Do you ever wonder where songs come from? Do they magically float through the air and the lucky, chosen ones grasp them and make them their own? Or are they delivered by the Song Fairy? Sometimes these answers are easier to believe than the actual truth. They come from a deep hidden place inside your own head…a place that even you may not be familiar with.If you’re a songwriter, you know what I’m talking about. How does one get into the mood to write a song? How do you travel to that magical land where the notes and lyrics just flow from you?

I believe that everyone will have a different answer. But I think there is also some common ground here. You need to first of all be physically ready. Some have said you need to be physically comfortable. I disagree. I think to write a good song, it has to come from a strong emotion. If you’re uncomfortable, you can be just as emotional as if you were kicked back on your favorite recliner in your favorite pajamas…probably even more so.

I will tell you how I usually find my inspiration. It’s up to you to find your own recipe. First of all, I go to a place that inspires me. This can be a favorite room, house…a songwriting partner….a favorite instrument. I surround myself with a few of my favorite musical objects…animate and inanimate. Also, a candle, incense, etc…anything that enhances your creative mood helps. I find writing in dim light or even total darkness can sometimes be rewarding.

Then I find that I go into a trance-like state. It’s not mystical. I don’t see glitter flowing through the air or anything. But I let my mind wander. I just start playing and sometimes singing nonsense. I don’t worry about meter, rhyming schemes or chords. I don’t worry about singing perfectly in pitch. I let my mind go where it wants to.

Sometimes, you may have to sit with your instrument (or your voice) for 30 minutes or more to reach this place. At times, I never get there. Don’t force it. If it isn’t coming…come back another time.

With me, the music almost always comes first…then the lyrics. This, of course, will be different for everyone. Once I get a musical idea forming that I like, I start trying out hooks..lyrical lines and phrasing. Just keep chipping away at it. Sometimes it’s like a sculpture. You start with a big block of musical ideas and you just keep taking away the stuff that sounds bad…or doesn’t fit.Always keep some kind of recording device handy. I try to carry a portable recorder with me everywhere I go. You never know when the muse will want to dance.

For years I wrote my music alone. I tried several songwriting partners, but it just never seemed to work out. I was perfectly aware that it wasn’t the partners I was choosing that was the problem…it was me. I never felt comfortable enough around anyone to ‘let go’ of myself and write. Recently, I was lucky enough to find a permanent songwriting partner. The benefits of this are amazing. If you are writing alone, I highly suggest you search out at least one songwriting partner. Just having the second opinion helps me a lot. It must be someone you trust and can be very open with. Songwriting can be a very intimate experience. A good song will sometimes require you to open up your inner thoughts to someone else…reveal your own fears, weaknesses and hang-ups.

I’m interested in what inspires you. Leave a comment and let us all know. One final thought: not every song you write will be good. I believe you have to write ‘x’ number of bad songs in order to get the one great song. The trick is to keep writing. Just like playing your instrument or singing, practice makes perfect.