I’ve been dealing with heavy bouts of writers block for the past years that might be depression and anxiety induced at this point it’s hard to say. All I know is rap has been my greatest passion since I was a child it was the only thing that gave me purpose in life. Down the line I’ve started to base my worth on how much I could excel at this while also trying to get my love ones out of the bleak cycle they lived in for decades, almost like a meal ticket in a way. When I couldn’t reach the semi delusional standard I set for myself it brought a sense of inferiority especially seeing other grow quickly while I remained stagnant. Trying to over prepare left me underperforming in my mind

It’s gotten to a point where I feel like I’ve betrayed my craft. It’s soul crushing because sometimes I think of it as a sign that maybe I’m not destined for this but if that’s the case why can’t I find anywhere else to go?

It’s hard to articulate everything right because I’m on a vast amount of downers but bare with me

When I was in high school and the first years of college, I was really prolific with my music. It dried up though; after recording 8 albums between 2005 and 2014, I didn't write a single song for 5 years. But once the pandemic hit, something jarred loose in my brain and I've written 28 songs since 2020. I've been averaging a new song a month this year.

There are two things you need to do, fundamentally:

1. Write something every day, even if it's bullshit. Eventually, it'll be something you can approve of. Writing consistently is the most important thing if you want to make writing professionally your goal.

2. Go out and live. Experience new things and engage with life so you'll have input. This includes collaborating with other people. Go to open mics. Get competitive. This has been GREAT for me as I've gotten back in the swing of songwriting.

That said, your worth as a person isn't based on your artistic output. If you think it is, you'll fall apart when it dries up. And it always does, even for the greatest artists. But if it's that important to you, you have to lower your standards and get some new work out. Best of luck.

@op dedicate a lot of time to consuming art, refining ur taste, and practicing writing.

beyond that, u may just have to accept that this isn't ur path in life. i mean sht, i loved skating and i sucked, im a slow ass learner fr. i still skate time-to-time, but it's definitely more a hobby than a passion, and im content w watching my cracked friends hit sick tricks instead.

be consistent with practice just write some bullshit like minecraft parodies

I think most of us are able to do a lot more than we believe - if we just believed we could.

I figured that, it’s not factual that we can’t do something a lot of times. It’s just that we have disbelief. That’s the only thing stopping us - most of the times (not always i.e if we’re 40 yrs old and wanted to become a soccer pro all of a sudden… but even then, there would still be a way for life to become so that you can live out your passion, maybe not being a soccer player but being a commentator or a whole variety of things).

Sad thing is, I’m not sure you can give anyone belief. But I would guess, if you really had a burning desire to acquire belief, paths of life would become so that you would acquire it.

Thank you all for taking your time to respond to this even though it may not sound clear as it should be. I’m reading over every message so I can understand better and respond accordingly.

writers block + lack of motivation

To brighten the mood right quick in the meantime y’all know that one meme with squidward watching spongebob frolic outside his window? That’s the perfect way summarize how I feel consuming art and music for the past 2 years not even gonna listen to the Noname jawn rn

I feel you man, heavily

Is it biting if you get inspired by a certain line in a song and try to rewrite better in your own way?been wondering if the listener would deduct points for that

not at all rappers have been interpolating forever.

if anything you'll gain points if it's a clever reference

I think with the writer's block I find you just have to force yourself through it. Just constantly be writing something. I jot so many random notes/memos in my phone constantly throughout the day and then when I am struggling to write a song I consult those and often they form an inception, often not, but at least there's something.

It also helps me just to find a thing to tap into when I write, cultivating a desired emotional mood. I know there's a certain well of feelings I can instantly draw upon by looking at certain messages or pictures or a film or album.

But yeah really for me it's just forcing my way through it. And accepting not every line will be perfect at first and that's what editing is for.

thank you, needed this. perfectionism is hella of a creativity killer

I have a terrible work flow/ drive. I cant think of the word its on the tip of my tongue, actually nvm it just hit me.

I have a terrible work ethic. I cant seem to sit and knock s*** out cuz im such a “in the flow of things” kind of person. If im in it, im IN it. But if im not, its not a damn thing that could change it and it makes me sad when its more of the latter than the former

Literally take weeks to a month of overthinking a line before I can jot it on paper for the sake of potency for myself/listener. I don’t know if that’s somehow debilitating my craft even with simple s*** like names.

I been listening to a lot of mind numbing “ambient” music mainly instrumental something to kinda aid with the brain rot feeling. Tim hecker and this weird project called speed dialer I wouldn’t say I enjoy but helps turn your brain off for sure lmao I wanna get back into the habit of listening to rap but I already know it’s gonna make me wanna study s*** I feel like I can’t do rn

Gn

You can force yourself to be good at anything you want

Still reading this y’all been trying to trudge through these past few days.

Still don’t know wtf in saying even if it comes from a honest place it feels like mediocrity maybe that’s why I keep the lines incomplete

I agree with most of this thing is what holds me back from writing most of the time isn’t the fear of being completely trash but the mediocrity aspect because then you have to deal with the fact you can deliver it better but when ur having a block you’re kinda forced to stare at it like what I wrote earlier. Only reason why I hoarder it is because I’m afraid of not having anything else to put down even though starting fresh might help, I view it in a destructive lens. I heard competition Is great as a refining tool I just need have something creatively tangible to refine in the first place.

Do you harbor incomplete/repetitive lines in their head for weeks to a month instead of putting on paper to avoid it being a mediocre attempt? It’s one thing to sense where you are mentally but what to do you lack the words tp express it? @DwindlingSun

I’m so tired of this s*** man.