Thinking can be bad for writing.

Most of the heavy lifting is done by the subconscious.  It’s good to have an idea of where I’m going; a general direction (or a specific one, if it’s an assigned job)… a Chorus idea, or Title, or a melodic phrase, a vibey chord pattern, a strong riff… then I’d say the next step is to not think too much about what I’m doing.

The more confidence I have in my craft, the more prepared I am, the better this works.  But even for the less experienced, access to the wilds of one’s subconscious is a path has to be forged. And that happens by trusting that, if given a chance, one’s subconscious will produce useful material.

As a musician I’ve learned that I know a lot more about music than I think I know.  If, when making music, I try to be ‘available’ to the musical moment and don’t try to plan or control everything I’m playing, the results are usually better than when I’ve tried to think everything through.

Writing is not performing or recording… but there is similarity in the idea of trusting what’s beneath my conscious mind… in letting go.  And the great thing about letting go when writing is that, unlike performing, I can rewrite, change, or not use, anything… or everything.

One of the main reasons why having a writing routine works for me is that it lets my subconscious know that there’s a time coming up when whatever’s been banging around in the basement can come up to the living room.

So first there’s a period of working on something without overthinking it. Just seeing what comes up and trying not to question or judge it too much (this is sometimes not easy).

Then I let the conscious part of my brain have at it.  I ask all the questions.  I put every part of the song under the microscope (see last week’s post), analyze it, improve it as much as I can.  I try to be brutal; everything is up for grabs.  This part is the job of the Editor; the conscious part of my brain.

But without the contribution of the subconscious there would little interesting material to be edited at all.  In the early stages, I try not to ‘figure it out’.  I try to get out of my own way.

(Guarantee: This blogpost created at least 51% by my subconscious mind and edited at least 51% by my conscious mind.)

Please let me know your thoughts in the Comments section below: