Many of us find completing a lyric to be difficult at times.  There can be a few lines – or even whole Verses – that just don’t come.  Sometimes songwriters ask me for suggestions about what to do when they’re stuck like this, or ask me what I do when I’m in that place.

The most helpful advice I’ve found is this: When asked by Gotham Writing School for her most useful writing prompt when she was stuck, novelist Barbara Kingsolver answered that it was to ask herself, “What am I really trying to say here?”

As simple as that sounds, it’s awesome.  I’ve used it many times and it’s helped more than I ever expected.

I often ask that question of writers I’m coaching when they’re stuck at a particular place: “What are you really trying to say here?“… They tell me… Then I reply, “So just say that“.

Amazing!  Don’t beat around the bush.  Just say the thing I’m trying to say.

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