Mostly, “writer’s block” is kind of bullshit. It’s usually code for “dehydrated,” or “tired,” or, “haven’t been stoking the creative fire,” or, “the kids are being little jerks,” or, as is more often the case, “afraid to dig deep and really say the thing.”
There are dozens of ways to make yourself dig deep when you want to. But, an easy one is to scan around your music collection until you land on something that moves you in that particular moment of that particular day. And, if you find a song and it’s hitting on all cylinders, don’t be afraid to put that sucker on repeat— think of it like a soundtrack. In a movie, the song would play throughout the entire moment or scene, so feel free to let it carry you through an entire piece or chapter.
You do you, but, as ever, feel free to pilfer from this list of the last seven songs that served as my writing soundtrack.
“La lemme d’argent” by Air
“Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt” by DJ Shadow
“House of Exile” by Lucky Dube
“Heavy Cross” by Gossip
“Spirits In The Material World” by The Police
“Fascination Street” by The Cure
“Bonnie and Clyde” Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg