3 songwriting lessons I didn't mean to learn on election day
Our best creative moments can come when we least expect them
On Tuesday (election day), I sat down to write a song for my regular songwriting circle. The prompt was 'gratitude,' and honestly, I didn't want to do it. The world felt heavy, my mind was elsewhere, and everything in me wanted to scroll through election updates instead of picking up my guitar. But I had promised my friend who runs the night that I would write something, so I opened my notebook anyway.
What followed was the most surprisingly fruitful, pleasant songwriting experience I've had in ages. I started simply, asking myself what I was grateful for, and letting the answers become verses. No pressure, no grand artistic vision—just a human making a list of good things. Somehow, having that emotional anchor of gratitude and the gentle pressure of a promise made everything flow easier than it had in months.
So this week, I want to share some thoughts about how sometimes our best creative moments come when we least expect them, and how the right constraints—even ones we resist at first—can set us free.
Big love and keep going, Lucy
On swapping scrolling for songwriting
MEMO - ‘List songs’ are practical magic
One of the most approachable ways to write a song is to make it a list. Start with a simple question (What am I grateful for? What do I miss? What makes me angry?) and then just tell the truth. Each answer can become a verse or a line. No need to force metaphors or clever wordplay—sometimes straightforward honesty is the most powerful approach. Plus, lists give songs natural structure and momentum.
MEMO - Starting with a core feeling focuses your song
Beginning a song with a core emotion—like gratitude, longing, or joy—gives you an immediate focus. It becomes a compass for every choice you make: Does this chord progression feel grateful? Does this melody capture contentment? This emotional clarity can help you avoid getting lost in the infinite possibilities of songwriting. Let the feeling be your guide.
MEMO - Making promises can be good creative fuelÂ
Sometimes, making a promise to someone you care about is the most effective creative fuel. It's not about external pressure—it's about connection and community. When we promise to write a song, we're really promising to show up, to participate, to be part of something bigger than our own creative process. These promises can get us to the notebook even when motivation fails.
Let me know: What was your most recent, unexpected creative burst?