Singer Songwriter | How to Write a Song, Make Music, Song Lyrics, Music Theory, Singing Lessons

Have you ever wanted to write a song, but found yourself completely stuck?
Maybe you don't know where to begin. Maybe you have too many ideas and don't know which one to follow. Maybe you've started a song but don't know how to develop it — or you're deep in the messy middle and suddenly questioning whether the song is any good.
And sometimes, the song is almost finished… but you just can't seem to let it go.
In this episode, we're looking at 5 places singer songwriters commonly get stuck in the songwriting process:
• Wanting to write but not knowing where to begin• Having too many ideas and not knowing which one to follow• Starting a song but not knowing how to develop it• Getting lost in the messy middle and questioning the song• Getting close to finished but struggling to let it go
I've been exploring these stages through my own creative process this summer, and they're also at the heart of an upcoming free live songwriting workshop I'm putting together.
The goal isn't to find one perfect songwriting formula. It's to understand where you are in the creative process, what's actually getting in your way, and what your song might need next.
Want to be the first to know when the free workshop opens?
Get on the list here: singersongwriterworkshop.com
If you've been wanting to write more songs, finish the songs you've started, or simply find your way forward when you get stuck, this episode is for you.
Next Steps:
Get on the List for the Free Live Songwriting Workshop: singersongwriterworkshop.com
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

Do song lyrics come first — or does the melody lead the way?The truth is, songs don’t begin in just one way.
In this episode, I walk you through five common “doorways” into songwriting — simple, human starting points that can help you move past the frozen feeling of “Where do I start?” We explore how songs can begin through lyrics, melody, rhythm, harmony, or listening to what’s already stirring beneath the surface — and how finding your doorway can make songwriting feel more natural and less intimidating.
If you’ve been searching for a simple way to start writing songs, this episode offers a clear framework you can return to again and again — without pressure, rules, or overthinking.
<3 Lainey
P.S. Be the FIRST to hear when the next FREE Live Songwriting Workshop opens --> 
🎶 Free Live Songwriting Workshop
Learn how to turn your ideas into songs in this FREE workshop with Lainey
Register at singersongwriterworkshop.com

Your ear is one of your greatest tools as a singer-songwriter.
In this episode, I'll show you a simple listening practice you can weave into your regular singing practice or vocal warm-up — starting with finding Do, stepping away from home, and listening your way back.
We'll use simple solfège patterns like Do-Re-Mi and Do-Ti-Do, and then let the exercise open up into vocal improvisation. Because ear training isn't just about learning to sing the “right” notes. It's about developing the connection between what you hear internally and what you express through your voice.
The more you develop your musical ear, the more possibilities you begin to hear — in your singing, your improvisation, and your songwriting.
Solfège gives you a map. Improvisation invites you to explore.
Start with the known: Do. Venture into the unknown. And listen your way back.
 
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

Want to write songs but don't know where to begin?
You don't have to know music theory, play an instrument, or have years of songwriting experience before you can call yourself a songwriter. You can begin with what you have—and learn what you need along the way.
In this beginner-friendly introduction to songwriting, we'll explore what it really means to be a songwriter, different ways to begin a song, and how to find a simple "song seed" that can become the doorway into your first song.
You'll learn why there's no single right way to start writing a song, how to let a song reveal itself as you work, and why you don't need to have the whole thing figured out before you begin.
If you've been wanting to write songs but keep thinking you need to learn more first, this episode is for you. You are allowed to be a songwriter while you're still learning how to write songs.
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

How do you get unstuck when you're writing a song?
Feeling stuck doesn't always mean the same thing—and it doesn't always require the same solution. A songwriter who can't get started may need to develop their musical skills, while someone stuck in the messy middle may need to learn how to tolerate uncertainty. Someone else may be stuck in perfectionism, unable to finish, record, or share their song.
This summer, I've been paying close attention to my own songwriting process and the different places where I tend to get stuck. It's helped me see the creative process differently: where you are determines what you need next.
In this episode, we'll look at the different phases of the songwriting process—from desire and gathering ideas to choosing, beginning, navigating the messy middle, finishing, recording, and sharing—and the different creative blocks that can arise along the way.
Because sometimes you need a songwriting skill. Sometimes you need to make a decision. Sometimes you need to trust yourself, let go of perfectionism, or become willing to see yourself as the songwriter you're becoming.
If you're feeling stuck writing a song, don't assume you're behind. Find where you are in the process, identify the bottleneck, and discover what you need to keep moving.
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com
 

What if one of the simplest ways to improve your singing is to start pressing record?
I practiced recording myself this week, and the experience gave me a valuable reality check about where I am as a singer and musician—and what I need to work on next.
When you're inside the music, it's easy to miss things like breath support, tempo, phrasing, tension, or other habits. Listening back gives you an outside perspective and turns vague feelings of "I need to get better" into specific information you can actually use in your practice.
I'll also talk about the difference between healthy musicianship and perfectionism. Wanting to sing and record well isn't the problem. The problem is believing you have to be perfect before you're allowed to press record.
Recording yourself doesn't have to be about creating something you're ready to share. Sometimes it's simply a practice tool: record, listen, notice, learn, and try again.
If you've been hesitant to hear your own singing voice on a recording, consider this your invitation to press record anyway.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

Why do you keep putting off recording your songs — even when the song is finished?
You finally finish the lyrics. You make the revisions. You find the version of the song that feels true. And then, somehow, recording it becomes the thing you keep avoiding.
I've noticed this pattern in my own creative process. After spending the summer paying attention to the different stages of songwriting — from gathering ideas and choosing, to navigating the messy middle, finishing, and sharing — I've realized that recording is one of my own creative bottlenecks.
In this episode, I explore why recording can feel so much harder than writing the song itself, and how perfectionism, overthinking, and the pressure to get it "right" can keep us from taking the next step.
If you've been sitting on a finished song — or a song that's almost finished — and somehow can't seem to get yourself to record it, this one is for you.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

Have you ever wondered why songwriting feels effortless one day — and impossible the next?
What if the problem isn't that you're creatively blocked, but that you're in a different stage of the songwriting process?
In this episode, I'm looking back on an unexpected discovery. What started as a summer of recording podcast episodes about singing, songwriting, and creativity turned into a deep study of the creative process itself. As I paid attention to my own songwriting practice, I began noticing familiar patterns: gathering ideas, choosing a direction, working through the messy middle, finishing a song, and finally finding the courage to share it.
Every stage has its own challenges. Every songwriter gets stuck somewhere. The key isn't trying to force your way through—it's learning to recognize where you are and what that stage is asking of you.
Whether you're struggling to find song ideas, stuck halfway through a draft, caught in perfectionism, or having a hard time finishing and sharing your music, this episode will help you locate yourself in the process so you can keep moving forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

What if the secret to vocal confidence isn't having a better singing voice?
So many singers believe confidence comes after they improve their technique, sound better, or finally feel "good enough." But what if confidence begins somewhere else?
In this episode, we're exploring a different way of thinking about vocal confidence—one that's rooted not in perfection, but in trust. I share why learning to trust your singing voice enough to let it be heard may be more important than chasing the perfect sound, and how our inner critic often pulls us out of the experience of singing and into the role of judge.
Whether you're recording yourself, performing on stage, posting a video online, or simply singing for someone you trust, the invitation is the same: stay on your own side. Instead of asking, "Did I sound good?" what if you asked, "Did I stay connected to myself? Did I tell the truth?"
If you've ever struggled with self-criticism, hated the sound of your own singing voice, or felt afraid to let your voice be heard, this episode will encourage you to build confidence from the inside out.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com
 
 

How do you know when a song is actually finished?
Not when it's perfect. Not when you've exhausted every possible revision. But when it's ready to let go.
In this episode, we're exploring the final stage of the songwriting process: knowing when to stop revising and trust the song you've written. I share what happened after revisiting an old song that finally found its missing verse—only to discover myself slipping into endless tweaking, second-guessing, and overthinking every artistic decision.
We'll talk about the difference between healthy revision and hypercriticism, why perfectionism keeps so many songwriters stuck, and how to recognize when another rewrite isn't helping the song anymore. Sometimes the hardest part of songwriting isn't finding inspiration or writing the first draft—it's trusting yourself enough to finish.
Whether you're working on your first song or your fiftieth, this episode is an invitation to embrace the imperfect beauty of your work and remember that every finished song is simply a snapshot of who you were when you chose to let it go.
In this episode, we'll explore:
how to know when a song is finished
the final stage of the songwriting process
songwriting revision vs. perfectionism
editing and revising song lyrics
overcoming self-criticism in songwriting
trusting your creative instincts
why finishing a song is an act of trust
avoiding overthinking during the songwriting process
letting go of perfection and releasing your music
building a sustainable creative practice
Next Steps:
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: reawakenyourvoice.com