In terms of writing over a longer period of time, if one just writes autobiographically it’s very hard, almost impossible, to have enough variety to sustain listeners’ interest, not to mention our own. Few of us are able to plumb our own depths exclusively and make that exploration consistently fascinating.

It might be even harder to look outside, to imagine what it’s like to be someone else, and write about that.

This isn’t an either-or choice. It’s more like a spectrum. Periodically it’s worth considering where I am on this spectrum.

Do I need to dig deeper in an autobiographical way? Not necessarily overtly writing about myself, from the ‘I’ perspective… it could be about a character, but I know it’s really me.

Or do I need to look outside more? Stretch my imagination by thinking about what it’s like for someone else to walk this earth, and try to put myself in their shoes?

Whether I’m overtly writing about myself or not, I’m still always in some way revealing myself. If I don’t connect to the character in the song, me or someone else, the song probably won’t come to life.

Some of us may naturally gravitate towards, or be better at, one side of the spectrum. But it’s important to have both as part of my writer’s game. And, when I do too much of one, think a little more about the other.

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