How to Make Time to Write (Even When You Don't Have Time)
Rarely does anyone say, “I have too much time to write.” Most of us are just trying to do the best we can with the time we’ve got. And it usually doesn’t feel like enough.
The trick isn’t to finish a song every time we sit down to write. It’s to stay connected. So when we do have a longer stretch, we’re already in the rhythm of writing. Here are some ways to keep moving forward with your songwriting, no matter how much, or how little, time you have.
1. Start Small: 10-Minute Spurts
Sometimes, all you need is 10–15 minutes. Sit at your instrument, push record, and just mess around. Don’t worry about whether it feels new or original. Just play, and let the goal be to have fun.
At the end of 10 minutes, pick one melodic theme or chord progression that stood out and write it down. Commit to that idea, even repeating it to quickly build out a section. Next time you sit down to write, work on writing a contrasting section. Before you know it, you’ve got sections of a song taking shape.
2. Write Without Pressure
If you’ve got a chord loop or instrumental bit, try journaling or object writing while listening to it. Set the loop on repeat, look out a window, and just let your thoughts go. Without thought for structure or rhyme, just write what the music evokes. Later, you might find lines or phrases that feel lyrical and lift them out for songs. You’re building raw material to shape into lyrics down the line.
3. Refill the Well with Listening
When you hit a wall, stop writing, and start listening. Dive into artists or genres you’ve never explored. Let the music reshape your instincts. Zoom in on one element at a time such as melody, groove, bass-lines, and lyric hooks. Then ask yourself: Could I try something like that? Not everything has to be 100% original. It’s okay to start with something familiar and then bring your unique voice to it much later in the writing process.
4. Title Storms & Lyric Seeds
Set aside time just for gathering titles, phrases, or striking word combinations that seem interesting to you. Look at the songs you love from other artists and ask yourself What’s the core idea? What’s the hook? Try creating your own titles inspired by those. A weekly title brainstorm can spark entire songs.
5. Try Writing a Song a Day
Yes, a full song. Every day. It sounds wild, but this method helps you dampen the volume on your inner critic. Once you get in the habit, it’s incredibly freeing. You’ll produce some gems, and when the time comes to slow down and refine, you’ll know which ideas deserve more attention.
6. Flip the Process: Start with Choruses
If you usually begin with verses, try the opposite. Spend a week just writing choruses. Even if it’s one line repeated, or a rough idea of a hook, it’s still progress. When you write many choruses, you’ll worry less about getting it perfect, and start getting more ideas down.
7. Play with Tempo & Mood
Take a single lyrical phrase and try it at three different tempos: slow, medium, and fast. See how the meaning or emotional tone shifts. This is a great tool for unlocking new paths into a song and discovering the right energy for your idea.
8. Outline, Don’t Overthink
When inspiration hits, resist the urge to start fine-tuning lyrics right away. Instead, write a quick outline of the song:
What would the verse basically say?
What is the heart of the chorus?
If there is s a second verse or bridge, what would they roughly express?
These outlines become roadmaps so that next time you sit down, you’re not chasing inspiration but rather following it.
9. Let Instinct Lead Structure
When you’re writing verses, don’t aim to write what sounds like “lyric” right away. Instead, aim to write what you feel is true and honest. Ask yourself:
What feeling sparked this chorus in the first place?
What’s the flip side of this idea in verse two?
These questions keep you rooted in instinct, which makes the structure fall into place more naturally.
Final Thought: Process Over Perfection
Writing doesn’t always require a big block of time or a flash of inspiration. It just needs attention that is small, steady, and intentional. Whether it’s 10 minutes at your keyboard, a week of deep listening, or a daily writing challenge, each step keeps us connected to the process.
For more tools and guidance for your daily writing practice, check out my course: The 30-Day Songwriter, created to help songwriters unlock creative flow and momentum across a month of deep, consistent work.
Stay creative,
