens
A blonde woman with red lipstick on is playing a guitar in a bedroom. She takes up most of the frame with the neck of the guitar in the forefront with a pink capo on it.

Aka where I’m at in my songwriting cycle.

I made a video about this but I want to talk a bit more about where I’m at right now. Which is that I’m currently not writing songs and I really, really, really wish that I was. I’m tired of sitting down to write and having no idea what I want to say, or getting halfway through a song and never finishing it and doubting everything I write.

While I’ve been here before— I have always had “off seasons” where i don’t write— I think this one has lasted longer than usual and I’ve never wanted to get out of this so badly. I talked in the video about how I’ve broken hibernation intentionally before, so that’s where I’m at right now.

How I’m trying to break hibernation.

  • I scheduled a cowrite— which I don’t usually like to do— with a friend I’ve never written with who I think it would be super fun to write with. Even if we don’t write a bop* (which I honestly think we will) we’ll at the very least have a really good time.

  • I’m writing down any song idea that comes to mind, recording every little bit of a song idea I get, and trying to follow up on those ideas when I have time to write.

  • Whenever I have the urge to write, even if I don’t have an idea, I pick up my guitar and I try to write. Even if I only write a little section of a song or if I write something I don’t like, I can at least say I’ve written.

  • Anything I do write, I want to start sharing on TikTok and Instagram (when/if I’m comfortable with it). You should follow me over there to see them!

  • I’m going to do the 100 Days of Songwriting challenge my friend Rigel runs when it starts in a few weeks— though I know I won’t write every day, my goal will be to write every day for the first 30 days of the challenge, and then write at least 40 of the next 75 days. This gives me wiggle room for days where I have dental work scheduled over the summer (oof), have class, and other things that pop up.

  • I still need to try rewatching some of the movies/documentaries I mentioned in the video.

*yes this is the technical term.

I’ll keep you updated.

But it’s going to be a bit of a long process. If you want to see more of my songs as I’m writing them, as I said I’m planning to post bits I write on TikTok and Instagram as I go so you should go follow me there :) If you want updates from me, join my email list— sign up’s at the bottom of the page :)

love ya,

robin

Robin Owens
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