I’m sitting on an Amtrak train to Washington, D.C., thinking about how the vast majority of us have jobs. Whether you’re a high-powered executive, a stay-at-home mom, a touring musician, a waitress or an administrative assistant, we all do what it takes to pay the bills and take care of ourselves and those we love.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always leave as much time for songwriting as we’d like, right? Sure, I’d love to break out my guitar and digital recorder here in the Quiet Car, but I’m pretty sure my laptop-loving neighbors wouldn’t be thrilled. Plus, there’s several work papers I need to read and a meeting to prepare for…should I even be writing this blog post?
In any case, I asked some SongwritingScene.com readers how they find the time to get their songwriting going amidst the busy hum of life…here’s what they had to say:
Willis T. Spaggwater: “Patience, and lack of sleep.”
Petra Cook: “My day job at the moment is homeschooling mom…so I either work around what’s she’s doing or include her in it if she wants.”
Martin Rodriguez: “Having a job where I can work on lines WHILE I work.”
Ronnie Gainey: “I take my guitar into the bathroom and play very quietly so my kids don’t hear me.”
Brian Kendig: “Usually start them at night, sometimes in the morning and then I work on songs driving to and from work.”
John Murray: “Avoid as many responsibilities as possible without alienating loved ones.”
For myself, I feel incredibly lucky that I work at home these days…so during my breaks I’ll often pick up my guitar and noodle around with some chord progressions or write a few lines. But I know it can be tough when you’re juggling job, family and, well, life!
What are some ways you work songwriting into your busy schedule?
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