How to Write a Song When You’re Out of Ideas

Lauren lost in a song — the best kind of lost.

If you are a songwriter, then you have a problem.

Relax. I’m not talking about Hemingway-sized alcoholic tendencies or crazy dark mood swings (although, many creative writers have those problems, as well). Your problem as a writer is a blank page. Our job as songwriters is to take the essence of an idea, marry it with emotion and make it rhyme in 15 to 20 lines of lyric.

So, how are we going to fill that page?

In my experience with co-writing and talking to my peers in the songwriting community, it seems no one finds inspiration the same way. Some people start with a lyric idea and don’t even consider melody until the lyric is written. Others vibe out on a melody and let nonsense words or syllables fall out until they turn into actual words. There are countless other ways. Let’s look at a few of my favorites.

I’m going to share with you 4 ways to find the inspiration you need to write your next song, even if you don’t have any ideas.

1. Make inspiration, don’t wait for it. Stop the scroll! Yup, you heard me. Turn off the smart phones, TV and laptop. Plan 30 minutes, an hour, 3 hours - whatever you’ve got. Discipline yourself to stay focused on creativity for that amount of time. What happens in this time doesn’t have to be active writing. In fact, it’s probably not going to be. The flip side of turning off all distractions is that you sit in a quiet room with an empty head waiting for brilliance to strike. If that’s your strategy, you’ll likely be waiting or a long time. Then, you’ll just get frustrated coming up with nothing.

   In the time you’ve set aside for yourself, do things that inspire creativity. You might strum your guitar, or brain dump into a journal. Perhaps you already have a lyrical hook burning a hole in your brain. So, maybe you take 30 minutes to write as many rhyming couplets as you can think of for that hook.

   If you do any of these things during your distraction-free creative time, then that would be a good day’s work. You’re teasing out inspiration. The more you set aside quiet time for creative play, the more often inspiration will appear.

2. Read. Let’s be honest, there are no new ideas. We’re all subconsciously “borrowing” from everything we’ve ever heard or experienced and putting our own spin on it. We need input in order to have output. A former publisher of mine used to tell me, “You can’t write if you don’t read.”

   Tom Douglas (“The House that Built Me,” “Little Rock”) told me that he reads the news, the Bible and a piece of fiction every day as part of his daily writing process.

   Hey, if it’s good enough for Tom Douglas, it’s good enough for me.

3. Dare to suck. This might be the most important step. It took me years to feel comfortable opening up to my co-writers with ideas or lines that weren’t quite perfect. Even now when I write by myself, I have trouble letting everything flow out without major self-editing. At this point in the writing process, it’s just a big ol’ brainstorm. And here’s the thing about brainstorming: there is no such thing as a bad idea. When you say (or write down) everything that’s on your mind during brainstorming, one of three things will happen: 

   1. Ideas build upon each other. Whatever you say will likely spark a new idea in yourself or your co-writer.

   2. Sometimes, you just need to get the mental cobwebs out in order to get to the good stuff.

   3. You’ll solve your problem and finish your song.

   I can’t promise you a hit song, or even a cut, but I can promise you the sooner you dare to suck, the better writer you’ll be.

4. Quit. Sometimes a song just won’t behave. The momentum dies, you’re frustrated and the meter or rhyme isn’t feeling quite right. Don’t force anything. Just quit! Not for good — for a few hours or maybe for the day. Go grab lunch. Take a walk. Movement is a great way to get yourself unstuck.

   Sometimes we’re just too close to the idea to see how the story should go. When your brain is fried, pushing through will likely just make you more frustrated and you won’t get any further. Or worse, you’ll start phoning it in just to make the line rhyme or the phrase fit. Give your brain the mental break it needs and come back fresh. You’ll likely see the problem and be able to fix it quickly when you revisit the song.

Every writer finds inspiration a little bit differently, and often no one finds it the same way twice. Do you have any tried and true ways of finding inspiration to write and teasing out new ideas? Let me know in the comments. I want to hear them!

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How to Make Friends as an Adult

I was newly divorced and super lonely. I suddenly found myself with half of my friend group — and most of them were married and had young children. Even though we were in our late twenties/early thirties at the time, our lifestyles were very different.

It also turns out that when you get divorced, you go from a double income family to a single income real quick. At that time, I was searching for my next publishing deal and working a “civilian job,” as I like to call it, so chasing my dreams became even more dire. Life literally forced me to make one of two choices: curl up in a ball and shrivel into darkness (okay, that sounds dramatic, but it felt pretty dramatic at the time) OR put one foot in front of the other and try some new things. For some reason (the likely reason being therapy), I chose the latter.

Networking and meeting new people is the name of the game in the Music Business, so I had some familiarity with the process. Still, it’s hard making new friends and finding community as an adult.

A few weeks ago, I received DM’s on Instagram during my Living with Landyn takeover about some things I mentioned on stories. During a portion of the takeover, I shared about hobbies, books and counseling/coaching that has been truly transformative for me. I mentioned that I joined the Nashville Rowing Club for a short a while. I talked about discovering The Estuary, a spiritual healing center where I continue to take classes that have helped me grow and transform in ways I never thought possible. Some folks wanted to know how I got so involved in my community; how do I find people and organizations that really light me up? Some people said they had recently moved to a new town and were having trouble plugging in and finding good resources.

Whew. I’ve been in your shoes. But I wasn’t exactly sure how to answer these questions at first. “Just get out there and go for it,” seems like an annoying thing to say. If you’re having trouble plugging in, it’s probably because you already are “getting out there” and aren’t finding what you want. As a toddler mom, I’m reminded that we used to make friends by literally walking up to each other and asking, “Will you be my friend?” It just doesn’t feel that simple now that we’re adults.

Giving advice can be tricky business. I can, however, share my experience and maybe something will resonate. So, I thought about what was it that was so impactful to me about how I built community around myself that has been so life-changing. A few things dawned on me and I will share them with you.

Here are 4 ways to make friends as an adult:

1. Get curious. When I found myself in a huge life transition, I chose to get curious. There was nothing and no one holding me back. I got to make all the rules in my life with complete autonomy. So, I got curious about how I could shake up my old routines, what inspires me and what I’d always wanted to try but never felt like I had the time or gave myself the chance. If you’re in a new town or going through a major transition like I was, now is the time! Your life just blew up and a new thing is happening! Aren’t you curious to see what it could be?

2. Keep an open mind. Here’s what I mean: if I try something (e.g. a class, a meet up group, a new sport) and it turns out not to be a good fit, I don’t see the experience as a waste of time. Instead, I feel grateful that I checked it off my list and can move on from it quickly to the next thing. Knowing what I don’t like is just as important as knowing what I do. It’s like when we were kids and our parents forced us to take “at least one bite” of a new food. How do you know if you like it or not until you try it? As long as an idea matches up with my values, I’m here for it. At least once. Where do I sign up?

3. Find the exit. This is the most important thing of all: I have learned to feel in my body when something is not meant for me. I get it wrong sometimes, but I’m a lot better at it than I used to be. If I feel dread about going somewhere or doing something, I know that I shouldn’t have committed to it or enrolled in the opportunity. The next time I get an idea or an invitation and it makes me feel that way, I will politely decline. That invitation was apparently not meant for me because it didn’t bring me joy.

   On the other hand, if I feel a super high vibration of frantic energy or urgency when I see an opportunity to connect, I also know that’s not meant for me. I am likely wanting to impress someone, people-please or get into perfectionist mode when I feel that way. A who’s who event is likely not for me. I know myself. I will be too temped to hustle. I’ll be concerned about people-pleasing, fitting in and attempting to be “perfect” in that environment and it will wear me out. I stick to things that feel truly aligned for me. I have learned how to tune into my body for that because my mind will deceive me real quick.

   Again, I get it wrong sometimes, but tuning into my body has been one of my best guides in life. I only wish I knew how to trust it sooner. I usually feel things in my gut, but some people feel a tightening in their throats or the hairs stand up on their arms. Pay attention. Where do you feel your body guiding you?

4. Make yourself useful. Sometimes, instead of asking “Where do I belong?” I asked, “How can I help?” Being of service to others is one of the best ways I know of to find connection and change a life — quite possibly your own. Around the same time I was going through that big life transition, I participated in my very first Habitat for Humanity build. I ended up meeting so many wonderful people across several generations and nationalities. I’ve gone back to build annually for nearly ten years. I make true connections and I learn a few new skills (no previous experience required). If you need someone to hang insulation, calk or install windows in your home, I’m your girl. 😉

“Being of service to others is one of the best ways I know of to find connection and change a life — quite possibly your own.”

Welp, that’s about all I know. This journey of building community is trial and error. There are no quick fixes in that list; rather, a few ideas that will maybe resonate with you about how to feel your way through a new stage in your life.

I’ll list the groups I mentioned in my Living with Landyn Instagram takeover below. Some of the things I’m involved in offer virtual events and classes, so even if you’re not in Nashville, you can participate. Obviously, don’t feel any pressure to do the things I love. These are some of the things that light me up. You will find what lights you up. When you do, will you please let me know in comments? I would LOVE to know how you’re connecting in your communities!

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A few of my favorite things…

The Estuary — A non-profit spiritual healing center located in Nashville. They have an office in Nashville for local in-person offerings. They also offer virtual classes, workshops and counseling for integrative therapy.

The Liberated Eater — An online wellness community to help you trust your body, led by intuitive eating coach, Cindy Landham. Cindy is absolutely fabulous at what she does. Her business is head quartered in Murfreesboro, TN, but she reaches people worldwide through her online workshop and virtual coaching.

The Nashville Rowing Club — Beginner lessons and Master Rowing Club. Hey, if you’re in Nashville or ever find yourself visiting, check ‘em out!

Jazzercise — Not your grandma’s workout! For real. Mary Helen is the JAM here in Nashville. Her classes are mostly women of all ages, but several husbands come on the reg. There are franchises worldwide and probably in your area. If you want to experience the magic of Mary Helen, but you’re not local to Nashville or don’t want to come in-person, maybe Mary Helen will let you take the virtual option through her franchise? It’s worth checking out.

Habitat for Humanity — A nonprofit organization that helps people in your community and around the world build or improve a place they can call home.

NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) — NSAI is the first stop for aspiring and professional songwriters. I served two terms on the board of directors for this organization. (Oh! That reminds me: Board service. That’s another great way to connect in your community!) NSAI is a fantastic way to get connected for songwriters of all levels and, really, for anyone new to town wanting to get into the music business. The organization offers a variety of tools, coaching, and networking, plus a strong presence on The Hill fighting for creator’s intellectual property rights.

The Carolina Kind

This year, I’ve been performing livestream concerts every-other-week for my supporter tribe. The connection we’ve made in that group has been very meaningful to me. I met some of the people in the group two decades ago when I first began releasing music publicly. I know their favorite songs, their families, their health issues, their losses, their celebrations. They have forged friendships with each other from meeting at shows or chatting in the private group. This tribe really is a tight knit community that has taken on a life of its own and for that I am so grateful.

One of the things that strikes me is how often certain songs get requested in my livestreams. “The Carolina Kind” is one of the most requested songs. This song means so much to me because it came from a personal place. And it is such a thrill to know that it hits other people in a personal way.

When I first recorded “The Carolina Kind”, the intent was to put it on an album that would be publicly released by a major label. I hoped it would be the title track. Alas, champions of mine left the label before the album was released, a new guard came into the label and that dream of an album titled, The Carolina Kind by yours truly never came to fruition. Recently, I came across a mockup of what the album cover might have looked like and I thought it would be fun to share.

This might have been what my album cover looked like!

I still love playing “The Carolina Kind.” Sometimes songs lose their shine after years of playing them, but this is a song that still means a lot to me. I’m so glad it means a lot to other people, too. In fact, it means so much that I decided to re-record the song years later and included it on my EP titled, If I Was Your Girl. You can hear the produced studio version two ways:

You can choose to stream it on your favorite digital platform or go old school with a physical copy.

Been a Minute

Hey there! It’s been a while since I’ve properly checked in. A lot of new things have happened since the beginning of 2020. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

• I became a mom! Yup, I had a baby in late March of 2020, just as everything was beginning to lockdown here in the U.S. I’m a boy mom to an adorable toddler.

• He was pre-term, so we spent several weeks in the NICU. We will forever be grateful for the nurses, doctors and neonatologists who helped our little nugget grow big and strong. They are angels and heroes.

• I mostly spent the next several months staring at my beatiful boy and being a hermit. I learned that postpartum baby blues and anxiety is a real thing. But, the fog does eventually lift and when it did…

• I began diving back into my home studio. I’ve been staying mostly behind the scenes tracking voice overs, vocals and guitars for friends’ projects and corporate clients. It’s opening up a whole new chapter in my creativity and, ultimately, my music career.

• And now I’m coming out of hiding — feeling good, super busy in a great way, and enjoying the heck out of reconnecting with y’all!

Soooo, catch me up. What have YOU been up to? I’m spending most of my time over on Instagram these days. Hit me up at @laurenlucasinsta and fill me in!

Story Behind the Song, "Addicted to the Rain"

The summer before my senior year at Belmont University, I worked as a host at P.F. Chang’s on West End Avenue. One day, a man and his wife walked in to be seated. He struck up conversation and mentioned he’s a songwriter. I told him about how I was working towards an artist career. (How “Nashville” can we get?) One thing led to another, and within a few weeks, I found myself at Curb Publishing on Music Row writing with Jim Reilley. 

Now, if you’re not familiar with Jim’s work, let me tell you a little bit about him. In addition to writing songs for acclaimed artists such as Jack Ingram, Hal Ketchum, Joy Lynn White and Sam Bush (just to name a few), Jim is co-founder of the folk-rock duo, The New Dylans. He’s shared stages with Shawn Colvin, The Band, 10,000 Maniacs and Townes Van Zandt. The project of Jim’s that is my personal favorite is his 2003 solo record, The Return of Buddy Cruel. I highly recommend you check it out on your favorite digital site. 

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Over the next few years, I found myself in that writing room many more times, as Jim Reilley became a friend and consistent co-writer of mine. Of the songs Jim and I wrote together, I felt most connected to one song in particular and chose to record it for my Warner Bros. album back in 2004. It’s a song called, “Addicted to the Rain”. 

Around the same time I met Jim, one of my professors introduced me to veteran guitar player/producer, Biff Watson. Biff and I became fast friends and collaborators. Biff ultimately helped me land my deal with Warner Bros. and produced the record. 

We all thought, “Addicted to the Rain” was a special song. The recording was made even more special when Biff made a phone call to a guest artist to sing background vocals on the tune. None other than Mr. Vince Gill came over to the studio and put vocals on the song (and guitar on a different tune). I absolutely loved the way it turned out! 

Fast forward almost fifteen years. Jim reached out to me to have coffee. Through conversation and reminiscing about how much we loved writing “Addicted to the Rain”, we agreed it was such a shame that Warner Bros. never released the finished product for the public to hear. How could we get to your ears?

Let me pause here and share a little music business 101 for anyone wondering how this works: Warner Bros. does not own the publishing on any of the songs I recorded for them; however, they DO own the master recordings. After all, they paid for those specific recordings. So, in order for me to release any of those songs for public consumption, I have to re-record the songs and own the masters myself. That’s exactly what I did when I re-recorded “The Carolina Kind” for my EP, If I Was Your Girl. And that’s exactly what I did again last year when Jim and I re-recorded “Addicted to the Rain”, which you’re about to hear when it’s released this Friday!

Now, for those of you who’ve been following along since my Warner Bros. days and are familiar with the original version: hold onto your hats. This new version is a LOT different. Jim and I started asking ourselves questions like, “What if we completely re-imagined this song?” “What if we changed the tempo; even changed some of the chords?” "What if we made it super dramatic, almost like a film score?”

The answer to those questions will all be revealed this Friday when the single is available on all major digital distribution outlets. I’m super proud of this single and can’t wait for you hear! Jim Reilley is at the helm producing. Eric Fritsch at Eastwood Studios engineered and mixed, as well as built the track with Jim. Additional mixing by Park Chisolm. Mastering by Alex McCullough for True East Mastering.

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Mary Sue Englund designed the single artwork. I happened to run across an old picture of me as a child from around Christmas, 1989. I used to love playing in empty boxes. Apparently, I fell asleep mid-playtime and for some reason I had an open umbrella in the box with me. What can I say? Using your imagination can be exhausting! Anyway, I thought it was cool to draw inspiration from the photo and Mary Sue made the vision come alive in a beautiful way. So many of you commented on how much you love the artwork. Kudos to Mary Sue for that.

I have to brag on my talented niece, Natalie Combs, for candidly capturing photos of the studio process with such artistry. Check them out on my Instagram throughout the week.

This Friday, January 31st, the new version of “Addicted to the Rain” will be available as a single at your favorite digital retailer. Please go stream, download, playlist, save, like, and share the new version of “Addicted to the Rain” with your family and friends! Then, hit me up on my socials and (kindly) lemme know what you think. 

Thank you for following along. Your support means the world to me. I am having so much fun making music that satisfies my soul. I hope you’re enjoying it, too. More to come!

xo,
Lauren