How to see and break patterns in your creative work
By bringing these repetitions to light, we gain insight into our creative instincts, and can move beyond them.
In songwriting, many of us have unconscious patterns that shape our work. These patterns can be found in our choice of lyrics, melodies, chord progressions, and in the themes we gravitate toward. Whether it's a particular word we frequently use, a recurring emotional tone, or a specific musical structure, these unconscious habits can both define and limit our creative output.
By bringing these patterns to light, we gain insight into our creative instincts and the unique qualities that characterize our music. Similarly, by recognizing and challenging our creative patterns, we open up new possibilities in our songwriting, leading to richer, more varied, and more intentional artistic expressions.
These week, I’m sharing thoughts on noticing, working with, and moving beyond your creative patterns.
Big love and keep going!Â
LucyÂ
How to see patterns in your creative work
MEMO - Review and then reflect
Sift through old notebooks, recordings, and drafts. Patterns might emerge in themes, motifs, or even in the way you approach songwriting. Pay attention to recurring subjects and emotions. Are you often writing about love, loss, adventure, or introspection? Why are you drawn to it? What are you trying to work out? Take notes.
MEMO - Embrace your obsessions
Let yourself stay in love with whatever patterns you uncover in Memo One. In addition, consider the artists and genres that inspire you. What do you adore about them? How do they manifest in your work? Set any critical voices to one side, if you can. Just be goofy for the stuff you’re goofy for. Take notes. Marinate in them. As your understanding and adoration of your patterns and inspirations deepens, be deliberate with how you approach and use them. Do you keep returning to imagery of, say, chest and lungs when writing about love? How might you go deeper?
MEMO - Experiment to evolve (if you want)
Loving what you love and sticking with it is gorgeous and encouraged. If you want to push yourself beyond what comes automatically, look at those notes you’ve been taking. Where are you repeating yourself in stale ways? What are some new ways to write about the themes you’re pulled toward? Notice what comes naturally, then try to do something different.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments: What do you do when you notice you’re repeating yourself in your songwriting?