This connected with me so much. Treating writing as a receiving act, rather than forcing perfection, feels like the missing gear in my songwriting. I’m going to try mixing morning pages into my music routine, just to unclog the pipes. Even if it’s just three messy pages about what I dreamed or what’s stressing me out, I think clearing out the noise will give me that clean runway for melodies and lyrics to land. If even one chorus shows up smoother because of this, that’s a win. Thank you for these very useful ideas Idris Elijah and have a great weekend!
Love your take on music and clearing the pipes. Very well said! I believe you’re on the right track. Most welcome and have a great weekend as well! 🤩🙌🏾
Powerful issue. The “Understand the process or suffer through it” line was my favorite part. I’ve been drafting blind and spending twice as long fixing it. I’m going to try planning my next short piece (premise, stakes, arc) before typing a single sentence. If that saves even one edit pass, it’s worth it. Thank you for making the path forward feel practical, not something mystical. Another great informative piece for writers Idris Elijah!
I really enjoyed this one. I don’t have time for long writing sessions between school drop-offs, working my 9-5, reheating coffee five times and learning beginner dance steps right alongside my daughter. The day just gets away from me. But your point about routine being flexible, not monumental, feels like an opening to stop chasing the perfect writing window. I can do three pages, or even three sentences, once she’s asleep. Maybe after we practice a routine and we’re both laughing because we definitely made up half the moves. Writing at the end of the night helps me catch those little moments I’d forget otherwise. Those are the things I know one day I’ll want to remember. Thank you for the encouragement this morning Idris Elijah!!
I appreciate the spiritual angle here. Writing as receiving reframes how I will approach work. I’ll still plan more but I’ll leave room for those surprising lines that arrive when I stop trying so hard. Routine + receptivity feels like a new superpower. It reminds me that momentum doesn’t always come from grinding; sometimes it comes from getting quiet enough to hear what wants to be said. And that shift alone makes creating feel a lot less like pressure and a lot more like partnership. Thank you Idris for another engaging and thoughtful newsletter and Happy Friday to you!
You’re most welcome, Brian! Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Friday to you! 🙌🏾🙌🏾
This connected with me so much. Treating writing as a receiving act, rather than forcing perfection, feels like the missing gear in my songwriting. I’m going to try mixing morning pages into my music routine, just to unclog the pipes. Even if it’s just three messy pages about what I dreamed or what’s stressing me out, I think clearing out the noise will give me that clean runway for melodies and lyrics to land. If even one chorus shows up smoother because of this, that’s a win. Thank you for these very useful ideas Idris Elijah and have a great weekend!
Love your take on music and clearing the pipes. Very well said! I believe you’re on the right track. Most welcome and have a great weekend as well! 🤩🙌🏾
Powerful issue. The “Understand the process or suffer through it” line was my favorite part. I’ve been drafting blind and spending twice as long fixing it. I’m going to try planning my next short piece (premise, stakes, arc) before typing a single sentence. If that saves even one edit pass, it’s worth it. Thank you for making the path forward feel practical, not something mystical. Another great informative piece for writers Idris Elijah!
Thank you so much for your kind words! You are most welcome 🙏🏾🤩
I really enjoyed this one. I don’t have time for long writing sessions between school drop-offs, working my 9-5, reheating coffee five times and learning beginner dance steps right alongside my daughter. The day just gets away from me. But your point about routine being flexible, not monumental, feels like an opening to stop chasing the perfect writing window. I can do three pages, or even three sentences, once she’s asleep. Maybe after we practice a routine and we’re both laughing because we definitely made up half the moves. Writing at the end of the night helps me catch those little moments I’d forget otherwise. Those are the things I know one day I’ll want to remember. Thank you for the encouragement this morning Idris Elijah!!
You’re most welcome, Maria! Love how you found space even when it felt as if you were waiting for that space. You created it for yourself. 🤩🤩🤩
I appreciate the spiritual angle here. Writing as receiving reframes how I will approach work. I’ll still plan more but I’ll leave room for those surprising lines that arrive when I stop trying so hard. Routine + receptivity feels like a new superpower. It reminds me that momentum doesn’t always come from grinding; sometimes it comes from getting quiet enough to hear what wants to be said. And that shift alone makes creating feel a lot less like pressure and a lot more like partnership. Thank you Idris for another engaging and thoughtful newsletter and Happy Friday to you!