To write a good song, you need the kind of energy that comes with what I call “creative lift-off”. It’s the elevated forward motion that takes place when a song seems to be supported by something other than itself, in the same way that a plane naturally rises on a current of air once it’s reached a certain speed.
It’s possible to keep writing—even to complete a whole song—without creative lift-off. But just because it's possible doesn't mean it's ideal. Think of it this way: a plane speeding along the runway still goes forward, but it doesn’t go nearly as far, fast or high. The Wright Brothers weren’t trying to build an interesting new sort of car, they were trying to build a flying machine. That’s what we want too: a new thing that will seem to defy gravity…something that will travel a long way and be lofty and inspiring.
So, how do you know you’ve achieved creative lift-off? Watch for the moment when:
- You’re suddenly not comparing this song to any others, written by you or anybody else;
- You forget you’re “writing”;
- Magical-seeming, coincidental gifts fall into place in your lyrics;
- Your hand unconsciously goes to a new chord, and it’s the right one;
- You write something you didn’t know you knew how to write;
- You lose track of time;
- You can correct flaws easily, or ignore them comfortably;
- You have a knowing feeling that the song already exists, even though it’s not finished;
- You don’t have the frustrated feeling that something supposed to happen isn’t happening (as you would in a plane that never took off).
It’s a relief to notice creative lift-off when it happens. And, once it’s happened, we enjoy a sense of relaxation. It's as if the pilot turns off the seatbelt sign, and we're free to enjoy the creative ride.
