To get going on a new song idea, I have to have a sense of confidence in my impulse, that it’s possible the song could be great.  However skeptical I might be at times, I need a certain initial level of excitement about it.

But part of that confidence can be falling in love with the idea, thinking its already good… just because I like the it so much.  And, just like falling in love, that surge of excited confidence can block me from being aware of flaws in the song that could be fatal.

So – not necessarily at the start – at some point I also need a realistic acceptance of the amount of time and work it’s going to take to get the song to the point where it’s really going to be even pretty good.  In other words, the ‘irrational confidence’ can help me at the start.  I fall in love – what a great idea!  This song is fantastic!  I don’t get tired of it – no one else will either!  Etc.

That’s all fine, even necessary.  But to actually make it really good, at some point I’m going to need a much colder eye (and ear), one that sees and hears where it’s not good enough, where it could be and needs to be better.

Although it’s easy to go to the other side of the same coin (irrational lack of confidence), there usually comes a time to get in touch with my inner skeptic.  For me, that’s not hard.  What is sometimes hard is following up with the work necessary to admit that this line bugs me, that part of the melody is tedious, etc., and be willing to do the work necessary to take things up a notch or three – to not settle for good enough.

At some point I have to turn off the ‘irrational confidence’ that got me through the early stages.  I also sometimes think of it as taking off my Writer’s Hat and putting on my Editor’s Hat.  Unfortunately, once the Editor has weighed in about what needs to be better… it’s the Writer who actually has to go in and do the heavy lifting.

But that’s the game.