No, I don’t mean, “what, did you write ‘Yesterday’?”. A question that a poorly informed 60s music fan might ask Paul McCartney. Hopefully the songwriting will go better than the comedy routine.
A writing routine of some kind is essential
It’s important to get into the habit or writing regularly – every day, if possible. In the same way as we become better at playing an instrument (or anything else) by practising every day, we become better writers by writing every day too.
One of the biggest obstacles to writing every day is making writing sessions a big deal. We can justify not doing it by saying that we don’t have the time, or a suitable place to write, or the right equipment, yada, yada, yada.
How to develop a songwriting routine
To get in to the habit of writing regularly we just need to take five or ten minutes and do what ever we can. Write some song titles on a piece of paper. Write some words that rhyme. Make up a little story with a beginning, middle and end. Clap in time quietly and hum an improvised tune. Watch people. All of these are writing activities and the list is potentially endless.
If you haven’t done it today, do it now
So, if you haven’t undertaking a writing activity of some kind today, do it now. Each morning think about what writing activity you did the day before and reassure yourself that you did write something. This will help you to remember to write something that day.
Each bit on its own probably won’t win you a Grammy but add them all up and they just might.