Following the Flow: Honouring Your Natural Songwriting Rhythm

Photo credit: Asier Lopez (iStock)

Yesterday, I found myself at the seaside, soaking up the sunshine and the sound of the gentle waves. I wandered a little, looking for a quiet place to sit—somewhere I could pause for a few minutes, be alone with my thoughts, and let the movement of the water carry them gently away.

There’s something grounding about watching the sea. The ebb and flow. The unpredictable swell that rises and recedes. The rhythm isn’t always consistent, but it’s always there. And I couldn’t help but think how creativity often moves in a similar way.

In a world full of advice about productivity and pushing forward, it’s easy to feel like you should always be writing more, doing more, moving faster. But finding your rhythm as a songwriter isn’t always about doing more—it’s about trusting your process, and remembering that for every wave that rolls out, another will roll in—if you give it time.

Your Groove Might Look Different

There’s no one-size-fits-all rhythm when it comes to creativity. Some songwriters thrive with a regular daily routine, while others need a few weeks of quiet before diving into a burst of writing. Some write in long, intense sessions; others build songs slowly, a line at a time, between other commitments.

The important thing is not how often or how quickly you write—it’s whether the rhythm you’re keeping feels sustainable, and whether it leaves room for joy, reflection, and growth.

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others—how many songs they’ve released, how many co-writes they’ve landed, the gigs, the streams, the syncs. But the rhythm we see on the surface doesn’t always reflect the creative rhythm underneath. So much of the real work is invisible.

If you find yourself measuring your pace against someone else’s, pause and ask: Does their rhythm suit my life? My energy? My creative needs? Chances are, it doesn’t—and that’s okay.

You’re not falling behind. You’re simply moving at a rhythm that’s right for you.

Less, But More Intentionally

Often when we feel stuck or behind, the instinct is to do more—to pile on new goals, jumpstart new projects, or write our way out of the discomfort. But sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is the opposite: to do less—but with more intention.

To write not from pressure, but from presence.

That might mean choosing one small idea to explore slowly, rather than chasing three new ones. Or giving yourself permission to sit with a half-finished lyric instead of forcing a chorus.

Less noise. More clarity.

Less urgency. More meaning.

Check In With Your Natural Songwriting Rhythm

This month, our community is exploring what it means to get into the groove—but that doesn’t mean pushing for high output. It means settling into a natural songwriting rhythm that feels right for you. It means learning what keeps you coming back to your writing—not out of obligation, but out of connection.

So ask yourself:

• What has supported my writing lately?

• What’s felt rushed or forced?

• What small shift would make the process feel more easeful or energising this week?

There’s no wrong answer—just an opportunity to realign.

A moment of stillness from my little meander at Leigh-on-Sea. Photo credit: Tara Henton

Keep Coming Back to What Matters

You don’t need to write faster or louder to make meaningful progress. What matters is finding your own flow—and trusting that even when it’s quiet, even when it’s slow, it still counts.

As Rick Rubin puts it:

“You are the only person who sees the world the way you do. So it’s your responsibility to share that perspective.”

If the way you see the world is uniquely yours, then the way you shape and share what you create deserves to be just as personal.

That means you get to write at your own pace, follow your own rhythm, and honour the process that truly works for you.

Your rhythm doesn’t have to match anyone else’s.

It’s yours. And that’s what makes it meaningful.

💬 We’d love to hear from you—what does your natural songwriting rhythm look like right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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