KNOW YOUR FLOW
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iDocoach blog
In my new book, The Daily Song Journal, this was the entry for Jan 25, Day 25.
'‘Know your flow. Ever feel like you’re in a zone on a writing day? Recognizing this for what it is can be a beautiful thing for a songwriter. I’ve brought up the Help/Hurt list earlier and it’s a great tool for you to figure out how to get there. The important thing is not to break the flow. Those days when you’re full of ideas, just stay on the path because the smallest diversion can disrupt the flow and it can be really hard to get it back.'‘
The Help Hurt list I mention is a great way to see, over time, what’s helping you to create and stay in the flow and what’s not. Just take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center and one at the top . On the top left hand side write the word Help. On the top right side the word Hurt. After every writing session take just a minute to think about the things that helped you stay in the flow and the things that disrupted or hurt your flow. Over time you’ll see patterns emerge. Focus on those things that help and lose the things that hurt to set yourself up for a good writing day.
I’ve been at this a long time and learned when the flow is more like a trickle that it may be time to stop and do something else for a bit and come back to writing when you feel energized. Hopefully you’ve felt like you were on a roll with your songwriting at times and to me, this is all about the flow. The ideas are flowing, the creatively is flowing, maybe even the business and relational part of your songwriting is flowing. When that happens recognize it and go with it as far as it takes you. You might have a great week of writing, maybe a month, whatever the case, learning more about it can help you get back into it when it’s been missing.
Sometimes it can be a case of letting the people around you know you’re in a zone and ask them to show you some grace when you keep your door shut and stare into space when they talk to you. Its that important.
Go with the flow!
Mark Cawley
Nashville, Tennessee
Image: Shutterstock
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I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the winter and Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com
Heres a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon
You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.
Mark Cawley iDocoach
Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter, his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls, and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.
His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in six categories on Amazon. Mark is a past judge for the UK songwriting contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.
To connect with Mark for coaching opportunities, visit www.idocoach.com.
