Messy desks or tables full of post-it notes, scraps of papers and piles of music magazines feature in many songwriters’ homes. Could a clear up help our creativity?

Now, sort your stuff in 3 piles. To throw away, to file away, to action. The first pile will end up in the (recycle) bin, the second pile is for your multi-pocket folder, and the third pile is for your magazine file. Magazine files are much better than filing box because you can see what’s inside, reminding yourself there is stuff in there waiting for you to pick it up!

Your “action” pile should not include any creative stuff. The idea is all the stuff in it can be dealt with at any time you decide to and isn’t dependent on inspiration. It will include a range of things, from your personal admin  tasks such as paying your bills (you’re using your desk for other things than songwriting, right?) to songwriting admin stuff, such as making a follow-up phone call to a publisher you sent your demo to, or putting an ad in your local newspapers to find a female soul singer.

Your “file away” pile is made up of creative items and other things requiring quite a lot of thinking. It will contain ideas for song titles, rhythms you thought about, ideas for songs, lyrics, melodies etc It might also include marketing strategy for your album release, or other type of long term planning.

Your “action pile” is the only one that goes back on your desk, neatly put away in the magazine file. Your multi-pocket folder should be in the same room as your desk so you can access it quickly (preferably without having to get up) but doesn’t have to sit on your desk.

Ideally, you should go through your “action pile” at least once a week, but let’s not focus on that while you are thinking about songwriting. Forget about that pile for now, put the magazine file as far away on the desk as possible and enjoy the empty plane surface of your desk. Look at it for a few minutes. Stare in space.

You don’t have bills to pay. You don’t have a child to go and pick up in 3 hours. You don’t have the weekly grocery shopping to do in 4 hours. You don’t have to change the bed sheets and empty the bins. You don’t have to worry about swapping your shift with a colleague so you can play at that open-mic night. The next 2 hours are totally dedicated to your songwriting and nothing else matters in the world. Leave your mobile phone in another room, switch off your computer, or at least, the internet, and switch off your TV/CD player/radio etc

Stare at the empty space in front of you and let your mind wander…

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