Hit a snag

[Panicattackx5]

The topic I'm about to bring up is, admittingly, something that probably cant be fixed by an external force. Its something that many people have faced though, and I'm sure many people have conquered it.

I'm not just talking about the lack of motivation, or inspiration. I'm also talking about apathy.

At one point, I was able to shell out riffs and songs. Now.. Nothing. I write something decent once every couple months or so, but the feeling isn't there as much as it used to be. Not only that, I don't really try as much as I used to. I just don't feel it anymore. It always feels forced, strained. I fear I may be subconsciously depressed, but maybe there's hope. Hell, I'm not dead, so there's definitely hope. I know I have potential. It shows itself from time to time, I just need to consciously tap that potential.

Might as well say it too. I'm new to the board, here because the total seclusion from my fellow guitarists and artists might have contributed to the problem.

So what about you guys? Writers block, apathy, anything, and how'd you get over it?

 

[Episteme]

I had this same problem after I hit a big turning point in my life which caused immense depression, it kinda made listening to some music or playing it dull. Instead of forcing myself to pickup a guitar every time, I picked it up when I felt like it or had ideas to convey. In my other free time I was doing things like gaming (understatement, because I became hooked to World of Warcraft, don't do it), listening to Drum and Bass and other forms of music that I never really looked into.

After awhile, I'm not saying how long, I dropped alot of the things I did pick up because I felt that there was nearly no passion for these things as I once had for playing guitar and metal. This then inspired me again to pickup the guitar again, not to force myself to do useless finger exercises and sweep picking exercises, but to form a band. I called some musician friends I had from high school and we hit it off straight away. Now we jam twice a week not including a writing session which is more of a hangout. Now that my life's alot better, I have a bigger passion in music and metal.

I'd say take it easy for awhile, maybe instead of forcing yourself to write music, listen to more or pickup another hobby that doesn't last so long. These things cannot be forced as they have to come from within.

That's my 2cents.

 

[Panicattackx5]

I had this same problem after I hit a big turning point in my life which caused immense depression, it kinda made listening to some music or playing it dull. Instead of forcing myself to pickup a guitar every time, I picked it up when I felt like it or had ideas to convey. In my other free time I was doing things like gaming (understatement, because I became hooked to World of Warcraft, don't do it), listening to Drum and Bass and other forms of music that I never really looked into.

After awhile, I'm not saying how long, I dropped alot of the things I did pick up because I felt that there was nearly no passion for these things as I once had for playing guitar and metal. This then inspired me again to pickup the guitar again, not to force myself to do useless finger exercises and sweep picking exercises, but to form a band. I called some musician friends I had from high school and we hit it off straight away. Now we jam twice a week not including a writing session which is more of a hangout. Now that my life's alot better, I have a bigger passion in music and metal.

I'd say take it easy for awhile, maybe instead of forcing yourself to write music, listen to more or pickup another hobby that doesn't last so long. These things cannot be forced as they have to come from within.

That's my 2cents.

Yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense. I think another part of the reason is because I don't have the necessary equipment to form a band anymore. Forced to sell my amp a while ago, feels like there's no real point right now.

Anyway, I think I'll follow what you said. Just give it a break for a while, wait for it to come back to me. Thanks man.