Busy life, studies, volunteering, career, family ... you may have a lot holding you back from songwriting regularly. I have only ever written songs consistently when I've made it part of my weekly plan. Although I wish I was one of those people where songs just "happens" to them, usually, I need to work at writing in chunks of a few hours at a time.

I have to choose to make songwriting a priority
Originally I made a lofty songwriting goal: to complete a song every week. I didn't do this although I've written a handful (check out my YouTube channel).

We do what we love!
Life is too busy for self-reflection, doesn't it seem like that sometimes? Who has time to sit and think and write and play music? If you love something (or want to), then you'll want to make time for it. My drive to get better as a songwriter — and that drive is the only thing that will power me through the busy seasons.

When you're on a creative roll, go with it!
Last night, jet lag meant I found it hard to sleep in good time. I was on a creative roll, having just figured out how to connect my midi controller to Garageband, so here's a quick song I did. I added some vocal (first-take only, eek!) at 1:30 a.m. just cause I had a 2004 poem with some words that fit, I think.

"Winter White in Tones" written last night, for fun!

Ways to increase songwriting when life is busy:

• let musical friends know that you write songs and ask for feedback. Accountability is helpful, or even friends just asking, "How is the songwriting coming?"
• post your songs online on a YouTube channel. You can make this private and send to just a few friends, or spread the link on Facebook
• write while learning a new instrument (for me, I wrote with guitar a few months back -- just for fun!)
• Read a book on songwriting and do some exercises, I recommend Six Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume.
• Carry around a moleskine journal and regularly jot down lyrics, words, or lines from conversations that inspire you.
• Fill your mind with new sounds by listening to different bands or genres (for example, Hammock inspired this song of mine.)

Wherever you're at with songwriting, I encourage you to take the next step of songwriting commitment!